I am an outlier- a millennial technologist in academia trying to build a startup to get out of the rat race, I have been unfortunate enough to come across three distinct kinds of technologists when looking for cofounders.

Zoomer Technologists

Young tech professionals and creators (born ~1997-2012) who:

• Have an intuitive understanding of digital platforms and emerging technologies
• Often focus on social impact, sustainability, and ethical tech
• Tend toward decentralized systems, Web3, and creator economies
• Approach tech development with different assumptions than previous generations
• Blend technological innovation with cultural values like inclusivity and authenticity

Boomer Technologists

Tech veterans and pioneers (born ~1946-1964) who:

• Witnessed and helped create the personal computing revolution
• Often have deep experience with foundational technologies and systems
• May have perspectives shaped by earlier tech paradigms and business models
• Include many of the founders of today’s tech giants and infrastructure
• Possess institutional knowledge about technology’s evolution

Doomer Technologists

Tech professionals with pessimistic outlooks who:

• Focus on existential tech risks like AI safety, surveillance, or digital authoritarianism
• May work on resilience technologies, privacy tools, or decentralized systems
• Often critique mainstream tech optimism and highlight unintended consequences
• Sometimes see technological development as accelerating societal problems
• May advocate for more cautious approaches to emerging technologies

Each represents a distinct relationship between generational/philosophical outlook and technological development.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

What happened to the Millenial Technologists in my cohort?