<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="true">Steve Blank, a serial entrepreneur and key figure in the Lean Startup and Customer Development movements, shared insights at London Business School.Blank highlighted the importance of mindset over intelligence or funding in startup ecosystems like Silicon Valley vs Europe.In Silicon Valley, failure is embraced as a learning experience, while European culture tends to stigmatize failure.The intensity and execution urgency in Silicon Valley and China set them apart in the startup landscape.Being a founder is described as a calling requiring grit and resilience, not just a career choice.Blank emphasized the brutal realities of the founder journey alongside the passion required to endure.AI is underlined as the transformative platform shift of our time by Blank.AI is seen as a catalyst with democratized power for founders and the application layer being crucial for value creation.Founders are urged to focus on the problem, not just the solution, as they navigate uncertain times and AI-driven disruptions.The event served as a reminder to stay agile, lean, and committed to building in the face of change and uncertainty.Steve Blank's insights reinforced the enduring relevance of customer development, validated learning, and founder resilience for startups.