Over the last two decades, the startup landscape has shifted dramatically. What was once the classic statistic of “9 out of 10 startups fail” has now ballooned into a sobering reality: 99 out of 100 startups don’t make it. This stark figure isn’t just a reflection of the challenges inherent in entrepreneurship; it’s a consequence of the growing complexity of our world and the lack of shared knowledge and resources between generations of entrepreneurs.
It’s a gap I’ve observed time and time again – seasoned founders, after learning the hard way, rarely turn around to guide the next wave. Instead of building bridges to support first-time founders, we find an ecosystem riddled with silos.
My unique proposal for the 18th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), Eradicating Entrepreneurial Poverty, is not an official UN-listed goal but a creative concept I developed. It hypothesizes what I believe is missing from the long and expansive list of sustainable development goals, born out of my frustration and determination to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs and prevent them from repeating past mistakes.
The Startup Failure Loop
One of the classic traps that early-stage founders fall into is the infamous “product-market misfit” or worse, the “solution in search of a problem” loop. These scenarios waste time, money, and precious resources as founders chase an idea that simply doesn’t address a real need in the market. It’s high time we move beyond simply celebrating entrepreneurial hustle and start ensuring that first-time founders are primed with the basics of ideation, validation, and customer engagement.
Startups, at their core, should solve problems that matter. But without foundational nurturing, many founders burn through their initial resources chasing solutions that fail to resonate with customers. The result? A high failure rate that leaves not just the founders, but the entire ecosystem drained.
In proposing SDG 18, I want to challenge how we approach early-stage entrepreneurship. We must ensure that every founder understands how to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that truly reflects a solution to a genuine problem – and how to test it with real customers to gather feedback and iterate quickly.
At Bayanihan Ventures, this is at the heart of what we do. Our programs, like Founders Circle, What It Takes, Bayanihan Build and Ideate Davao, are designed to give entrepreneurs the tools and mentorship they need to avoid the classic pitfalls that plague first-time founders. From validating their ideas to developing sustainable business models, our aim is to give founders the best chance at success from the onset, without wasting resources or opportunities.
The Birth of SDG 18
The 18th SDG is not an idea I came up with overnight. It was born out of my experiences five years ago in Frankfurt, Germany, where I first expressed it in an open letter. At the time, I was living in an environment of abundance and opportunity, but I was increasingly frustrated by the startup ecosystem’s narrow focus on unicorns – those billion-dollar companies that represent just a tiny fraction of startups. My letter challenged the status quo by proposing that we instead focus on Eradicating Entrepreneurial Poverty, nurturing businesses that may not scale to unicorn levels but provide sustainable value for society.
The response, however, was met with skepticism – particularly from my European audience. Coming from India, a country where scarcity of resources is often the norm, I had seen firsthand how even the most limited means could spark immense innovation. India has long been known for its culture of “jugaad” – a flexible approach to problem-solving that uses limited resources in creative ways. I grew up in a society where it wasn’t uncommon for people from the lowest strata to rise through sheer tenacity and ingenuity, eventually becoming some of the most successful business tycoons in the world. This kind of resourcefulness, paired with a deep understanding of real-world challenges, allowed many entrepreneurs in India to overcome enormous odds.
However, in Europe, where resources were plentiful and failure was more often seen as the result of market forces rather than systemic issues, my perspective wasn’t as easily embraced. Many felt that my focus on entrepreneurial poverty was misplaced, arguing that I was looking for solutions to problems that didn’t exist in such a resource-rich environment. But that was exactly the point – I had seen both sides of the coin. I had witnessed how, even with an abundance of opportunities, entrepreneurs could still fail if the system didn’t support their efforts in the right way.This criticism fueled my decision to take the plunge and move to the Global South, where I believed this vision could have a real, tangible impact. In the Philippines, I met my exceptionally talented partner, John Naranjo, and together we founded Bayanihan Ventures with the mission to nurture and secure the future of Filipino startups. It was in this environment – where opportunity and resource scarcity coexist – that the need for SDG 18 became more apparent than ever.
Creating a New Narrative for Entrepreneurship
One of the key tenets of the 18th SDG is the shift away from the obsession with “unicorns” that dominate global headlines. Instead, we need to focus on nurturing “zebra companies,” businesses that balance profitability with purpose, community, and sustainability. These businesses are the backbone of local economies and create value far beyond financial returns.
When we fixate solely on unicorns, we lose sight of the diverse and sustainable enterprises that can drive real, long-term change in our communities. The obsession with hyper-growth pushes founders to prioritize quick returns over thoughtful, impact-driven work. By encouraging the creation of zebra companies, the 18th SDG seeks to foster an ecosystem where entrepreneurship is not just about survival, but about thriving in a way that benefits all stakeholders.
At Bayanihan Ventures, we’re building an ecosystem that prioritizes this kind of entrepreneurship. Through our monthly Founders Circle meetups and initiatives like Ideate Davao, we’re bringing together entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors to create a supportive community that lifts each other up. We believe that when founders collaborate and share their knowledge, the entire ecosystem benefits.
