Home to more than 80,000 startups, India is today the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. With over 100 unicorns that boast a total valuation of more than $300 billion, India’s digital economy has thrived in the past decade, attracting global investors and shaping a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation across the country, including in the Tier 2 and 3 markets and across Bharat. Despite the ongoing funding winter, India’s new-age tech entrepreneurs are now setting their sights on creating more sustainable, resilient businesses and on building from India for India and the world. With startups poised to play an increasingly crucial role in powering India’s techade and its digital economy, the Economic Times presents ET Startup Day Special feature on the occasion of India’s ‘National Startup Day’ on January 16, as recognised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.The ET Startup Day Special features an in-depth interview with Aadit Palicha, India’s youngest soonicorn founder and pioneer in the quick commerce segment, as he speaks with Digbijay Mishra, Deputy Editor of ETtech, Economic Times on his entrepreneurial journey and his outlook for the quick commerce space. Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra co-founded Zepto in April of 2021, at the age of 19; today, the company is valued at $900 million.Hosted by Miloni Bhatt, Editor – Digital Broadcast, economictimes.com, the ET Startup Day Special also features a series of special messages from several leading Indian startup founders, including Naiyya Saggi, Co-founder of Good Glamm Group, Vishwas Patel, Executive Director of Infibeam Avenues Ltd, and Ram Kewalramani, MD and Co-founder of CredAble. Together, the startup founders shared their optimism and outlook for the Indian startup ecosystem; their views on the policy and ecosystem support needed to power the next leg of growth for Indian startups; their business goals and focus areas for 2023 and ahead; and, their message for aspiring and young entrepreneurs from across India.
