India’s startup founders highlighted the significant growth of the country’s startup ecosystem in the last ten years. They attributed this growth to stable policymaking, government support, and a strong entrepreneurial culture. As the Startup India initiative marks its tenth anniversary on January 16, entrepreneurs expressed optimism about India becoming a top choice for global investors.
Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, praised the favorable environment for startups in India compared to other global regions. He emphasized that India’s policy stability and consistency have given it a competitive edge. Despite caution in other markets like Europe and China, global investors remain positive about India, driven by the country’s well-received startup narrative abroad.
Ritesh Aggarwal, the founder and CEO of OYO, commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “startup Prime Minister” for his visionary leadership and focus on execution. Aggarwal credited initiatives like Startup India for transforming societal attitudes towards entrepreneurship, making it a respected career choice even within families.
Rohan Verma, CEO and Executive Director of MapmyIndia, lauded the Prime Minister’s vision for Digital India and Startup India, which he believes will inspire young innovators and shape India’s innovation landscape for the next two decades. Sanjeev Barnwal, co-founder of Meesho, highlighted the thriving startup ecosystem since 2014, attributing it to initiatives like Startup India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Yashish Dahiya, CEO and co-founder of Policybazaar, praised the government’s emphasis on “less government, more governance,” which laid a robust foundation for startups. He noted that Startup India has fostered an entrepreneurial movement across the nation, reaching various districts and states, thus contributing to the growth of the startup ecosystem in India.
