From ‘last benchers’ to global talent
Ritesh Agarwal, who recalled being a “last bencher” at the very first Startup India event in 2016, noted that the social status of entrepreneurs has completely flipped. “Earlier, entrepreneurship was seen as ‘wrong company.’ Today, being a founder is one of the top profiles on matrimonial sites,” he declared. Agarwal also stressed that top talent from Harvard and Stanford now increasingly prefers returning to India to build startups over joining traditional MNCs.
Mohit Yadav, who built a ₹3,000 crore brand in just four years, spoke about the “knowledge parity” now seen across India. He recalled that in 2020, investors doubted whether a ₹100 crore brand could be built purely online. “Today, the question isn’t if you can do it, but how many years it will take to reach ₹1,000 crore,” Yadav declared, noting that 25% of his business now comes from exports.
Relentless energy
Reflecting on the government’s role, Aman Gupta shared an anecdote about the Prime Minister’s relentless energy during a state visit to France. “I was working from 7 AM to midnight and had to take melatonin to sleep. When I woke up late the next day, the PM was already in the UAE meeting people,” Gupta declared. He noted that this same high-octane energy now flows through the entire startup ecosystem, where even 13-year-old founders are pitching AI startups and securing funding.
Startup India’s 10-year journey has played a major role in fundamentally shifting India’s youth—from a mindset of seeking stability to one of embracing risk. While the initial years were about building the foundation and basic digital infrastructure, the current phase is defined by rapid scale and global ambition. As the ecosystem matures, the focus is clearly relocating toward deep-tech innovation and sustainable profitability, ensuring that startups remain a permanent and significant pillar of India’s economic future.
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