Entrepreneurship is hailed as the engine of economic growth and innovation, but here’s a controversial truth: much of today’s startup boom is just old wine in new bottles. Instead of fostering real innovation, many founders are simply repackaging existing products, slapping on new labels, and calling it disruption.
The obsession with quick exits and viral growth has led to a culture where “dropshipping” and “me-too” brands dominate, especially in markets like India.
Even government officials are calling this out. At Startup Mahakumbh 2025, India’s Commerce Minister criticized the ecosystem for focusing too much on low-tech services and gig work, rather than building deep-tech or globally competitive products. The reality is, while delivery apps and D2C brands boast operational excellence, they rarely push the boundaries of technology or solve society’s toughest problems.
The uncomfortable question: Are we celebrating entrepreneurship, or just glorifying hustle culture and superficial innovation? If the goal is true economic transformation, we need to move beyond vanity metrics and celebrity founders to support startups that tackle real challenges-AI, sustainability, and deep-tech, not just the next fast-delivery app.
Until then, the so-called “entrepreneurial revolution” risks becoming a parade of copycats, not changemakers.