Entrepreneurship In India

Saw literally 100's of posts saying: USA : ChatGPT China : DeepSeek India : Course on how to use them I couldn't resist but ask a simple question to all these people: When was the last time you built something? An app? A tool? Even a simple automation script? Or is your biggest contribution to tech is such posts? Because here’s what’s actually happening in India: ✅ AI & LLMs – India is home to Bhashini, a government-led multilingual AI initiative, and Sarvam AI, developing indigenous LLMs tailored for Indian languages. ✅ Semiconductors & Chips – Companies like Vedanta, Tata, and ISRO are investing heavily in semiconductor fabs, reducing dependency on global supply chains. ✅ Space Tech – ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission are pioneering space exploration on a budget that puts Hollywood sci-fi movies to shame. ✅ Fintech Revolution – India leads in UPI, Aadhaar-enabled banking, and RBI-backed digital currency, with real-time payments surpassing the USA, China, and EU combined. ✅ 5G & Telecom – Jio and Airtel are deploying indigenous 5G solutions, positioning India at the forefront of telecom innovation. ✅ EV & Clean Energy – India is pushing hard in EV manufacturing, solar energy, and green hydrogen with companies like Ola Electric, Tata, and Adani leading the way. ✅ Startups & Deep Tech – India has 100+ unicorns, with cutting-edge work happening in robotics, blockchain, and AI-driven healthcare. Meanwhile, in the USA and China, innovation continues in AI chip design, quantum computing, self-driving tech, and advanced robotics. And guess what? India has the talent to be right there, but only if more people build instead of tweet. Innovation doesn’t happen in comment sections or such posts—it happens when you do something. So, the next time you feel like typing one of these lazy takes, ask yourself: "Am I just talking about innovation, or am I actually creating it?" #BuildSomething #Innovation #Tech #IndiaInTech 🚀

𝗪𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻. 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀. Having spent years building products and enabling global tech ecosystems, one thing that has always stood out to me is that the real strength of a digital economy often lies beneath the surface.  𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗜𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗔𝗜-𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲. For years, India has largely been a consumer in this space. But that’s changing fast. The launch of India’s first 3-nanometer chip design centers in Noida and Bengaluru marks a new frontier, and this is just the beginning. Alongside this, a fully commercial fabrication facility is underway, capable of handling up to 50,000 wafer starts per month (28nm+ node size). On the materials front, the silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors market in India - critical for EVs, defense, and space, are projected to grow over 15% annually and cross half a billion dollars in value by 2030.  The shift won't happen overnight; we still rely on global supply chains and advanced design expertise. But this is about building the foundation for true digital independence. The more India develops its own infrastructure, hardware and tools, the more resilient our platforms will become, we can contribute further to the broader innovation in the world, as we have done for centuries past. 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀; 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. #SemiConductor #FinTech #DigitalInfrastructure #MakeInIndia

Indian industrial policy is no longer behaving as a list of schemes. It is being assembled into an operating system. The GOI has set two policy shifts in motion, and they are now opening up opportunities for startups. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲-𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. India has concluded nine new trade agreements or frameworks since 2021, lifting preferential market access from less than 10% of global GDP to 57%, covering economies with a combined GDP of over $63 trillion and annual bilateral trade of $615 billion. The EU FTA, the US framework, EFTA, and FTAs with the UK, Oman, New Zealand, Australia, the UAE, and more open up India to the World. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. A dozen National Technology Missions with combined committed outlays of over ₹3.3 lakh crore. The ₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme, the ₹76,000 crore Semiconductor Mission, the ₹20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission, the ₹19,744 crore Green Hydrogen Mission, the ₹10,372 crore IndiaAI Mission, and many more. This is the most ambitious trade reintegration program India has ever undertaken, paired with the largest coordinated technology-industrial policy program in India's history. The combination is reshaping the market opportunity for Indian companies across manufacturing, services, technology, and design. The Indian State is now building the factor conditions for National Champions to emerge. The combined effect is observable in private market traction. The reshoring premium has stopped being a thesis and has become a stated balance sheet item. Strategic technology moats are forming in domains that were previously uninvestible. Sovereign AI and energy stacks are being rewired in parallel. The traction we see from 3one4 Capital tracks the shift. From AGNIT Semiconductors in GaN devices to Exponent Energy in commercial EV fast charging to H2LooP in hardware-aware AI to smallest.ai in voice models to Scimplify in advanced materials manufacturing, the hard-tech investment surface in India is also structurally larger than it was at the start of this decade. The thesis of India's next decade is to exploit these vital foundations and grow faster towards $10T in GDP. Founders now have more opportunities to build full-stack National Champions, from IP and design to manufacturing and global GTM. If you're building in these spaces, I'd love to hear from you. More in 3one4 Capital's latest Signals piece below.

