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This is an incredibly narrow and elitist view. Flipkart's logistics network is genuinely innovative tech solving India-specific problems. UPI and digital payments infrastructure is world-class. ISRO is literally landing on the moon with fraction of NASA's budget. Just because it's not Silicon Valley-style doesn't mean it's not "real tech."

no nobility in being an Indian in the tech space yes. but what are you working on to change that?

You’re not entirely wrong about the glorified logistics disguised as “tech.” Most Indian startups are just execution layers over existing problems. Tech is an enabler, not the core.

The IIT classism point hits hard. The entire education system creates artificial hierarchies that have nothing to do with actual innovation or problem-solving ability. Non-IIT engineers are treated as second-class citizens, which kills creativity and risk-taking. The best entrepreneurs often come from unconventional backgrounds.

My concern is the same, but I’ve built a real tech-backed brand and product but haven’t received funding yet. Although I haven’t seriously tried pitching for funding so far, just reached out to a few VCs. Still, any suggestions?

We have gigantic tech powered companies mostly services (ITes, Financial, Commerce). Real innovation mostly stems from deep research which is mostly done in Ivy league colleges in the US.

The comparison to Silicon Valley is unfair but the core criticism has merit. Most Indian "tech" companies are service businesses with apps, not technology companies. The real question is whether India needs to build the next Google, or whether solving local problems efficiently is sufficient. Different markets, different innovation patterns.

I dont agree to this but let me tell you something about Indian startup they only fund IIMs and strong background guys no one else can succeed in get a gaint company as there is no support for example I m self have a company with multiple uses no one is interested. the actual reality of Indian startup

The regulatory environment stifles genuine innovation. Getting patents approved takes years, starting a company requires navigating dozens of bureaucratic hurdles, and import duties on research equipment are insane. Meanwhile, the government throws money at "startup India" initiatives that mostly benefit consultants and event organizers.

and bunch of delivery services

The research funding crisis is real. Most government research grants are bureaucratic nightmares with tiny budgets. Private companies don't invest in R&D because they can just hire talent from abroad or acquire foreign tech. The publish-or-perish academic culture also discourages practical innovation.

So what is real tech?

Counterpoint: building a functioning delivery network at Indian scale is a technical challenge. It’s not flashy ML or blockchain, but it’s very much tech.

Harsh but mostly accurate. The Indian startup ecosystem is obsessed with copy-paste business models and calling delivery apps "tech companies." Meanwhile, actual deep tech research happens in universities and labs that get zero attention or funding. The brain drain is real - anyone doing serious AI/ML research eventually moves to the US because that's where the resources are.

we agree