Techniques are described for predictively starting a processing element. Embodiments receive streaming data to be processed by a plurality of processing elements. An operator graph of the plurality of processing elements that defines at least one execution path is established. Embodiments determine a historical startup time for a first processing element in the operator graph, where, once started, the first processing element begins normal operations once the first processing element has received a requisite amount of data from one or more upstream processing elements. Additionally, embodiments determine an amount of time the first processing element takes to receive the requisite amount of data from the one or more upstream processing elements. The first processing element is then predictively started at a first startup time based on the determined historical startup time and the determined amount of time historically taken to receive the requisite amount of data.