What makes building for India so different? Tech adoption in India isn’t linear. It’s a leapfrog, let me explain. In markets like the U.S., we witnessed a relatively linear adoption curve: desktops to laptops to smartphones. In India, you’re building for multiple generations of tech all at once. Founders aren’t just designing for “next-gen consumers,” they’re designing for every generation simultaneously. To unpack that, let’s look at India through three lenses: Infrastructure, Financial inclusion & E-commerce. 1. Infrastructure India has over 850 million internet users. By comparison that’s 2.5x the total population of the United States (approximately 340 million) and more than 12x that of the United Kingdom (around 66 million). Yet, feature phones still matter. 5G is rolling out in metros, but 300M+ people still rely on 2G networks. AI-powered chatbots operate alongside SMS-based customer service. A founder in San Francisco can assume a base level of tech familiarity. In India, you’re building for WhatsApp natives and people who dial *123# to check their bank balance. 2. Fintech While the West moved from traditional banking to fintech, India has leapfrogged straight to digital financial inclusion. Over 500M bank accounts were opened under Jan Dhan Yojana, a government initiative to expand affordable financial services in 2014. At launch, 73% had zero balance. That number has since dropped, a sign of growing adoption, but 43M accounts still remain inactive. It’s a reminder that access doesn’t equal adoption…and that leapfrogging doesn’t mean skipping every step for every user. Some users go straight from unbanked to mobile wallets without ever using a traditional bank. Others might open a Jan Dhan account and still not use it because trust or habit keeps them on ledger books or cash- there’s multiple adoption curves at once. 3. E-commerce Urban Gen Z might buy directly from Instagram, but millions in Tier 2 & 3 cities trust local resellers on WhatsApp more than brand websites. E-commerce in India isn’t just about direct-to-consumer; it’s direct-to-community. That’s why platforms like Meesho are thriving. By adapting to how trust and transactions actually work in India, it became the first horizontal e-commerce company to turn profitable- serving 187M unique users as of December 2024. Winning in India isn’t about copying what worked in other parts of the world. To reach scale, it’s about recognising that several stages of tech evolution coexist. For founders, investors, and outsiders trying to build in India: Forget linear progress. Build for the leap.

India’s semiconductor ambitions are turning into reality - not in headlines, but in labs and startup workspaces. A new generation of chip innovators like #Calligo, #Mindgrove, #Vervesemi, #SaankhyaLabs, and #MorphingMachines is reshaping India’s place in the global value chain by designing advanced chips for AI, telecom, automotive, and mobility applications. Supported by the ₹76,000 crore India #SemiconductorMission, 23 design-linked startups have already secured government incentives. With 20% of the world’s chip design talent based in India, these startups now collaborate with global #foundries such as #TSMC, #UMC, and #DBHi-Tek, linking Indian creativity with global precision. This movement will ripple far beyond electronics - influencing AI-driven transport, EV systems, smart manufacturing, and national infrastructure. The entry of Micron’s $2.75 billion plant in Gujarat and Tata’s planned fabrication unit marks India’s transition from design excellence to manufacturing credibility. 𝐀 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 The world is entering an era of “tech diplomacy”, where trust and collaboration matter as much as talent and technology. India’s partnerships with the U.S., Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea are not mere trade relationships — they are technology alliances aimed at building resilient global supply chains. India’s balanced position in the Indo-Pacific gives it a rare advantage: it can connect East Asia’s manufacturing capacity with Western innovation ecosystems. The momentum extends beyond funding. Over 20% of the world’s semiconductor design talent sits in India, contributing to R&D for global leaders like Intel, AMD, and Texas Instruments. The return of this talent — through startups and collaborations — is rewriting India’s innovation geography. What #Bengaluru was to software, it could now become to semiconductors. #semiconductor #fablab #innovation #indianeconomy #chipmanufacturing

