The way academics and VCs handle the stochastic nature of research and innovation (eg only a small fraction of ideas end up working) is to hire many people read

The way academics and VCs handle the stochastic nature of research and innovation (eg only a small fraction of ideas end up working) is to hire many people ready to devote all their energy to one or two projects. That way you have multiple projects, each with a dedicated and talented person leading it. Then the seeds that grow into mighty oak trees survive, weeds are trimmed out and forgotten. Note the Einstein was not that productive after he moved to Princeton. All his seeds became weeds after a certain age.