A fiery debate has ignited in India’s startup ecosystem after entrepreneur and investor Sam Baisla publicly criticised boAt co-founder Aman Gupta for applauding Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent remarks at Startup Mahakumbh.
In his speech, Goyal questioned why Indian startups often prioritize “consumer tech” over “deep tech” and cutting-edge innovation. Aman Gupta responded positively, posting on LinkedIn that it’s “not every day that the government encourages founders to dream bigger.”
But Baisla wasn’t buying it.
In a sharply worded LinkedIn post, Baisla slammed Gupta’s reaction, suggesting it demonstrated a troubling dependency on public figures for validation. “Everything is wrong with this attitude,” he wrote, criticizing what he saw as a normalization of “public ridicule and mockery” by powerful officials.
He didn’t stop there. Baisla fired off three provocative questions aimed not just at Gupta, but at the larger startup and investor community:
- Is it the government’s role to inspire entrepreneurs by shaming them?
- Why aren’t corporate leaders questioning the government instead of applauding it?
- If Indians are lazy, then how come they flourish on global stages?
Pointing to the undeniable success of Indian-origin founders abroad, Baisla challenged the very foundation of the minister’s remarks. “If people are lazy and dumb, why do they build billion-dollar companies after stepping outside India?” he asked, effectively flipping the narrative.
His parting shot was aimed at what he sees as a deep-seated culture of complacency and sycophancy:
“This attitude of sucking up to powerful people and not standing up for what is right is the real cancer. This ‘ji sir, hum hi gadhe hain’ culture will ruin the future of coming generations.”
Baisla’s comments have struck a chord with many in the startup world. Several entrepreneurs echoed his frustration online, blaming red tape, bureaucratic hurdles, and regulatory bottlenecks for stifling true innovation in India.
Still, the debate remains split: some view Goyal’s critique as a necessary wake-up call; others see it as a misguided swipe at a struggling sector. Either way, one thing’s clear — India’s startup ecosystem is no longer shying away from asking tough questions, even if it means challenging ministers or moguls.
