Ishank Gupta

Blog

  • AI Agents: India’s Next Global Opportunity

    AI agents are not just another tech buzzword — they are poised to become India’s next global opportunity. Around the world, technology is evolving from simple digital systems to intelligent agents that can execute tasks end-to-end with minimal human input. In this new paradigm, a user simply gives an AI a goal, and the agent figures out how to accomplish it, handling the heavy lifting automatically.

    From Chatbots to Autonomous Agents

    This shift represents the natural evolution of generative AI. Early generative AI tools (think chatbots and content generators) could produce text, images, or code on demand, but AI agents take it a step further. They don’t just respond with information — they take action. Give an AI agent an objective, and it can plan tasks, interact with apps or services, and work until the job is done.

    • Goal-driven autonomy: Traditional chatbots answer questions, but an AI agent can accept a goal (e.g. “schedule my meetings for next week”) and autonomously break it into tasks to achieve the desired result.
    • Action-oriented execution: Instead of just chatting, AI agents can perform actions like booking appointments, analyzing data, or managing workflows, functioning as true digital assistants.
    • Multi-step reasoning: AI agents maintain context and handle multi-step tasks seamlessly, whereas basic bots often get stuck after a single prompt.

    India’s Generative AI Boom

    India’s tech ecosystem is already buzzing with generative AI (GenAI) innovation. The country’s GenAI market was valued at around $1.1 billion in 2024 and is projected to soar to $17 billion by 2030. This explosive growth (nearly 50% annually) underscores just how fast AI adoption is accelerating. There are also an estimated 100 to 150 homegrown GenAI startups in India today, each experimenting with AI in creative ways.

    Yet, most of these startups are still in an early or pilot phase when it comes to AI agents. Many are focused on building smarter chatbots or AI content platforms. The concept of fully autonomous, task-completing agents is only beginning to take shape. This means there’s a huge opportunity for Indian innovators to pioneer agentic AI solutions before the rest of the world catches up.

    India’s Opportunity to Lead

    AI agents are the next big step in artificial intelligence — a revolution that India has the chance to lead. By investing in and building AI agents now, Indian founders and developers can position themselves ahead of global competitors. Our vast pool of tech talent and entrepreneurial spirit gives us an edge to create AI agents that can serve not just India, but markets around the world.

    Seizing this moment could put India at the forefront of defining how agentic workflows become a part of everyday business and life. It’s a call to action for founders, developers, and investors: focus on solutions that don’t just chat, but actually get work done. By championing AI agents early, India can shape the new tech world and solidify its status as a global leader in artificial intelligence.

  • Shark Tank vs Startup Success: Solve Problems, Not Pitches

    Watching Shark Tank might make you think the biggest startup skill is delivering a perfect pitch, but that mindset is a big mistake. A flashy pitch makes for great television, but real startup success happens off-camera. In the real world, the product sells — not the pitch.

    The Shark Tank Effect: Pitch Drama vs. Reality

    Shark Tank is a TV show, and its primary goal is entertainment. Dramatic showdowns and soundbites keep viewers hooked, but they can distort a founder’s perspective. On TV, deals are struck in minutes and drama often eclipses substance. New entrepreneurs may start to believe that mastering the pitch is all that matters. A good pitch can grab attention, but it’s not a guarantee of sustainable success. Real investors care about traction, product-market fit, and the team’s ability to execute — not just theatrics.

    Real Startup Success: Solve Problems and Build Great Products

    The startups that thrive are the ones fixing real problems and delighting customers, not just impressing investors. The true ingredients of startup success are:

    • Solving a genuine problem: Identify a real pain point and address it.
    • Building a quality product: Create a solution that works and delivers value.
    • Understanding your customer: Know your users’ needs, feedback, and behaviors.

    Pitching isn’t even on this list. That’s because if you nail these fundamentals, the pitch will take care of itself. A founder focused on problem, product, and customer will naturally speak passionately. More importantly, they’ll have substance behind the pitch — real users, real feedback, and a product that speaks for itself.

    Build for Customers, Not Investors

    One trap of the Shark Tank frenzy is building a startup for investors instead of for customers. If all your decisions are geared towards ‘What will get me funded?’ you risk losing sight of what will get you customers. The irony is that by chasing investor approval, you might end up with neither investors nor customers. But if you chase customer love — building features people need, providing great service, iterating on user feedback — you create real value. Investors notice traction, not just talk. Always prioritize your end-users’ problems and experiences over what might sound good in a pitch deck.

    Funding Follows Traction: The Ultimate Takeaway

    The bottom line: funding is a byproduct of success, not its definition. In the real world, funding follows traction — not vice versa. When your product solves a big problem, it will gain users, buzz, and momentum. That’s when investors (the ‘sharks’ in real life) come knocking. The next time you have a startup idea, don’t frame it around how to get on Shark Tank or attract quick capital. Instead, focus on your users’ pain points and how to solve them. If you build something people truly need, you won’t have to chase investors — they’ll seek you out. Real startup success is earned by serving customers and achieving sustainable growth; the flashy pitch is just icing on the cake.

