Entrepreneur Critiques Startup Community’s Response to Piyush Goyal’s Comments
In a strong LinkedIn post, an entrepreneur and investor has expressed criticism towards the startup community’s reaction to recent statements made by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, particularly addressing boAt co-founder Aman Gupta for his appreciation of the minister’s words.
Gupta previously mentioned that it’s “not every day that the government asks founders to dream bigger,” in reference to Goyal’s remarks at Startup Mahakumbh. The minister had inquired why Indian founders predominantly focus on “consumer tech” rather than advancing in “deep tech” or innovation-driven projects. While Gupta perceived these remarks as motivation, entrepreneur and investor Sam Baisla took a significantly contrasting stance.
Baisla remarked, “Everything is wrong with this attitude,” asserting that Gupta’s comments suggested he required a minister’s “public ridicule and mockery” to inspire larger ambitions. Following this, Baisla issued three questions directed not only at Gupta but also at the larger Indian startup and investor ecosystem.
“The government’s responsibility is to facilitate and support the citizens, rather than to mock, blame, or label them as lazy. Why aren’t corporate leaders challenging the government?” he inquired.
Baisla further contended that the triumph of Indian entrepreneurs on the global stage counters the belief that Indian talent lacks ambition or diligence. “If individuals are lazy and unintelligent, why do they excel internationally?” he questioned, highlighting the success of Indians who migrate and establish globally recognized companies.
“The mentality of appeasing influential figures and failing to advocate for what is right poses a threat to our nation,” Baisla warned, stating that “this culture of ‘ji sir, hum hi gadhe hain’ will jeopardise the future for our coming generations.”
The comments echo a broader reaction from the startup community regarding Goyal’s statements. Numerous entrepreneurs took to social media to attribute the slowdown of India’s startup sector to bureaucratic hurdles and governmental red tape. Nevertheless, some view governmental criticism as a necessary form of accountability, while others interpret it as a collaborative push towards greater innovation.
