Are startups failing us? Look at the big picture

Piyush Goyal's unflattering contrast of their business disposition with Chinese innovation has stirred a debate that must both widen and deepen for India to credibly play catch-up

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India's commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has faced a lot of flak online for the disdain he recently articulated for the relative reluctance of Indian startups to take on challenges in deep-tech sectors—be it artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor design, building chip fabs or electric-vehicle and battery technology—and their preference for consumer-facing businesses that might make money but do not address the nation's strategic challenges.

He praised the performance of Chinese startups, which are innovating at the cutting edge of technology. The backlash has come from successful startup leaders and venture investors. Much of their response is valid, clothed though it is in disappointment that the minister overlooked the vital roles they've played in job creation, organizing rural supply chains, using tech for efficiency and so on.