Based on data from urban informal entrepreneurs in West Africa in the early 2000s, they estimate the share of constrained gazelles among young people to be 27% compared to 49% among adults. Assuming similar distributions elsewhere, support programmes must strive to identify these 27% of young entrepreneurs with potential and help them overcome the many barriers they face in terms of access to finance, risks and skills. Where firms and young entrepreneurs are not chosen carefully, based on their skill, drive and business plans, providing credit can be wasteful and harmful.