Why scarcity—not funding—could be India’s startup superpower

What if less money meant more success? One founder’s bold take on why India’s startups thrive under pressure, not funding.

, and Administrator

2025 November 18 . 3:03 AM

1 min read

This is an outside view. On the left side there are many vegetables like capsicum, tomatoes,... — This is an outside view. On the left side there are many vegetables like capsicum, tomatoes, potatoes and many other. It seems to be a vegetable market. On the right side there are few people standing on the ground and people are walking. In the background there are some trees and buildings.

Why scarcity—not funding—could be India’s startup superpower

Tej Pandya, the founder of Groweasy.ai, has challenged the idea that early-stage startups in India may need large amounts of capital to succeed. He argues that scarcity—not funding—gives founders their strongest competitive advantage. His comments come as many young companies struggle despite securing accelerator or micro-VC backing.

Pandya claims that early fundraising often leads to inefficiency. Startups with too much money may expand teams unnecessarily or develop products that don’t generate revenue. He warns that financial comfort can dull a founder’s focus, making them less disciplined in decision-making.

Pandya’s perspective highlights a key reality for Indian startups: limited resources can build resilience. While accelerators and early funding remain popular, his argument suggests that forced efficiency may be the better path. The data supports his claim, with most funded startups failing to last beyond 18 months.