Why India's startup founders thrive on scarcity, not funding

Tej Pandya, founder of Groweasy.ai, has shared strong views on India’s startup scene. His recent post argues that scarcity, not capital, gives early-stage founders a real advantage. The discussion has drawn attention across the Indian startup community. Pandya believes India’s limited resources push startups to focus sharply from the start. He claims this environment builds discipline, as founders work with small teams and tight budgets.

He criticises accelerators and micro-VCs for backing founders based on profiles rather than execution. Many startups in these programmes, he notes, struggle to achieve product-market fit and often collapse within 18 months.

According to Pandya, early fundraising can create inefficiency. Companies may shift focus to non-revenue products and spend time in endless meetings. He reassures founders outside these programmes that success is still possible by prioritising customers, product, and revenue. Pandya’s detailed post has sparked a wider debate on the challenges and strengths of India’s startup ecosystem. His perspective highlights the importance of focus and efficiency in a resource-constrained market. The conversation continues among founders and investors alike.