Start-up Ecosystem In India
[pib] BHASKAR Platform for India’s Startup Ecosystem
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: BHASKAR Platform
Why in the News?
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has launched the BHASKAR platform.
About BHASKAR Platform
| Details | |
| Platform Name | Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) |
| Launched By | Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
| Objective | To strengthen India’s startup ecosystem by centralizing resources and facilitating collaboration |
| Target Audience | Startups, investors, mentors, service providers, and government bodies |
| Key Features |
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| Impact |
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Growth of the Startup Ecosystem
- As of May 2023, India boasts over 99,000 officially recognized startups, making it the third-largest startup ecosystem globally. This growth reflects an increase from 84,012 startups in 2022 and a notable rise from just 452 in 2016.
- The ecosystem has also produced 108 unicorns, startups valued at over $1 billion, collectively worth approximately $340.80 billion
PYQ:[2015] “Success of ‘Make in India’ program depends on the success of ‘Skill India’ programme and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments. |
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
10 Years of Street Vendors Act, 2014
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Notable features of the Street Vendors Act, 2014
Mains level: NA
Why in the news?
- It has been a decade since the enactment of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act on May 1, 2014.
- It marks a significant milestone in the recognition of the rights and contributions of street vendors across India.
About Street Vendors Act, 2014
-
- The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, was enacted
- Objective: To regulate street vendors in public areas and protect their rights.
- It was introduced in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Parliament of India) on 6 September 2012 by then Union Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Kumari Selja.
- The Act came into force from 1 May 2014.
- The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, was enacted
- History:
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- 2004: The bill aimed at providing social security and livelihood rights to street vendors, has its origins in the ‘National Policy for Urban Street Vendors’ introduced in 2004.
- 2009: It was later revised as ‘National Policy on Urban Street Vendors’ in 2009.
- 3 Recognized categories of street vending:
Key Provisions of the Bill:
| Details | |
| Town Vending Committee |
|
| Designated Vending Zones |
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| Certificate of Vending |
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| No-Vending Zones |
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| Dispute Resolution Body | Consists of a Chairperson (civil judge or judicial magistrate) and two other professionals. |
| Responsibility of Local Authorities for Implementation | Responsibility for creating schemes and implementation delegated to local municipalities. |
| Role of Town Vending Committee | Each zone or ward of the local authority to have a Town Vending Committee. |
| Relocation and Penalties | Vendors failing to relocate from no-vending zones after notice may face penalties, including fines. |
| Representation and Legal Ambiguities | Criticisms include lack of adequate representation of street vendors in decision-making bodies and legal ambiguities. |
Also read about: PM SVANidhi Scheme
PYQ:[2016] How has globalization led to the reduction of employment in the formal sector of the Indian economy? Is increased informalization detrimental to the development of the country? |
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
Startups ‘reverse flip’: Pine Labs, Zepto, Meesho in queue for India return
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: What is Reverse Flipping
Mains level: Implication of Reverse Flipping
Why in the news?
- Pine Labs and Zepto are the latest new-age companies looking to move headquarters to India.
Context-
There is a significant surge in reverse flipping within India’s startup scene, characterized by a growing trend of startups choosing to relocate their headquarters or establish a presence in the country.
What is Reverse Flipping ?
- Reverse flipping is the process of shifting the domicile of an Indian company back to India after it had moved its headquarters overseas.
- Indian startups are increasingly choosing to reverse flip back into India, drawn by the country’s favorable economic policies, expanding domestic market, and increasing investor confidence in its startup ecosystem.
Recent Examples of Reverse-Flipping of Unicorns-
Several high-profile startups are opting for reverse flipping to India, indicating a trend of relocating their headquarters or establishing a base in the country.
- Walmart-owned PhonePe: PhonePe, a subsidiary of Walmart, relocated its domicile from Singapore to India. This move was likely motivated by the significant user base and potential for digital payments in the Indian market.
- Pine Labs, Meesho, and Zepto: These are identified as the latest new-age companies intending to move their headquarters to India. Their decisions suggest confidence in the opportunities and advantages offered by the Indian startup ecosystem.
- It Solidifies India’s Position as a Startup Hub: The successful execution of reverse flipping by these high-profile startups contributes to solidifying India’s position as a prominent startup hub globally.
How Reverse-Flipping is done?
- Strategic Assessment: The company conducts a strategic assessment of potential target countries, considering factors such as market size, regulatory environment, access to talent, infrastructure, tax policies, and overall business climate.
