Charles Babbage, the 19th-century pioneer often dubbed the “father of the computer,” operated in a world of steam engines and mechanical looms—far removed from today’s digital startups. Yet his timeless insight on data’s value cuts straight to the heart of modern entrepreneurship. Startups live or die by their ability to pivot, innovate, and scale. But without data, even the most visionary teams risk becoming architects of guesswork, building on assumptions rather than evidence.