The Future of Entrepreneurship in the Global South
My journey to the Philippines wasn’t just about starting a new venture; it was about living the values of the 18th SDG. It’s easy to advocate for change when you’re living in an environment of abundance. But to truly understand entrepreneurial poverty, I needed to immerse myself in a region where the challenges are much greater, and the support systems are much fewer.
In the Global South, entrepreneurship is often a matter of necessity rather than choice. But with the right support, these entrepreneurs have the potential to create businesses that not only lift them out of poverty but also drive real, lasting change in their communities. The 18th SDG is about creating ecosystems where these entrepreneurs can thrive—by giving them access to the mentorship, funding, and community they need to succeed.
This is what we’re doing at Bayanihan Ventures. We’re working to ensure that no founder in the Philippines – or anywhere else – is left behind. By building strong, resilient communities of entrepreneurs, we can pave the way for a future where businesses don’t just survive, they flourish.
The Road Ahead
The 18th SDG: Eradicating Entrepreneurial Poverty is a call to rethink how we approach entrepreneurship globally. It’s a recognition that the system is broken—that too many founders are failing, not because their ideas aren’t good, but because the support structures aren’t in place to help them succeed.
By fostering zebra companies, sharing knowledge across generations, and building ecosystems of abundance, we can create a world where entrepreneurship is not just a race to the top for the 1%, but a path to sustainable success for everyone. As I continue this journey, I’m committed to ensuring that future generations of entrepreneurs have the tools they need to thrive – not just financially, but in a way that creates a lasting, meaningful impact.
If you’re an entrepreneur or investor passionate about creating sustainable businesses, join our movement. Connect with us at Bayanihan Ventures, attend a Founders Circle meetup, join the growing online community FoundersCircle.ph, share your best piece of advice in our “What it Takes” sessions, connect with other founders, and be part of a community that’s driving real impact.
Here’s to all the startup ecosystem champions – those who have guided, challenged, and supported me over the years – whose insights and camaraderie have profoundly shaped my journey and perspectives. I’m grateful for each of you – Madita Morgenstern-Antao Simon Baumgarten Keenan Ugarte Kim Körber Anton Casagrande Martin Geldermann Bettina B. Scheibe Philipp Linde Sebastian Daume Bhagwati Bhushan Mishra Manutchehr Ghassemlou Georg-Christof Bertsch Antonius Koch Vernon Scholtz Rene Wienholtz Human Nagafi MICHAEL KEATING Viral Doshi Markus Dalka Matiullah Rahmaty Nishit Mathur Ulrike Gruenewald Elisabeth Neumann Rohan Jonathan Antao Balu M Nair Pauly Suchy Brian Junker-Latocha Tina Amper Dave Overton Albert Padin Doris Isubal-Mongaya Diane Dugan – Eustaquio Emmy Lou Versoza-Delfin Jay Fajardo PĂ©ter Kovács Gary Lauriano Marica Uchida Pia Angeli Bernal Ivan John Uy 🧢 Paul Pajo 배소헌(Sohun) Gina Romero Manny Ayala Jocelle Batapa-Sigue Katrina Rausa Chan Jojo Flores Franco Varona Mark Sng Mohan Belani David Almirol Erwin Kok Maria Sucgang Joseph de Leon Roland Benzon Raj Barot Ike Gabriel Yuson Will Gikandi Franch Lorilla Dylan Keota Arup Maity Jason Torres Steve Sy ER Rollan April Margaret Cuenca Paulo Campos Wade Eyerly Chris McCann Sam Silver Louie Bernardo, PMP Garik Tate Daniel Stahlnecker II Bing Tan Richard Day Chiam Canda Carlo Baltazar Canda Chio Uy Kyle Naranjo Josh Europa Duarne Bernhagen Betsy Tulio Rob Gumba Goldy Yancha Candice Faye Kristen Lleses Keren Happuch Lacadin Abi Ong Sitjar Prem A Gopalakrishnan Corally Into Lianne Lim Marc Angelo Aviles Joseph Benjamin Ilagan Ibrahim Bernardo Stephany Jane Magallen Liam James Mendoza đź’« Peter Damary Gilbert John Maskariño Vincent Clyde Burgos
About the Author
Nikhil Paul Antao is the founder of Bayanihan Ventures, a pioneering venture studio based in the Philippines, focusing on startups in education and agriculture. With a mission to bridge talent flow with deal flow, Nikhil drives efforts to create pathways that connect local entrepreneurs with investors and opportunities, ensuring that growth is both sustainable and impactful. Since November 2023, he has led programs like the monthly Founders Circle and the flagship Bayanihan Build program, guiding startups from ideation to validation. Nikhil’s approach emphasizes grassroots initiatives, open-source knowledge sharing, and ecosystem development to empower founders and transform industries in the region.
Before moving to the Philippines, Nikhil spent the last eight years in Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany, working extensively with startups, shaping strategic interventions, and launching innovative solutions. His experience across India, Argentina, Germany, and the Philippines has equipped him with a deep understanding of global markets and local dynamics, enabling him to navigate cross-cultural contexts and drive meaningful impact in the startup ecosystems he engages with.
Subhead: By encouraging the creation of zebra companies, the 18th SDG seeks to foster an ecosystem where entrepreneurship is not just about survival, but about thriving in a way that benefits all stakeholders.