- Legal and Regulatory Considerations: The company evaluates the legal and regulatory requirements for establishing a presence in the target country. This may involve understanding company registration procedures, compliance with corporate laws, tax regulations, employment laws, and any other relevant regulations.
- Corporate Structure: The company determines the appropriate corporate structure for its operations in the target country. This may involve setting up a subsidiary, branch office, or joint venture, depending on the specific needs and objectives of the company.
- Transfer of Assets and Operations: The company transfers its assets, operations, and intellectual property rights to the new entity in the target country. This may include physical assets such as equipment and inventory, as well as intangible assets such as trademarks, patents, and proprietary technology.
- Share Swaps or Mergers: In some cases, the company may use share swaps or mergers as a method for executing the reverse flip. This involves exchanging shares with shareholders of a company in the target country or merging with an existing company to establish a presence in that jurisdiction.
- Compliance and Approval: The company ensures compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements in both the home country and the target country. This may involve obtaining approval from regulatory authorities, such as the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) or other relevant government agencies.
- Operational Transition: Once the reverse flip is completed, the company focuses on transitioning its operations to the new location. This may involve hiring local talent, establishing partnerships with suppliers and vendors, and adapting its business strategy to the local market dynamics
Startups are opting to reverse flip for several compelling reasons:
- Access to a Growing Economy: India is currently the world’s fifth-largest economy by GDP and is projected to become the third-largest by 2030. This growth trajectory presents significant opportunities for startups to tap into a dynamic market with increasing urbanization, disposable income, and consumption.
- Large and Educated Youth Population: India boasts the world’s largest youth population, with approximately 66% of its citizens under the age of 35. This demographic advantage provides a vast pool of skilled and educated talent, making it attractive for startups seeking a workforce with diverse skills and capabilities.
- Access to Capital Markets: The Indian capital market offers overseas startups access to a large pool of capital. The listing process on Indian stock exchanges is relatively cost-effective compared to many Western exchanges, making it an appealing option for startups with limited resources.
- Opportunity to Tap into the Consumer Market: With its rapidly growing middle class and increasing disposable income, India presents a lucrative consumer market for startups offering products and services across various sectors.
- Synergies with Indian Companies: Reverse flipping allows overseas startups to explore synergies with Indian companies, leading to partnerships, joint ventures, and acquisitions. These collaborations help startups expand their reach and operations in India while leveraging the local expertise and market knowledge of Indian companies.
Potential tax implications in this scenario:
- Corporate Tax: The company may be subject to corporate tax in the jurisdiction where it is based and operates. If the company chooses to establish its headquarters or base in India through reverse flipping, it would be subject to Indian corporate tax laws.
- Capital Gains Tax: Any gains realized from the transaction, such as the separation of PhonePe and the return of the holding company to India, could be subject to capital gains tax in the relevant jurisdictions. The quantum of this tax would depend on factors such as the valuation of the company and the applicable tax rates.
- Transfer Pricing Rules: Transfer pricing rules may apply if there are transactions between related parties as part of the reverse flip process. These rules are designed to ensure that transactions between related entities are conducted at arm’s length, and appropriate taxes are paid on profits generated from such transactions.
- Indirect Taxes: Depending on the nature of the company’s business and the jurisdictions involved, other indirect taxes such as goods and services tax (GST) may also apply.
Conclusion-
Reverse flipping, relocating headquarters to India, gains traction. Driven by favourable market dynamics, talent pool, capital access, and synergies. Potential tax implications include corporate tax, capital gains, transfer pricing, and indirect taxes.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
NABARD to launch ₹1000-crore Blended Fund for Agri-Startups
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Agri-Startups, NABARD
Mains level: NA
What is the news –
- The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is set to launch a ₹1,000-crore fund to bolster technology-driven agri-startups and rural enterprises.
- NABARD has already established a ₹750-crore fund, which will be followed by another ₹1,000 crore, to support startups in this regard.
What are Agri-Startups?
- Agri-startups are entrepreneurial ventures focused on innovating and revolutionizing various aspects of agriculture and allied sectors.
- These startups leverage technology, data, and modern farming practices to address challenges in the agricultural value chain and promote sustainable farming practices.
- They offer a wide range of products and services aimed at improving productivity, efficiency, and profitability for farmers, as well as enhancing food quality and safety for consumers.
Key areas of innovation in agri-startups include:
- Precision Agriculture: Utilizing data-driven technologies such as IoT, drones, and satellite imagery for precision farming, soil health monitoring, crop monitoring, and yield optimization.
- Agritech Solutions: Developing innovative technologies and tools for pest and disease management, water management, greenhouse farming, and hydroponics.
