Leadership is a role that’s filled with pride but equally demands tremendous effort and unfailing accountability. Defying the complications, one has to ensure that the team grows and constantly marches towards the pinnacle of success. A leader should be competent enough to make the right decisions at the right time for the larger development of the organization as well as for the team members. He must be well aware of the basic background of the team members—their strengths, weaknesses, interests, etc.—provide a conducive environment for them to thrive, and ultimately serve as a beacon of light, guiding the team in the right direction.
From availing material resources—credit, technology, state-of-the-art infrastructure, etc.—to rolling out favorable laws, regulations, and policies; from consistently boosting morale to ensuring every team member gets a fair opportunity to excel, a leader has a multifaceted job. Another crucial factor that defines the moral stature of a leader is how they behave, engage in day-to-day conversations, provide opportunities, take the blame, and earnestly give credit where it’s due. Unless leaders breed positivity about their team members and refrain from gossip or criticism—especially in front of the external world—the team will neither feel driven to give their best, nor will the organization reach its true potential.
Case in point: the minister who recently (and publicly) lambasted the startup ecosystem—especially quick commerce giants. These unicorns and high-valuation companies (and their founding members), who have sailed through innumerable difficulties for years to finally launch products and services that make life easier for millions today, were belittled and mislabeled by none other than a top political 'leader'—right from the vanguard of Startup Mahakumbh. Digressing from the true spirit of the term ‘Mahakumbh’—which is intended to bring all shades of people together for a unified cause—this event instead alienated its recipients and opened a new front of hostility against the government.
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My candid take on the minister’s remarks and the current state of India’s startup ecosystem:
1. Quick Commerce: A Boon for Employment Generation
Hands down, quick commerce and commutation tech giants such as Zepto, Blinkit, Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, Rapido, etc., have not only made daily life more convenient for millions, but more importantly, have also created employment for some 1.3 million gig and platform workers (as per NITI Aayog’s 2022 report). A majority of these workers come from limited educational backgrounds and may not have had access to more dignified employment opportunities otherwise.
(While it’s true that the rise of these new-age FMCG-delivery startups threatens the survival of traditional marketplaces, that is a separate issue—not one that justifies the uncaring comments made by the leader.)
2. Inventions in AI-ML, Semiconductor and EV: A Cakewalk or What?
Expecting startups to lead innovation in cutting-edge technologies like semiconductors, AI, EVs, blockchain, etc., is certainly visionary. But asking companies with an established niche to pivot into these areas is like asking a marketing graduate to write advanced Python code. Even under the Semicon India Program, which plans ₹76,000 crore in investments, actual results will require years of groundwork, research, and global collaboration.
3. Promote, But Not at the Cost of Denigrating Others
Just as general category non-EWS students have long suffered due to flawed reservation policies, this kind of skewed thinking, overly ambitious expectations, and step-treatment by the government will shatter the morale of startup founders. The ultimate sufferers will be common citizens, who will face the consequences of this discouragement.
4. It’s Not a Mere Dukandari, Mind You!
Labeling quick commerce startups as mere dukandars is a gross understatement of their contributions and success. Building platforms that serve dozens of cities nationwide involves meticulous planning, talent acquisition, and significant capital and tech investments.
Take Zepto, for example—operating in over 10 major Indian cities, it raised $600 million in under 3 years and is currently valued at $1.4 billion. Calling it 'dukandari' is peak belittlement.
5. Say No to Toxic Competition
AI, ML, EVs—yes, they require superior skill. But that doesn’t make other industries inferior. This is akin to the outdated notion that science graduates are intellectually superior to arts students. Neither the arts graduates can make bridges or jets, nor the PCM graduates will always make good historians, sociologists, economists, or geologists. All fields have their own importance that can’t be objectively quantified. 'Developing' India won’t really become 'developed' until these leaders promote an all-encompassing development, rather than limiting themselves to a bunch of the latest cutting-edge technologies only!
6. Healthier (not Healthy per se) Food Deserves a Healthy Boost
Creating a business around healthier foods (like low-sugar ice creams) should be encouraged, especially when over 13 million cases of food and waterborne diseases are reported annually (as per the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare) and diabetes, hypertension and lifestyle related ailments are seeing a constant uptick. Whether people can afford them or not is a separate debate—what’s unfair is for leaders to dismiss these ventures without due consideration, or comment negatively on the efficacy of these 'guilt-free' eatables.
7. Let ’em Breathe!
Many Indian startups have long suffered from Asphyxia when it comes to breathing in a startup conducive environment; got a heart attack with the overdose of regulatory & licensing cholesterol; and found their morale fractured after falling from the cliffs of taxation, registration, and legal convolutions. The last World Bank's 2020 ‘Ease of Doing Business’ report (before its discontinuation), where India was ranked 63rd globally, points towards a similar pitiful tale. How come an industrial leader expect his team members to take giant strides in these challenging new-age fields, when they aren’t even provided with the basic optimum standards of resources?
8. Gosh, These Double Standards!
Comparing the Indian startups with those from China would be as unfair as comparing some Indian state’s police with the R&AW. Besides population (that ideally is no sort of achievement), India lags far behind the Sino in terms of economic strength, manufacturing abilities, defence might, R&D capabilities etc. And that’s the reason why, according to the World Bank’s data, China's GDP stands today at a whopping $18+ trillion, broadly five times that of India's, and their R&D spending of nearly 2.4% of GDP, outshines ours. On one end, time and again, the dragon has been bashed by the political pundits and the bureaucratic top brass, while on the other, it is being epitomized for its exceptional achievements. These double standards must go!
It’s true—the minister didn’t say anything factually bizarre. And yes, some of the concerns do make sense. But tone, timing, and platform are everything. The remarks, unfortunately, dampened the spirits of a startup community already facing systemic neglect—something that in the long run, will hurt not just founders but also the everyday citizen and the country’s growth narrative.
In essence, the above insights collectively highlight the qualities of effective leadership—and paints quite an impressive picture of the quick-commerce startup ecosystem in the country.
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Ironically, even the founders of AI, ML, semiconductor, and EV companies will still need groceries and food delivered to their doorsteps... won’t they?