It's tough to design a programme to accelerate entrepreneurs; their paths aren't set, their preferences are unknown and their needs aren't predictable.

We often overlook the communication and scheduling overhead that's required to keep a good programme running. It's a people business, first and foremost, and for every founder, there's a multiple of mentors, supporters, investors and events that all need to take place in compressed time frame.

If you've done this before, you know it's like herding cats; a lot of individual effort, a lot of exceptions - and a lot of late nights.

I always explain this reality to new programme directors; it's going to be just as gruelling for you as for your founders.

The important thing to do now is to accept this nature of the business, and design for it, rather than pretend it isn't the case.