Young entrepreneurs are increasingly founding AI-driven businesses, using their technological fluency to overcome traditional barriers and achieve rapid growth, though they face intense workloads and age-related skepticism. This trend is backed by data showing a surge in Gen Z entrepreneurship in the UK.
Arnau Ayerbe, Pablo Jiménez de Parga Ramos, and Bergen Merey, all 24, epitomize this shift. They left corporate roles to launch Throxy, an AI agent company for sales teams, after feeling uninspired in their jobs at firms like JP Morgan. Based in London, the trio has raised nearly £5 million in funding and generated annual sales of almost £1.2 million, demonstrating the potential for youth-led innovation in the tech sector.
Their journey hasn’t been easy, with Ramos describing a grueling “9-9-6” work culture—9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. Ayerbe admits that if he had known the effort required, he might not have started, highlighting the sacrifices involved. Despite this, they credit their success partly to their innate comfort with AI, having experimented with early models like ChatGPT before public release, which they saw as transformative for work.
This familiarity is a key advantage for Gen Z entrepreneurs. Data from Enterprise Nation indicates that 62% of Gen Z individuals in the UK aspire to start businesses, a sentiment reflected in the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme, where loans to Gen Z founders have doubled over five years. Research by investment network Antler further supports this, showing the average age of AI unicorn founders dropped from 40 in 2020 to 29 in 2024, underscoring a youth-driven movement in high-value startups.
However, young founders often contend with underestimation from older clients and partners. Rosie Skuse, founder and CEO of Molto Music Group, recalls being mistaken for an assistant in her early 20s, with some refusing to shake her hand. Now 29, she turned this “shock factor” into a strength, building a music agency with clients like The Dorchester and Hermes, and achieving a turnover of £1.6 million in 2025. Her story illustrates how youth can be a memorable asset in competitive industries.
Older entrepreneurs offer cautionary advice. Lee Broders, 53, a serial entrepreneur, warns that rapid growth can mask fragile foundations, emphasizing sustainability over mere revenue. Similarly, Sarah Skelton, co-founder of recruitment firm Flourish, notes that young founders may lack the leadership skills and networks gained from traditional work experience, which are crucial for long-term success.
The implications of this trend are profound, suggesting a reshaping of the entrepreneurial landscape where digital nativism offsets experience gaps. As AI continues to evolve, younger generations are poised to lead innovation, but they must balance ambition with resilience and strategic planning.
Looking ahead, the success of ventures like Throxy and Molto Music Group may inspire more Gen Z individuals to pursue entrepreneurship, potentially accelerating AI adoption across sectors. Yet, as Broders and Skelton advise, sustainable growth will require blending youthful energy with learned wisdom, ensuring these startups thrive beyond initial hype.
