Growing up amidst my father’s unwavering dedication to the military and my mother’s entrepreneurial drive, I was shaped by a dual perspective—problem-solving with a sense of purpose and pursuing profitability with a conscience. These formative years instilled in me a belief in contributing to society while achieving meaningful outcomes. When I learned about the Startup Day event organised at the Mohali campus of the Indian School of Business, I knew it would be a celebration of purposeful entrepreneurship. And it truly lived up to that expectation.
Held on January 16, Startup Day brought together an inspiring panel of ISB alumni—Sukhmeet Singh, Somveer Anand, Prachi Mathur, and Jyoti Bharadwaj. These individuals, with careers spanning over two decades, have been trailblazers in entrepreneurship, investment, and advisory roles. Despite their diverse experiences, they all shared a common thread: a commitment to inclusivity, circularity, and creating value for communities.
As India approaches its 100th year of independence in 2047, the event aimed to explore how the startup ecosystem can drive the country’s ambition to become a multi-trillion-dollar economy. The conversation revolved around several key themes—technological innovation, empowering local youth, reinventing traditional industries, and fostering an inclusive environment where women and minorities can thrive.
Insights from the Panelists
Sukhmeet Singh: Innovating Circular Solutions
Sukhmeet, the CEO of A2P Energy, shed light on his company’s transformative work in solving the pressing issue of paddy waste pollution. By turning agricultural residue into pellets and bricks for biofuels, A2P Energy is not just addressing environmental challenges but also creating entirely new value chains that are both profitable and sustainable. His example showcased how startups can tackle large-scale societal issues with innovative solutions while generating economic value.
Somveer Anand: Empowering Youth Through Innovation
Somveer, CEO and Mission Director of Innovation Mission Punjab, emphasised the importance of harnessing India’s demographic dividend. He highlighted the potential of revitalising simple, traditional industries through innovation. For instance, rebranding plain jaggery into toffee-like mouth fresheners not only adds a modern twist to a traditional product but also unlocks new market opportunities. His vision reinforced the need for grassroots innovation that uplifts local communities while contributing to India’s economic goals.
Prachi Mathur: Advocating for Impact Investing
Prachi, the founder of Blue Sky Capital Advisors, spoke passionately about the role of impact investing in building inclusive and sustainable ventures. She underlined the critical need for policies that bring together investors and founders, encouraging them to prioritise ventures that champion circularity and inclusivity. Her perspective illuminated how financial frameworks can align with purpose-driven entrepreneurship to achieve scalable and meaningful impact.
Jyoti Bharadwaj: Leading the Charge for Health and Inclusivity
Jyoti, the founder of TeaFit, shared her journey of creating healthy beverage alternatives that address India’s growing health crisis. Having secured funding from four prominent sharks on Shark Tank India, she highlighted the significance of investors providing not just financial backing but also strategic and operational support. Jyoti also emphasised the need to create spaces for women and minorities to lead entrepreneurial efforts, urging the youth—across all genders—to unite in realising India’s multi-trillion-dollar vision.
Key Takeaways
- Innovation for Impact: Startups must look beyond profitability and focus on solving critical societal challenges, be it environmental sustainability, health, or inclusivity.
- Empowering Youth: With India’s favourable demographics, empowering young innovators can unlock immense potential across sectors.
- Circular and Inclusive Ventures: Entrepreneurs and investors need to prioritise circularity in business models while fostering inclusivity to create long-lasting value.
- Policy and Investor Support: Robust policies and active investor engagement are essential to scale startups that align with India’s economic and sustainability goals.
- Collaboration Across Communities: Achieving a multi-trillion-dollar economy by 2047 requires a collective effort, blending innovation, purpose, and profitability.
The Startup Day panel was a masterclass in purposeful entrepreneurship, demonstrating that profitability and societal impact can—and should—go hand in hand. As India strides towards its centenary, startups will undoubtedly be at the heart of this transformative journey, driving growth, inclusivity, and innovation.