In startups, teens code and dream about building a new Facebook or Supercell. They are a new generation of entrepreneurs who want to move to California and become billionaires. Living the high life is common among these mega brains.

Right? No. Not right. If startups were like that, all the fuzz around them would be excessive.

Here are six myths about startups we at Hoodie Dude want to destroy.

1. Startups do internet things

The startup boom began with internet companies. New business models and product development ideologies were developed in web and mobile companies but nowadays startups do all kinds of things. Not just network stuff.

The internet has been part of our everyday lives for 20 years now. It is not exciting anymore.

In 2015, no one dreams about building a new social network for all. Facebook and Twitter are already here, and they dominate.

The hottest developers have abandoned consumer applications. They don’t even do games anymore. Today atoms are cooler than bits. The brightest minds want to develop things that solve real-life problems. Like traffic. World hunger. Or how to get into space.

Of course, the internet is usually needed by startup businesses. So is electricity. And air.

2. Startup people are young

Many first-time founders are young because it is easier to take risks and devote oneself if you haven’t got a mortgage or kids. But most successful founders are middle aged.

It is difficult to build a successful company, especially if you are working with high risks and new markets. Most of the startup companies fail and that’s why it is hard to hit that big exit when you are young – unless you are super lucky.

When Krisztina Holly, the founder of TEDx, researched startup founders, she found that the typical successful founder was 40 years old, with at least 6–10 years of industry experience.

So, if you want to invest in startups, you’ll make money more easily with older and experienced founders than with youngsters.

3. Startups are cute

No, they are not. They are dangerous. Especially if your business relies on old industry habits or regulations and you think you are safe because you know all the “right” decision makers and go to private business clubs where old men share the wealth.

Often a good business idea makes you think: “Are we allowed to do this?” And your next thought is: “Why not?”

Startups annoy the traditional companies because they question the traditional procedures and regulations. The most used example of this is the transportation company Uber, which asked “Why not?” and disrupted the taxi business for ever.

What if we really are at war in which the old industries are being attacked by startups? And the future of business is at stake?

4. Startups think only about money

Most startup founders aim to make a ridiculous fortune in an unbelievable short time period. Like me: I’ve been trying to make fast money for 18 years now.

Many times I’ve been close to a breakthrough with my companies, like Sofanatics, but I’ve never made it. Yet.

Still, only a few of us are in it for the money. Success is so much dependent on luck that you are more likely to make a fortune on poker or by getting a real job than as a startup founder.

But we still do this. Why? Because we are junkies for the possibility of a breakthrough. And we want to challenge ourselves by chasing our dreams with the brightest and most revolutionary minds in business.

5. Startups are idealists

“Do what you love, and the money will follow,” is one of the most destructive phrases in the startup world. If everyone just focused on doing what they like, most of the boring work would be left undone.

Working in a startup is mostly tolerating routines and endless disappointments. The most needed personality trait is relentlessness. Those who never give up, might succeed. Or not.

We at Hoodie Dude are aiming for a massive exit with our Underhood service. And we say it out loud even though some idealists say we are not “real.” Of course we are excited about creating a disruptive business information service but if we wanted just to “follow our hearts,” at least I would write a surrealistic book or build a great tree house in some rainforest.

So don’t be fooled. Startup entrepreneurs might look like tech hippies but we are hardcore business people and workaholics.

6. Startup entrepreneurs are the new rock stars

No, we are not. This is the biggest of all startup myths.

Try googling “startup entrepreneur” and prepare yourself to get bored. Stock photos and young men with no masculinity are either looking at their laptops or talking on stage. Absolutely no need for SafeSearch filtering.

During the first bubble, some of us had some rock star qualities. At the turn of the millennium, we partied more and did totally new things every day because the internet was new. Now the industry is mature and so much more lame.

Startup founders are constantly under surveillance. The investors have become professional; they stalk our business metrics and ask unfair questions from us founders who are struggling to reach our astronomical goals.

And the startup parties. They are the saddest parties ever. But what can you expect from the industry where 95.8% of the venture capitals are men who direct their investments to companies that 93% are owned by men?

I don’t say that rock star founders do not exist. But having a startup makes it really hard to be a rock star.

by Sami Kuusela