Startups can learn a lot from Infosys, Wipro: Nandan Nilekani
Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani said the last few months have exposed various frailities of Indian startups and that it’s the responsibility of everyone in the ecosystem to see how entrepreneurs and companies can build better businesses from a leadership and value system point of view.
In an interview to ET NOW, Nilekani also said startups can learn a lot from the earlier generations of companies such as TCS, Infosys and Wipro that have been stable for decades.
"While we have a vibrant startup sector, the last few months have exposed the fragile nature of startups, many of them people related, others related to financial and business models. It is the responsibility of all of us in the ecosystem to see how our entrepreneurs and companies, both from a value system and leadership point of view, become robust and build sustainable business models," he said.
Nilekani, who has been actively investing in startups in the last couple of years, further said, "This is where we can learn a lot from the earlier generations like TCS, Infosys, Wipro on how to think long-term, develop people, that learning has not percolated to the next level."
When asked why the learnings haven't percolated to the current generation of entrepreneurs, Nilekani attributed this to a combination of factors. "Too much capital, too early has in some situations led to undesirable consequences. All these guys are also in a hyper competitive environment so planning long-term becomes difficult."
While Nilekani did not elaborate on the Stayzilla issue, he said it was unfortunate that it had reached the stage of arrest but that the startup environment remains resilient.
Nilekani’s comments come in the backdrop of a series of crises this week that have raised larger questions about health of the startup ecosystem in India. From Shopclues management involved in a battle for control to allegations of sexual harassment at The Viral Fever to Stayzilla CEO’s arrest over non-payment of dues.
In an interview to ET NOW, Nilekani also said startups can learn a lot from the earlier generations of companies such as TCS, Infosys and Wipro that have been stable for decades.
"While we have a vibrant startup sector, the last few months have exposed the fragile nature of startups, many of them people related, others related to financial and business models. It is the responsibility of all of us in the ecosystem to see how our entrepreneurs and companies, both from a value system and leadership point of view, become robust and build sustainable business models," he said.
Nilekani, who has been actively investing in startups in the last couple of years, further said, "This is where we can learn a lot from the earlier generations like TCS, Infosys, Wipro on how to think long-term, develop people, that learning has not percolated to the next level."
When asked why the learnings haven't percolated to the current generation of entrepreneurs, Nilekani attributed this to a combination of factors. "Too much capital, too early has in some situations led to undesirable consequences. All these guys are also in a hyper competitive environment so planning long-term becomes difficult."
While Nilekani did not elaborate on the Stayzilla issue, he said it was unfortunate that it had reached the stage of arrest but that the startup environment remains resilient.
Nilekani’s comments come in the backdrop of a series of crises this week that have raised larger questions about health of the startup ecosystem in India. From Shopclues management involved in a battle for control to allegations of sexual harassment at The Viral Fever to Stayzilla CEO’s arrest over non-payment of dues.
