National Startup Day 2026: Here’s what some industry experts say:
Kshitij Tiwari, Founder and CEO, ideazmeet
“National Startup Day is a reminder that India’s startup ecosystem has entered a phase of maturity where impact matters as much as innovation. As the manufacturing ecosystem matures, the focus is shifting from rapid disruption to building platforms that address structural challenges such as fragmented supply chains, limited digital visibility, and trust deficits across the manufacturing value chain.
At ideazmeet, our objective has been to strengthen the digital backbone of manufacturing by enabling MSMEs to access global markets through transparent, technology-led collaboration. India’s manufacturers possess the capability and scale to support global demand, but unlocking this potential requires systems that improve discoverability, standardisation, and accountability.
With initiatives such as Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and supply chain diversification gaining momentum, startups play a critical role in operationalising policy outcomes on the ground. Thoughtfully applied technology can improve sourcing efficiency, enhance compliance, and strengthen supply chain resilience.
As India positions itself as a trusted global manufacturing destination, startups that align innovation with policy intent, empower MSMEs, and prioritise sustainable growth will drive long-term industrial competitiveness.”
Debidutt Acharya, Co-Founder and COO at One800
”Startup stories in India are most effective when they are based on actual, real-world customer issues. This National Startup Day honors the desire to create solutions that actually enhance millions of Indians’ daily lives.
We weren’t pursuing disruption for its own sake when we founded One800. We were addressing the straightforward but pervasive challenge of consumers not being able to fix their smartphones in a transparent and dependable manner. Even though India is one of the biggest smartphone markets in the world, professional after-sales support is still disjointed, unorganised, and inadequate. That gap offered a chance as well as a challenge.
Startups now have access to amazing technology, but how carefully they use it is what really sets them apart. Live repair streaming, a breakthrough introduction at One800, is used to rebuild customer trust rather than as a gimmick. When purposefully created, transparency may be a potent source of trust.
India’s startup ecosystem is at an inflection point where value creation must go hand in hand with sustainability. A strong ‘Repair, Don’t Replace’ mindset not only helps consumers extend device life and reduce e-waste, but also creates skilled jobs across the repair ecosystem, outcomes that matter as much as scale and valuation.”
Piyush Kedia, Co-Founder and CEO, InCommon
“We believe startups are the heartbeat of innovation, driving change across industries and geographies. On National Startup Day, we celebrate the courage and vision of entrepreneurs who challenge norms and create solutions that impact millions.
In the GCC, startups are emerging as key players in shaping the region’s future, fueled by digital transformation, strategic investments, and a growing appetite for innovation. Yet, scaling in this dynamic ecosystem requires the right talent, operational support, and access to global networks.
At InCommon, we are committed to bridging that gap connecting startups with the people, technology, and insights they need to thrive. We believe that when startups in the GCC are empowered, they do more than grow businesses – they create jobs, drive economic growth, and inspire a culture of entrepreneurship.”
Narendra Sen, Founder & CEO, RackBank and NeevCloud
“India’s startup ecosystem is pivoting from a phase of rapid experimentation to one of strategic scaling and sovereignty. As AI becomes the bedrock of innovation, mere access to the cloud is no longer enough—startups need high-performance, AI-ready infrastructure that is both indigenous and affordable.
To truly democratize AI, we must decentralize this power. Building robust, GPU-dense infrastructure in Tier 2 cities isn’t just about cost efficiency; it’s about enabling founders to build, train, and deploy locally while competing globally. The next unicorn shouldn’t be limited by the cost of compute or data latency.
The future belongs to those who control their compute. By prioritizing sustainable, sovereign, and scalable digital infrastructure today, we are laying the foundation for India not just to consume AI, but to lead it.”