India’s deep tech ecosystem is no longer an underdog. It’s quietly becoming one of our most high-potential growth stories and 2025 is the year that’s making it obvious. Between January and April 2025 alone, India raised $324 million across 35 deep tech deals. That’s double the investment seen in the same period last year ($156M across 21 deals). Another strong indicator? The average deep tech seed deal size in India has grown 5.3x between 2016 and 2023. For context, the global average grew only 3.6x. We're accelerating faster than the world but still writing cheques that are 50% smaller than the global average. That gap is also an opportunity. At the heart of this momentum is the new National Deep Tech Startup Policy, which is officially rolling out in 2025. It’s not just another vision document. The government has already committed Rs. 20,000 crore ($2.4 billion) in the 2025 budget for private-sector-led R\&D. There’s also a Deep Tech Fund of Funds in motion and grants up to Rs.50 crore per project for sectors like AI, robotics, and quantum computing. What’s changing now is the institutional alignment. Academia, venture capital, corporates, and government policy are no longer working in silos. IIT Madras-backed AgniKul Cosmos, which launched the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine in 2024, is the perfect example of this convergence. Deep tech is also beginning to dominate VC interest. As of 2023, over 20% of all venture capital in India is flowing into deep tech startups. Funds like Capital-A, Speciale Invest, and Mela Ventures are taking early bets, while large corporates are now entering with strategic capital. Sector-wise, three domains are leading the charge: -> AI accounts for over 80% of deep tech funding in India, especially in diagnostics, enterprise tools, and generative AI applications. -> Green hydrogen is gaining commercial momentum, with startups like Newtrace building scalable solutions for industrial decarbonization. -> Space tech is now a national ambition. India aims to capture 10% of the projected $700B global space economy by 2030. India currently has over 4,000 operational deep tech startups, and that number is expected to hit 10,000 by 2030. These startups already account for over 12% of the country’s total startup base, and they’re responsible for creating thousands of high-skilled jobs, R\&D hubs, and IP-led exports. Of course, challenges remain. Growth-stage funding is still limited. Exit timelines are longer due to the nature of R&D-heavy models. But with strong policy, patient capital, and market-making institutions coming together, India’s deep tech sector finally has a foundation to scale. We talk a lot about India becoming a product nation. But this? This is where we become a science nation.

Zoho's Arattai: India’s Answer to Global Tech Challenges The recent H1B visa changes and rising tariffs from the US are making it clear. Indian talent can no longer rely only on working abroad. It is time to build products from India that the world can use and trust. Zoho’s Arattai messenger is the latest example. It is not just a chat app. It is a test of India’s ability to build technology that connects people, earns trust, and lasts globally. Here is why this matters: 🔹 Independence matters With global barriers rising, relying on foreign platforms alone is risky. Building strong Indian apps ensures we can communicate, share, and work without dependence. 🔹 Daily life integration is key Global tech succeeds when it becomes part of everyday life. Arattai must be easy to use, connect families, schools, offices, and communities, and fit naturally into daily habits. 🔹 Trust and security cannot be ignored People want privacy and secure communication. Local servers and strong encryption are steps in the right direction. Transparent testing will strengthen confidence. 🔹 Language and culture matter India is diverse. Apps must feel native to all languages and cultures. This is not just about technology; it is about respect for users and creating real value. 🔹 Switching is hard but necessary Users carry years of chats, photos, and documents on other platforms. A smooth way to migrate is crucial to help people adopt Indian products without friction. 🔹 Global relevance comes from understanding humans To compete internationally, Indian products must adapt to global habits, cultures, and trust patterns. The world uses apps differently. Success comes to those who understand people, not just technology. Arattai may or may not become the next global messenger. But its journey shows why India must create its own platforms. Building technology at home helps Indians communicate safely, protects our data, strengthens independence, and prepares us for a future where the world is competitive and unpredictable. The bigger lesson is clear: Indian tech can no longer only supply talent abroad. It must build products that the world uses, trusts, and relies on. That is the real power of innovation from India.