- Farm Management Software: Providing digital platforms and mobile applications for farm management, crop planning, inventory management, and market intelligence.
- Agri-Marketing Platforms: Connecting farmers directly with buyers, retailers, and consumers through online marketplaces, e-commerce platforms, and farm-to-fork initiatives.
- Supply Chain Management: Streamlining logistics, transportation, and warehousing operations to reduce post-harvest losses, improve market access, and ensure traceability and transparency in the supply chain.
- Food Processing: Developing value-added products, food processing technologies, and packaging solutions to enhance the shelf life, nutritional value, and marketability of agricultural produce.
About NABARD
Functions of NABARD:
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About the Blended Fund for Agri-Startups
- In the budget for FY23, plans for a blended capital fund were announced for ‘Sunrise Sectors’ to finance startups for agriculture and rural enterprises.
- The fund aims to support startups facing challenges in scaling up their operations due to limited access to equity and debt instruments.
- It also seeks to foster new linkages in the rural ecosystem, both forward and backwards.
Other Schemes for Agri-Startups in India
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PYQ:
Q.Priority Sector Lending by banks in India constitutes the lending to: (2012)
- Agriculture
- Micro and small enterprises
- Weaker sections
- All of the above
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
The need to overhaul a semiconductor scheme
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Semiconductor Fabless Accelerator Lab (SFAL)
Mains level: Semiconductor global value chain (GVC)
Central Idea:
The Semiconductor Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme in India, designed to foster semiconductor design capabilities, faces challenges due to limited results and structural issues. The article suggests a comprehensive revamp, addressing key challenges, emphasizing the importance of the design ecosystem, and proposing a shift in focus to cultivate indigenous semiconductor design capabilities.
Key Highlights:
- The DLI scheme, part of the $10 billion Semicon India Program, has approved only seven start-ups, falling significantly short of the target to support 100 over five years.
- India’s semiconductor strategy aims to reduce dependence on imports, build supply chain resilience, and leverage its comparative advantage in chip design.
- The article underscores the need to prioritize the design stage for stimulating India’s semiconductor industry.
Key Challenges:
- The DLI scheme has witnessed lackluster results and low participation.
- Barriers include restrictions on foreign funding and ownership for beneficiary start-ups.
- Modest incentives and a challenging funding landscape impede semiconductor start-ups in India.
- Concerns are raised about the nodal agency’s role, posing potential conflicts of interest.
Key Terms:
- Semiconductor Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme.
- Semiconductor global value chain (GVC).
- Foundry and assembly stages of the semiconductor GVC.
- Electronic design automation (EDA) tools.
- Production-Linked Incentive schemes.
- Semiconductor Fabless Accelerator Lab (SFAL).
- India Semiconductor Mission.
Key Phrases:
- “Cultivate semiconductor design capabilities.”
- “Build supply chain resilience.”
- “Delink ownership from semiconductor design development.”
- “Shift focus to facilitate design capabilities for a wide array of chips.”
- “Revise policy to boost financial stability and provide global exposure.”
Key Quotes:
- “Stimulating the design ecosystem is less capital-intensive than foundry and assembly stages.”
- “The primary aim should be to cultivate semiconductor design capabilities in India.”
- “Enhance the financial outlay of the scheme substantially to support this policy shift.”
Key Statements:
- The article critiques the DLI scheme for its limited results and highlights barriers hindering effectiveness.
- Challenges faced by semiconductor start-ups, including funding issues and policy restrictions, are discussed.
- The need for a revamped DLI scheme, focusing on broader objectives and increased financial support, is emphasized.
Key Examples and References:
- Reference to the Karnataka government’s Semiconductor Fabless Accelerator Lab (SFAL) as a potential model for an implementing agency.
- Mention of the Union government’s recent statement emphasizing the importance of “India-designed chips.”
Facts and Data:
- Only seven start-ups approved under the DLI scheme, significantly below the target of supporting 100.
- Modest incentives under the DLI scheme, capped at ₹15 Crore for Product DLI and ₹30 Crore for Deployment Linked Incentive.
- The Semiconductor Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme is a part of India’s $10 billion Semicon India Program.
Critical Analysis:
- The article critically evaluates the current DLI scheme, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive and effective approach.
- Concerns about the nodal agency’s role and potential conflicts of interest are highlighted.
- The article stresses the significance of cultivating indigenous semiconductor design capabilities in India for sustained success.
Way Forward:
- Revise the DLI scheme to delink ownership, enhance financial incentives, and broaden the focus on semiconductor design capabilities.
