Young Entrepreneur's Advice: Learn Instead of Short-Term Profit

Started Earning Money Online in Third Grade

Lucy Guo began earning money online in third grade, creating bots for virtual pet websites and founded Scale AI before reaching the age to rent a car. However, Guo's most valuable lesson is not in the successes she achieved as an entrepreneur, but in the importance of sustaining those successes: sometimes, the smartest financial decision is to leave millions of dollars behind.

Speaking at the Forbes Under 30 Summit in Ohio on September 30, 2025, Guo shared a philosophy that challenges traditional startup wisdom: the best decision is often being able to set aside the desire for immediate profit.

Optimizing Learning

After founding Scale AI, Guo left behind millions when she thought learning had come to an end. This choice is backed by a deep understanding that many overlook regarding career economics. Guo states, “The most important lesson is to optimize for learning.” She views her career steps as long-term investments in knowledge rather than short-term gains.

This approach comes from her understanding of risk when she decided to drop out of university to pursue entrepreneurship. While many see it as a huge gamble, Guo calculated the loss differently. “The maximum loss was just a few years of time. I can always receive job offers or return to university.” she expressed.

Advice for Young Professionals

Guo's advice for young professionals is centered around leveraging the “advantage of low responsibility.” While young, when you only support yourself, the financial costs of professional risk significantly increase with mortgages and dependents in later years. However, there is a critical nuance here; Guo is quite frugal with her spending for the sake of money and views seizing opportunities almost as a competitive sport. Her message emphasizes not being reckless with money but strategically utilizing time.

The Importance of University

Surprisingly for someone who has left home, Guo now states that skipping university entirely is not feasible. Not as an exercise, but in terms of networking. “University is the only time in your life; friendships can be formed among very smart people here.” she says.

Therefore, she recommends attending university for a year or two, meaning to build that network. This network has become her initial employee base. It is a calculated perspective to view higher education as the underlying infrastructure of networking.

The Role of Content Production

Today, Guo runs an initiative called Passes, building the infrastructure for content creators to monetize their brands. This approach demonstrates that founders are increasingly willing to reduce customer acquisition costs to zero thanks to content creators. “Content creators are aware of their own brands.” she points out, referring to figures like YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) and Logan Paul, highlighting unicorn companies built on personal brands. “Technology is a fundamental way to build intergenerational wealth.” she said.

The ultimate lesson in Guo's journey is not about taking risks; actually, the biggest risk in your 20s is optimizing for short-term gains. Given that experimenting for a few years won’t turn your life upside down when young, the real question is: how much risk can you handle? A careful approach and focus on learning are critical for long-term success.