Intrapreneurship: How India Inc incubates innovation

India's next wave of 'startup' growth could easily emerge from within established businesses

- LLOYD MATHIAS

As India's economy emerges rapidly, the spotlight is not just on growth, it's on how that growth is being driven. Beyond headline numbers lies a more compelling story: the transformation of India Inc into a crucible for innovation, agility and entrepreneurship. In an age where the time from idea to execution is measured in weeks, not years, companies are realizing that their next wave of growth may come not just from market expansion, but from entrepreneurial sparks within their own walls.

All our businesses, from legacy players to new-age startups, need to unlock the full potential of India's demographic dividend. With time-to-market windows shrinking and customer expectations shifting, firms are moving away from rigid hierarchies towards innovation-fostering structures, identifying internal talent and giving them the freedom and resources to pursue ideas.

This model of 'intrapreneurship,' which empowers employees to innovate from within, is lean, scalable and aligned with shareholder interests. It keeps organizations future-focused while encouraging employees to think beyond incremental improvements. The upside? A culture of ownership, a bias for action and a pipeline of tested products and ideas ready for the market.

Companies have been devising unique approaches to embed entrepreneurship as a practice. Some business groups have set up in-house units, others are seed-investing through innovation funds, while many are contributing to well-known colleges and universities to boost research and entrepreneurial development.