- Consider a new implementing agency, such as the Semiconductor Fabless Accelerator Lab (SFAL), for a more effective approach.
- Emphasize the importance of cultivating indigenous semiconductor design capabilities in India for long-term success.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
What start-ups get wrong: Lessons from WeWork
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Blitzscaling
Mains level: Quotes and key phrases
Central idea
WeWork’s rise and fall highlight the risks of market confusion, flawed strategies, and capital mismanagement for entrepreneurs. The lesson is to learn from mistakes, align strategies with industry needs, and wisely respect and utilize capital for lasting success. Build businesses with a clear market understanding, thoughtful strategies, and prudent financial management.
Quotes and key phrases for mains value addition
- “Cautionary tale of what entrepreneurship is not.”
- “Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of unrealistic ambition against odds.”
- “WeWork confused a large market with a large addressable market.”
- “Blitzscaling – prioritizing growth over avoiding losses – formulated by Reid Hoffman.”
- “How much money you spend to make the money you make matters.”
- “Boards that act as hearing aids, mirrors, and seat belts.”
- “Society benefits from innovation but doesn’t know which ventures will succeed.”
- “Most startups fail, society only needs a few successes for gains.”
- “Rise and fall of WeWork suggests caution for entrepreneurs about presentism.”
- “Learn from experience, not just through experience.”
Key Highlights:
- WeWork’s Rise and Fall: WeWork went from a startup with a $47 billion valuation to bankruptcy, cautioning against presentism in entrepreneurship.
- Entrepreneurial Reality: Most startups fail, but society benefits from the innovation, productivity, and job creation that successful ventures bring.
Challenges:
- Market Confusion: WeWork misunderstood its market, confusing office space with the addressable market for co-working spaces, leading to a flawed strategy.
- Blitzscaling Misapplication: The concept of blitzscaling, prioritizing growth over avoiding losses, doesn’t universally apply, and WeWork’s attempt in property leasing proved unsuccessful.
- Capital Mismanagement: WeWork excelled at fundraising but failed to respect and utilize capital effectively, overlooking the importance of return on equity.
- Governance Issues: WeWork’s board allowed questionable actions by founder Adam Neumann, compromising integrity, and applauding instead of questioning decisions.
- Sustainability Neglect: WeWork’s culture discouraged dissent, hindering a balance between short-term gains and long-term corporate health.
Analysis:
- Addressable Market Confusion: WeWork’s mislabeling of itself as a “tech-enabled physical, social network” led to unrealistic ambitions and unsustainable business practices.
- Blitzscaling Misfit: Blitzscaling, effective in specific markets, didn’t suit property leasing, highlighting the importance of aligning strategies with industry dynamics.
- Capital Management Lesson: The quantity of capital raised couldn’t compensate for the lack of a solid strategy, emphasizing the importance of smart spending.
- Governance Oversight: Weak governance allowed unchecked actions by the founder, showcasing the need for vigilant boards to ensure ethical practices.
- Cultural Impact: WeWork’s culture stifled dissent, hindering a healthy exchange of ideas between thinkers and doers, impacting long-term sustainability.
Key Data:
- WeWork’s Funding: WeWork raised $16 billion in equity and $19 billion in debt, showcasing significant financial backing.
Key Terms:
- Blitzscaling: The strategy of prioritizing rapid growth over avoiding losses, proven effective in specific industries.
Way Forward:
- Learn from Mistakes: Entrepreneurship requires learning from failures, and the WeWork example highlights the importance of reflection for future success.
- Strategic Alignment: Entrepreneurs must align strategies with the nature of their industry, avoiding misapplications like blitzscaling in unsuitable markets.
- Capital Respect: Fundraising is crucial, but respecting and utilizing capital wisely is equally important for sustained success.
- Enhanced Governance: Strong governance practices, including vigilant boards, are essential to prevent unethical actions and ensure long-term corporate health.
- Cultural Adaptation: Encourage a culture that values dissent and promotes a healthy balance between short-term gains and long-term corporate sustainability.
In conclusion, WeWork’s downfall serves as a lesson in avoiding presentism in entrepreneurship, emphasizing the need for strategic alignment, effective capital management, vigilant governance, and a culture that encourages diverse perspectives.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
Centre seeks to ease Angel Tax Provisions
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Angel Tax
Mains level: Read the attached story
Central Idea
- The government has introduced revisions to the angel tax provisions that were initially implemented in this year’s Budget, primarily targeting investments by non-resident investors into startups at a premium over their fair market value.
Key changes introduced
- The Central Board of Direct Taxes issued a notification, amending Rule 11UA under the Income Tax Act, incorporating changes to the draft norms released earlier.
