What is the next big thing in India?

Here's a breakdown of the potential next big wave for Indian startups: Deep tech: This involves applying complex technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and Internet of Things (IoT) to solve problems in areas like healthcare, agriculture, and clean energy. Investors are looking for startups that go beyond simple consumer apps and solve substantial challenges. Focus on intellectual property (IP): Developing new, innovative products and solutions will be key for Indian startups to compete globally. This could involve creating new devices, materials, or processes. Tier 2 and 3 cities: The startup boom has largely been concentrated in metro cities. The next wave is expected to see more startups catering to the needs and challenges of smaller cities and rural areas. Social impact: There's a growing interest in startups that address social issues like poverty, education, and healthcare. These startups could use technology to create a positive impact on society.

While there are lot of VCs coming out with their ‘expert’ outlook on 2024, let’s be real to share our own predictions. Idea is to share and learn and not just mudsling. Let me go first with few of my own 1. Neobanking will go belly up - it’s really hard to make money in just Savings account led neobanking I believe. With lending increasingly difficult, I think we will see likes of Jupiter going belly up 2. Gold mine of climate tech - climate tech will become more mainstream stream (similar to content and community in 2021, D2C in 2022 and SaaS in 2023) What are yours?

I have been on this journey for a long time now. Lots of failure comes with loads of learning. Each step or initiative I took has helped me grow as a person, the business guy (ed-tech, media space), and also in terms of technicalities (full-stack product management, hardcore hands-on into technology and I love user experience) Ps: currently running an edtech startup in pre-seed/seed stage Feel free to ask anything, would be happy to help even personally

What's the scene with Indian FinTech companies, like Jupiter, Razorpay, Navi, Fi, Cashfree etc... I see some of them have started hiring again, are they a good option to join?

I am currently a SDE-II at a big Ed-tech Unicorn in India (PW). I feel like it's making me comfortable now. What companies should I look up to for the switch? PS: My interest lies towards fintech.

Absolutely sad to see the state of the startups, most of them. I am a founder myself, and this is a post with equal disappointment with myself as much as it is for anyone else who relates. Look at all these companies that have raised shit tons of capital, and now make a fraction of money that has been invested in them. The raised money is spent on outsized, non business sense making acquisition costs, only to keep repeating it till the tap runs dry. Then when all stakeholders get bored, the service quality plummets, the employees are fired and whole sectors are admonished as being bad. But, my question is, which sector where large sums of money was invested in early days have come out with flying colours. Fucking nothing ! Edtech, proptech, agritech, ecommerce etc. etc. etc. kuch bhi nahi. Is there any sector where a startup which has raised in the 100s of millions in the first 5 years have actually built a sustainable business at any scale ? Then scaling down, isse acha, scale slowly. The worst part of this whole drama, is pushing the innovation wheel backward and destroying customer sentiment. Isse acha, raise less money inititally, build slowly, and only scale when the market is ready. Artifical growth makes no sense, unless you have a treasure chest that shall never run out. Even in that case, spend the money on assets and not on random acquisition costs, direct or indirect. As founders, let's do better, nahi ?

Just a random thought which popped in my mind that when you say online classes most people tend to feel uneasy due to how online classes were conducted by our traditional schools / colleges which to be very honest the faculties are technologically challenged and lack the tools or knowledge to conduct them. It was just a joke tbh. Now however people have that idea of online education in mind which means they are completely against online education and EdTech even though these are companies who have the knowledge and technology to conduct them well and are made for online education. How can we fix this mess and do you think EdTech will survive as an industry or become obsolete in India ?

name and shame!