Arlan Rakhmetzhanov, 19, is just one of many under-20s chasing the tech world's big win. His startup Nozomio, valued at over $6 million, is an index for AI agents. He’s not alone; Pranjali Awasthi, also 19, left school to launch her own AI company.

Investors now look for founders with GitHub activity and open-source contributions, who can show off their latest tools and projects on social media. The pressure is intense: young tech entrepreneurs are expected to hit milestones quickly or risk failure.

Young founders face a dilemma of appearing successful even if they’re not. As Ashley Smith, a general partner at Vermilion, points out, this means inflated revenue numbers and less time for actual coding. It's a race where the loudest voice often wins.

The pressure is so high that some founders worry about performing the appearance of success more than hitting real targets. Timothy Chen from Essence Ventures notes how launch videos have become a norm in tech startups, making young founders feel they need to outshine their peers.