Delivery Apps or AI Dreams? Goyal Redefines Startup Priorities

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal's recent statement at Startup Mahakumbh 2025 has created doubts in the nation about the direction of India's startup ecosystem in the coming times. Addressing entrepreneurs and investors, Goyal urged startups to steer themselves away from consumer apps such as food ordering to new frontier areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and robotics. He questioned whether India would be content with gig economy jobs or seek technological dominance, asking rhetorically, "Are we going to be happy being delivery boys and girls?"

 

Goyal's observations elicited scathing responses from business executives. Aadit Palicha, CEO of Zepto, came to the defense of consumer internet startups, listing their contribution through job creation, tax revenue, and supply chain innovation. Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai also criticized the government for not favoring deep-tech startups, citing the difference in the funding gap between India and countries like China.

 

The minister also proposed a Rs 10,000-crore Fund of Funds for deep-tech startups, a policy thrust towards entrepreneurship by innovation. But the controversy highlights a larger struggle in India's startup ecosystem: a battle between employment at the grassroots and aspirations of technological dominance on the global stage.

 

Source: Moneycontrol