On National Startup Day, Zerodha Founder and CEO Nithin Kamath on Friday struck an optimistic note on India’s startup ecosystem, saying that despite global uncertainty and domestic challenges, there has never been a better time for entrepreneurs to build in the country, as the Startup India initiative marks its 10th year. 

“There's a lot of pessimism about India's growth prospects right now, amplified by the sheer amount of geopolitical drama we're living through. But if we aren't hopeful that India will do better, then everything becomes moot,” he said in a post on the social media platform X. 

Addressing concerns over slowing growth and global tensions, Kamath acknowledged the prevailing pessimism but urged people not to lose faith. He said India does face serious challenges but added that such issues are part of every country’s growth journey. 

“This isn't to say we don't have real problems. We do. But every successful country has had to deal with its own share of thorny challenges along its development path. What matters is how we respond,” he said. 

Significant progress over the years 

Calling National Startup Day the right moment to reflect, Kamath said India has made significant progress over the years. “Today is National Startup Day, and I can't think of a better time to build something in India, and for the world, despite all the challenges,” he said, adding that while criticism is natural, the country has still come a long way. 

He compared the current startup ecosystem with the situation a decade ago, noting a major shift. “If I were tweeting this in 2015-16, the startup scene barely existed outside of a few big e-commerce companies. There were no local pools of capital. No recognition,” Kamath said. 

According to him, the situation today is very different, with strong domestic capital, a large market, and policy support. “For India, this means we have all the enabling factors in place: improving ease of doing business, deeper pools of local capital, a massive domestic market, and active government support for startups,” he said. 

AI making things easy 

Kamath also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in lowering entry barriers for new founders. “Most importantly, AI has dramatically reduced the barriers to experimentation,” he said, explaining that ideas which once needed large teams and budgets can now be tested much faster. 

“Given all of these converging factors, if you've always had a dream to build something, there's never been a better time to take your shot,” he concluded.