AI prompts are reshaping how startups compete—and not always in their favor. When established players in the top 26 markets can leverage prompt-based solutions instantly, smaller teams burning through limited runway find themselves outpaced. The barrier to entry keeps dropping; what once required months of development now takes days. That's a double-edged sword. Sure, founders can build faster. But so can their competitors. The real question: can emerging startups carve out unique value, or will they get commoditized before they even ship? The tech moves quick. The money does too. First-mover advantage still matters, but execution clarity has become everything.