IIT’s Unicorn Boom vs Europe’s Silence: Vinod Khosla Calls It a ‘Talent Waste’

Silicon Valley investor Vinod Khosla praised India’s IIT for producing 36 unicorn startup founders—ranking third globally—while noting Europe’s complete absence from the top 20 universities for unicorn founders. The data, from Mojo Mortgages, analyzed over 300 startups valued at $1 billion+.

 

Key Highlights:

 

• Global Rankings: Stanford leads with 63 unicorn founders, Harvard 39, IIT 36, surpassing MIT and Columbia.

• India’s Rise: India ranks third globally with 69 unicorn founders, showcasing IIT’s key role despite limited resources.

• Europe’s Gap: Khosla called Europe’s absence a “waste of talent suppressed by cultural mores,” contrasting India’s entrepreneurial success.

• Founder Backgrounds: Most hold STEM or business degrees, including MBAs and engineering.

• Khosla’s View: He stressed the need for entrepreneurial culture and ecosystem support to convert talent into global impact.

 

Outlook:

 

Europe must foster startup ecosystems and risk-taking to compete globally. IIT’s success shows how emerging economies can lead innovation through focused talent and entrepreneurship.

 

Sources: Business Today, X (Twitter), Mojo Mortgages