When India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, pointed out that startups are leaning too heavily on consumer-driven models like quick commerce and food delivery—rather than building deep-tech innovations—it should’ve sparked a meaningful debate. Instead, it triggered a storm of controversy. Yesterday I was sitting in the lounge at the Dubai airport started thinking: Why are we seeing this pattern? Why aren’t more Indian startups chasing innovation at the core? 𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙬𝙤-𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙙𝙄𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨—𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙚𝙩. 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙚. 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭: 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸-𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 One of the fundamental reasons lies in our early education system. From a young age, students in India are taught to memorize and follow instructions rather than think critically and innovate. The focus on rote learning and standardized testing creates a mindset that values stability over experimentation. Where Does This Lead? When these students transition into the world of entrepreneurship, they naturally gravitate towards business models that are low-risk and offer quicker returns. Instead of building groundbreaking technologies, they replicate successful models from abroad—delivery platforms, consumer apps, or fusion cuisines. These are perceived as safer bets, minimizing the chance of failure. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸-𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 It’s not just the education system. Indian society as a whole tends to be risk-averse. Families often encourage young people to choose stable, predictable careers over bold, experimental paths. Even when they venture into startups, the inclination is to choose business ideas that are perceived as safe rather than disruptive. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 In India, failure is often seen as a mark of incompetence rather than a valuable lesson. This societal attitude discourages entrepreneurs from venturing into deep-tech or uncharted areas where the chances of failure are inherently higher. Instead, they prefer to play it safe with business models that guarantee faster revenue. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗗𝗼 𝗪𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀? To truly drive innovation, we need to change our approach at two levels: 1. Education: Shift from rote learning to fostering creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking from an early age. 2. Mindset: Normalize failure as part of the growth process, both in families and in professional circles. It’s time we reframe our perception of innovation—supporting those who dare to build and fail rather than only celebrating quick commercial successes. In the next part of this series, I will discuss the external factors influencing this trend. Stay tuned!

Every global shock has two sides: disruption and opportunity. Right now, the world is seeing waves of change. Tech layoffs, stricter immigration policies, slowing growth in the West. On the surface, these look like headwinds for talent and innovation. But for India, they may turn into unexpected tailwinds. Here’s why. A lot of Indian tech talent is returning home. People who once built products in Silicon Valley or scaled teams in Europe are now back in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. They’re bringing with them not just skills, but global exposure, networks, and playbooks that will compound value here. At the same time, India’s own domestic engines are firing. “Make in India” is no longer a slogan, it’s a policy push that’s attracting capital, manufacturing, and new-age R&D. From semiconductors to EVs, from pharma APIs to electronics, the base is getting stronger. The combination is powerful. Returning talent meets rising local ambition. Global knowledge meets domestic execution. For decades, we spoke about India’s brain drain. Today, we might be at the cusp of a brain circulation. This isn’t to say challenges won’t exist. But if these global shifts align with India’s policy and entrepreneurial push, the result could be more than resilience. It could be acceleration. The India growth story has always been about turning constraints into opportunities. The next chapter might be about turning global volatility into domestic strength.

What's one Big Idea that will shape India's tech and startups space in 2025? Here's my take: #BigIdeas2025 #LinkedInNewsIndia India's tech ecosystem is moving beyond just building applications to fundamentally reimagining how we manage digital infrastructure at scale. Here's why this matters: India's digital transformation has reached a critical inflection point. We're no longer just the world's back office – we're building and managing mission-critical systems that power global businesses. Consider these numbers: * 70% of India's top 100 companies will run mission-critical workloads on cloud by 2025 * The country's SaaS revenue is projected to hit $35 billion by 2025 * Over 2 million developers will be working on cloud-native applications But this explosive growth comes with a challenge: as systems become more complex, traditional ways of managing infrastructure are breaking down. A single e-commerce platform today might involve dozens of microservices, multiple clouds, and generate terabytes of operational data daily. The big shift? Artificial Intelligence is stepping in to help manage this complexity. We're seeing the emergence of AI-powered platforms that can: * Automatically detect and diagnose system issues before they impact users * Learn from historical incidents to prevent future problems * Guide human engineers through complex troubleshooting processes * Optimize infrastructure costs and performance in real-time This isn't just automation – it's augmented intelligence for infrastructure. Think of it as having an experienced Site Reliability Engineer who never sleeps, learns from every incident, and can analyze millions of data points in seconds. The implications for India's tech sector are profound: * Startups can operate at global scale with smaller teams * Engineers can focus on innovation rather than firefighting * Companies can maintain reliability while moving faster The next generation of Indian tech companies won't just use AI – they'll be powered by AI at their operational core. This shift will create new categories of tools, new types of tech jobs, and new competitive advantages for companies that embrace it early.