India’s AI Potential: Insights from Industry Leaders
At the recent ET Soonicorns Summit 2025, a panel discussion led by key industry stakeholders highlighted India’s potential in the AI sector, juxtaposing it against global leaders like China and the US.
The Need for Research Investment
Manish Gupta, senior director at Google DeepMind, emphasized that India lags behind in research and innovation. He called on Indian AI talent and founders to seize growing opportunities within the sector.
Waking Up to Opportunities
“India’s private industry needs to wake up and start investing in research — so that we can be makers of these technologies, not just consumers,” Gupta remarked during the panel discussion.
Charting a Billion-Dollar Blueprint
The panel of industry leaders outlined a billion-dollar AI blueprint intended to help scale Indian startups over the next decade.
Meet the Panelists
The panel included notable figures: Abhishek Nag, head of early-stage VC 360 One Asset; Shally Modi, co-founder of the digital storytelling platform Pratilipi; Raghunandan G, founder of the cross-border fintech platform Zolve; and Arnab Kumar, director of business development for India & South Asia at Uber.
Leveraging AI for Startup Growth
Discussion points also highlighted how today’s startups can leverage artificial intelligence to build their businesses from the ground up.
Customer Acquisition Made Easy
Shally Modi of Pratilipi highlighted that acquiring the first 100 customers has become significantly easier. “It is the best time to validate the idea from the zero to one phase,” he stated.
Building on Existing Talent
Emphasizing the existing talent pool, Gupta stated that India is already contributing to foundational technologies. “We lack courage,” he said, urging founders to take bold leaps.
Examples of Courageous Innovation
Gupta drew attention to the spacetech sector, mentioning startups like Agnikul and Pixxel as examples of courage and innovation in Indian entrepreneurship.
Bridging the Innovation Gap
The conversation shifted towards bridging the gap in research and innovation. Industry leaders expressed a collective responsibility to foster an environment conducive to innovation.
Collaboration is Key
Collaboration among various sectors was emphasized as a pathway to integrate AI more deeply into emerging startups.
Investment in Education
Panelists also touched upon the importance of investing in education to cultivate the next generation of innovators and researchers in AI.
Global Competitiveness
To remain globally competitive, Indian startups must emphasize unique value propositions and leverage AI effectively, according to the panelists.
Future Industry Trajectory
The industry leaders projected a promising trajectory for AI in India, suggesting that with focused efforts, India could position itself as an innovator rather than a mere consumer of technology.
Road Ahead for Startups
As the panel concluded, industry leaders urged startups to be proactive in embracing AI and to look for avenues to innovate across various sectors.
The Role of Investors
Investors were encouraged to explore funding opportunities for AI initiatives to drive the growth of tech-driven startups.
Challenges Ahead
Challenges remain, including the need for comprehensive policies to support research and innovation tirelessly fostered in the ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
With a strong call to action from industry leaders, the message was clear: the time is ripe for Indian startups to redefine their roles in the tech landscape through courage and innovation.
Conclusion
The panel discussion at the ET Soonicorns Summit 2025 served as a significant reminder of India’s potential in AI, urging private industry to invest more in research and innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Manish Gupta?
Manish Gupta is the senior director at Google DeepMind, focusing on research and innovation in artificial intelligence.
2. What was discussed at the ET Soonicorns Summit 2025?
The panel discussion addressed India’s lag in research compared to China and the US, emphasizing the necessity for investment in AI innovation.
3. What did Shally Modi say about customer acquisition?
Shally Modi mentioned that acquiring the first 100 customers has become much easier, presenting a prime opportunity to validate startup ideas.
4. Why is courage important for Indian founders?
Gupta stressed that while talent exists, a lack of courage often holds back founders from pushing boundaries and innovating.
5>Which startups were mentioned as examples of innovation?
Startups like Agnikul and Pixxel were mentioned as key players showcasing courageous innovation in India’s spacetech sector.
