Ishank Gupta

Category: Technology

  • India’s Fantasy Sports Boom: 225M Users & a $1B Gamble

    Every day, tens of millions of young Indians open fantasy sports apps to create virtual teams for real matches. What started as a fun way to engage with cricket has exploded into a nationwide phenomenon. Users join contests for almost every game, putting in money and hoping their chosen players will outperform others. But behind the excitement lurks a growing concern that this pastime is turning into an obsession.

    • 225 million Indians actively use fantasy sports platforms (mostly ages 18–30).
    • Fantasy apps earned nearly $1 billion in 2024 from contest fees and commissions.
    • Average user spends about 40–45 minutes daily on these apps.
    • Only a small fraction of players profit — most lose money overall.

    Big Numbers, Big Business

    With over 225 million users, fantasy sports platforms have built a massive audience by riding on India’s cricket fever. Players pay a small fee to enter contests and win prizes if their team performs well (otherwise they lose the fee). In 2024, these platforms generated nearly $1 billion from entry fees, showing how lucrative the industry has become. The majority of users are aged 18–30, so companies have turned a youth pastime into a billion-dollar business.

    Daily Habit and Dopamine Hits

    For many, checking fantasy sports apps is as routine as checking social media. There’s always another match, another contest, another chance to win. Apps send frequent notifications to pull users back in, and each contest brings a thrill of anticipation. That rush of dopamine keeps users hooked. What began as a game can start to feel like gambling, with players chasing the high of a win each day.

    The Real Cost: Time and Money

    While a lucky few boast of big wins, most players lose money as those small entry fees add up over time. And with the platform’s commission on each contest, the house always wins.

    Time is the other cost. An average user devotes 40–45 minutes a day to these apps — about 20 hours a month that could go toward school, work, or self-improvement. Instead, it’s spent on fantasy lineups, yielding no real skill — just a cycle of wagers and quick dopamine hits distracting from real-life responsibilities.

    Addiction Red Flags

    What begins as entertainment can spiral into addiction. Mental health experts report cases of fantasy players with symptoms mirroring gambling addiction — anxiety, sleepless nights, mood swings, and an inability to cut back. Some students can’t concentrate on studies, while young professionals overstretch their finances. Counselors call heavy fantasy gaming a form of digital addiction. The harm can be just as real as any other addiction.

    Player or Product? Rethinking the Fantasy

    If you’re putting money on every match, ask yourself: are you the player or the product? Fantasy platforms thrive on this habit, taking a cut from every contest entry. It’s fine to enjoy the thrill, but do it in moderation. Recognize when fun crosses into obsession, and set limits on your time and spending.

    India’s fantasy sports craze is a double-edged sword — offering excitement but also the risk of addiction. The fantasy game might be entertaining, but don’t let it turn your future into a fantasy. No amount of virtual points or winnings is worth sacrificing your real-life goals and well-being.

  • India’s AI Startup Formula: Wrappers vs Real Tech

    In India’s buzzing AI startup scene, a new formula is trending: take someone else’s pre-built AI model or tool, put a slick user interface on it, and call it an “AI startup.” In other words, repackage existing tech with a shiny wrapper and call it innovation. This approach might create a quick buzz and a functional app, but is it really deep tech — or just surface-level design?

    The Rise of the “Wrapper” AI Startup

    Many new AI ventures today follow this wrapper startup formula. They take an existing AI model or API built by someone else, add a bit of custom code or a slick user interface on top, and then market it as a new product. The pitch often sounds like, “We fixed the UX,” or “We made AI easy for users.” Sure, better UX is valuable – but under the hood, the core engine isn’t theirs. It’s akin to putting a fresh coat of paint on someone else’s machine: it may look new, but the technology driving it is the same.

    Core-Tech AI Startups: Building the Engine

    In contrast, true deep-tech AI startups build their own engines from the ground up. They develop original models, gather proprietary data, and conduct in-house research. These founders can proudly say, “We built the whole engine,” rather than just the shell. This approach is tougher and more time-consuming — it demands serious R&D and patience — but it produces genuine innovation and intellectual property. In other words, real tech happens when the model is yours, the data is yours, and the research is yours.

    Why India Needs More Core Tech Innovation

    If most AI startups here stick to wrapping existing tech, India will remain a consumer rather than a creator of technology. Copying someone else’s tech with a better UI might get you a company, sure. But it won’t build a thriving ecosystem. As the saying goes, a copy can build a company, but only original research builds an ecosystem.

    When Indian startups focus on core tech, they strengthen the nation’s innovation ecosystem. Home-grown AI breakthroughs mean future ventures can build on Indian innovations, academia can partner with industry on cutting-edge projects, and India is seen as a tech creator, not just an adapter. In short, India needs more core-tech creators, not just app builders.

    From Wrapper to Innovator: A Call to Action

    To young builders and founders: aim to be a tech innovator, not just an app assembler. Using existing models and APIs is a fine way to start — it lets you prototype quickly and learn. But don’t stop there. Dive deeper. Learn how those models work under the hood. Collect your own data. Train your own models, even if they start simple. Tackle problems that off-the-shelf tools haven’t cracked. Yes, it’s a tougher path, but that’s where real breakthroughs lie. In the long run, those who build the engine will drive innovation forward. Ask yourself: Are you just fixing the UX, or are you building the whole engine?