According to Wadhwa, Indian entrepreneurs are overlooking a significant chance to apply cutting-edge hardware for public benefit, instead opting for “brain-dead” projects aimed at short-term gains over lasting impact. Vionix Biosciences CEO, Vivek Wadhwa has taken aim at India’s startup ecosystem, criticizing it for being overly focused on “brain-dead” ventures that ignore pressing societal needs. Speaking at the News18, Rising Bharat Summit 2025, Wadhwa echoed recent comments made by Union Minister, Piyush Goyal, urging startup founders to move beyond building food delivery platforms and gig-economy apps. He noted that these sensors, now common in Apple and Android smartphones, could be used to address environmental issues in areas like Delhi and Punjab. However, he expressed disappointment that such impactful ideas are being sidelined.
Although India’s startup scene has grown rapidly, Wadhwa urged innovators to focus their efforts on solving real-world challenges that technology is increasingly capable of addressing. Previously, two startup leaders—Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola Cabs and Aman Gupta, Co-Founder and CMO of BOAT have also voiced strong support for Union Minister, Piyush Goyal’s call for more ambitious innovation in India’s startup space. Bhavish Aggarwal took to X (formerly Twitter) to back Goyal’s remarks, urging entrepreneurs to move beyond consumer tech and embrace high-impact, futuristic ventures. “Fully agree with Minister, Piyush Goyal’s statement. Our startup community needs to introspect as to why we’re just building consumer tech companies,” he wrote. “Entrepreneurs need to reflect and, instead of building lifestyle apps, build innovation and future tech. Rockets, AI drugs, EUV machines, new mineral refining tech, new materials—so much to build!”
Aman Gupta, who was present at the event, echoed Aggarwal’s sentiments in a post on X, capturing the spirit of Goyal’s message. “It’s not every day that the Government asks founders to dream bigger. But at Startup Mahakumbh, that’s exactly what happened. “Hon. Minister, Piyush Goyal Ji isn’t against founders. He believes in them. His point was simple: India has come far, but to lead the world… we need to aim higher.” Their statements align closely with Vivek Wadhwa’s criticism of superficial startup trends and reinforce a growing call for India’s innovators to shift focus toward solving larger, more complex problems.
Source : https://www.financialexpress.com/trending/indian-startups-are-chasing-brain-dead-ideas-says-vivek-wadhwa-urges-entrepreneurs-to-tackle-problems-with-smart-tech/3804673/
