I think the essays of Paul Graham
http://paulgraham.com/articles.html , one of the founders of Y Combinator, are very interesting.
Y Combinator gives start-up founders, in return for an equity stake,
(1) a small stipend
(2) advice, and
(3) introductions
My eldest son likes to program. I have wondered if at age 17 I should give him the choice of $240K for college or $240K to spend as he sees fit, perhaps to work on a start-up idea. I can't provide (2) and (3) of Y Combinator's services, but I can do (1). The Tiger Mother will probably nix this idea.