  • From Coders to Chip Designers: India’s RISC-V Revolution

    India has given the world millions of software developers who power global apps. But the processors running all that code are designed and controlled abroad – mostly by the United States or China. The code may be ours, but the platform it runs on is someone else’s. Whether it’s Intel’s x86 or an ARM-based chip, the design and control lie outside India. And it’s not just phones or laptops – everything from EVs to defense systems and AI runs on processors. Without owning processor technology, India’s digital power remains incomplete.

    Why Software Alone Isn’t Enough

    Relying on software prowess while importing critical hardware is a strategic weakness. Code without hardware control is like building on someone else’s land. If the underlying chips have backdoors or export restrictions, our software advantage can vanish overnight. True tech independence means owning the full stack – both the code and the silicon. When India’s applications run on foreign chips, we are playing by their rules. This dependence limits innovation and leaves us vulnerable to supply shocks and geopolitical pressure. Software success means little if we lack hardware sovereignty.

    US and China: The Chip Power Play

    The United States has led the tech world for decades largely because its homegrown processor giants like Intel dominated microprocessors, allowing it to dictate standards and drive computing dominance. In the past decade, China has poured billions into developing its own processors to reduce reliance on US technology. From Huawei’s smartphone chips to supercomputers, China knows that controlling processor IP is key to tech leadership. The lesson is clear: those who design and control chips set the pace in everything from consumer gadgets to defense systems.

    RISC-V: India’s Open-Source Chip Opportunity

    Enter RISC-V, an open-source processor architecture – a chip blueprint anyone can use freely without royalties. Unlike ARM or Intel’s designs, no single company owns RISC-V. This means Indian engineers can design processors on a level playing field, free from licensing restrictions or foreign approval. India is already investing in this arena with government-backed programs to develop indigenous RISC-V chips. By embracing this open architecture, we can create everything from IoT microcontrollers to AI accelerators that are Made in India. RISC-V is our chance to build an independent chip ecosystem from scratch.

    Beyond Coders: Nurturing India’s Chip Creators

    If India aspires to be a global tech superpower, it must move beyond being the world’s software back-office and cultivate tech creators who master both software and silicon. We have millions of developers – now we need to train homegrown chip designers. Indian startups and research labs should be building processors optimized for our needs, from secure defense systems to everyday electronics. The government’s recent RISC-V push is a start, but it must be matched by education and industry investment. Developing apps is good, but designing the chips they run on is even better. By moving from coders to chip creators, India can gain true tech independence and secure its digital future.

  • 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?

  • Why India’s MSMEs Need a Digital Push from the Ground Up

    India is witnessing a boom in artificial intelligence (AI) and deep tech at the highest levels. The government is pouring funds into AI through initiatives like a National AI Mission, and startups are making headlines with cutting-edge solutions. However, outside the glitzy tech hubs, millions of small businesses remain stuck in the past. The AI and deep tech revolution has yet to reach these grassroots enterprises.

    The High-Tech vs. Ground Reality Disconnect

    There is a glaring disconnect between high-level tech advancement and ground-level adoption. India has over 63 million MSMEs – the backbone of the economy – but most remain largely analog. While the tech sector races ahead, the typical small business owner still relies on pen-and-paper ledgers, manual billing, and gut-feel inventory management. By some estimates, over 80% of these businesses use such basic methods, meaning today’s AI innovations are effectively out of reach for them.

    Notebooks, Excel, and Memory: The MSME Routine

    Walk into a typical kirana (neighborhood grocery) store or small workshop and the reality is clear: sales and expenses are often logged in a notebook. Invoices are handwritten and inventory exists mostly in the owner’s memory. Despite the rise of UPI and other digital payments at the counter, these businesses have little to no digital infrastructure behind the scenes. A huge part of the economy thus runs without modern tools – no analytics, no AI-driven efficiency, just paper and memory.

    Why Bottom-Up Digital Adoption Matters

    To truly realize a “Digital India,” change must happen from the bottom up. Focusing only on top-tier tech innovation while ignoring small enterprises creates a superficial digital revolution. Bottom-up digital adoption means equipping MSMEs – the local shop, the warehouse, the family-run factory – with accessible tech tools. If these businesses digitize their operations, it lays the foundation for next-level advancements:

    • Operational Efficiency: Moving from paper to digital systems reduces errors and saves time. Tasks like billing, accounting, and inventory tracking become faster and more accurate.
    • Data-Driven Decisions: Once information is digitized, businesses can leverage data for better decision-making. For example, digital sales records allow owners to identify trends and manage stock proactively rather than by guesswork.
    • Access to Advanced Tech: With digital data in place, MSMEs can finally tap into advanced tools like AI analytics, predictive inventory management, or personalized marketing. Without basic digitization, these deep tech innovations simply cannot be applied.

    No AI Revolution Without MSME Digitization

    India’s AI and deep tech revolution will remain hollow if it doesn’t uplift its foundational businesses. The country cannot claim true digital transformation while so many entrepreneurs remain stuck in the ledger-and-pen era. Digital India’s success hinges on MSME inclusion. Empowering small businesses with digital tools is not just a tech upgrade, but a necessity for sustainable growth. Only when the neighborhood retailer and the small-scale manufacturer go digital will the tech revolution move beyond buzzwords. In essence, without MSME digitization, India’s AI and deep tech advances remain superficial.