Core idea:
Most national startup programmes focus on ideas, not people — yet founder capability is the single biggest determinant of long-term outcomes.
Key arguments to cover:
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Why “great ideas” fail repeatedly in weak founder hands
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Evidence from mature ecosystems: teams outperform concepts
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How founder mindset, judgment, and execution skill compound over time
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Why investing early in founder capability creates ecosystem flywheels
Suggested structure:
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The myth of the breakthrough idea
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What high-performing ecosystems optimise for instead
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Why first-time founders need different support than repeat founders
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What a founder-first programme design looks like in practice
CTA:
If your ecosystem isn’t producing repeat founders, it isn’t compounding.