- Five distinct valuation methods for shares have been introduced, accompanied by a 10% tolerance allowance for deviations from accepted share valuations.
- These changes aim to provide some relief to prospective foreign investors interested in Indian startups.
Angel Investment
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What is Angel Tax?
- Referred to as Angel Tax, this rule is described in Section 56(2)(viib) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
- Essentially it’s a tax on capital receipts, unique to India in the global context.
- This clause was inserted into the act in 2012 to prevent laundering of black money, round-tripping via investments with a large premium into unlisted companies.
- The tax covers investment in any private business entity, but only in 2016 was it applied to startups.
Why was angel tax introduced?
- The complicated nature of VC fundraising with offshore entities, multiple limited partners and blind pools is contentious.
- There has been some element of money laundering or round-tripping under guise.
Details of its levy
- The Angel Tax is being levied on startups at 9% on net investments in excess of the fair market value.
- For angel investors, the amount of investment that exceeds the fair market value can be claimed for a 100% tax exemption.
- However, the investor must have a net worth of ₹2 crores or an income of more than ₹25 Lakh in the past 3 fiscal years.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
Private: New Tax Rules for Online Gaming
Start-up Ecosystem In India
Private: Angel Tax
Start-up Ecosystem In India
What is Angel Tax?
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Angel Tax
Mains level: Startup and money laundering
Central idea: The article provides an overview of the angel tax provisions in the Finance Bill, which were introduced in the Budget. It highlights the concerns raised by the start-up community regarding the impact of these provisions on their operations.
Angel Investment
|
What is Angel Tax?
- Referred to as Angel Tax, this rule is described in Section 56(2)(viib) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
- Essentially it’s a tax on capital receipts, unique to India in the global context.
- This clause was inserted into the act in 2012 to prevent laundering of black money, round-tripping via investments with a large premium into unlisted companies.
- The tax covers investment in any private business entity, but only in 2016 was it applied to startups.
Why was angel tax introduced?
- The complicated nature of VC fundraising with offshore entities, multiple limited partners and blind pools is contentious.
- There has been some element of money laundering or round-tripping under guise.
Details of its levy
- The Angel Tax is being levied on startups at 9% on net investments in excess of the fair market value.
- For angel investors, the amount of investment that exceeds the fair market value can be claimed for a 100% tax exemption.
- However, the investor must have a net worth of ₹2 crores or an income of more than ₹25 Lakh in the past 3 fiscal years.
Startups under scrutiny
- As more and more new-age tech startups started raising VC funding, they came under the IT department scrutiny.
- These funding deals often saw investors paying a premium above the face value or the fair market value of securities, and therefore were taxed as income for the startup.
- Between 2016 and 2019, startups urged the government to add exceptions that would allow them to be exempt from the Angel Tax.
Which startups are exempted?
- There is a clear provision that says that start-ups which are recognized by DPIIT are out of the proposal’s purview.
- The start-up recognition process is also very simple where any applicant gets it automatically.
- However, the key condition for exemption is that the aggregate amount of paid up share capital and share premium of the startup after issue or proposed issue of share does not exceed INR 25 Cr.
Concerns raised by startup
- Compliance burden: Even beyond the issue of taxation, the compliance burden on startups will potentially increase significantly under the new rules.
- Persisting slowdown: The timing of this potential tax is most worrying since it coincides with the ongoing startup funding slowdown.
- Fear of off-shoring: Entrepreneurs and investors are concerned that applying strict taxes on capital receipts without adequate exceptions will lead to startups moving overseas.
Back2Basics: Startups in India
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
India’s tech startups and the dearth of funding
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Edtech startups, problems of funding and its significance for the economy
Context
- The Indian government is emphasizing and celebrating its tech startups as an important component of its economic development policy. Prime Minister Modi recently pointed out that the number of Indian ‘unicorns’ technology startup companies with a valuation of US$ 1 billion or more has doubled since 2021. Some sectors within these startups, such as climate tech, do demonstrate strong promise.
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Funding a major problem
- Though India has emerged as the third largest ecosystem for startups, funding is becoming a growing problem, with the number of unicorns dropping by half in 2022.
- One of the sectors that appear to be not doing very well is the Indian online tech startups.
Present status of Indian tech startups
- Good performance during the pandemic: These Indian tech startups did very well during the two-year-long pandemic. With the dramatic increase in work-from-home (WFH) office interactions, online consulting for various services but especially heathcare, online classes at schools and colleges and other educational centres, and other online services and platforms proliferate.
- Indian techs became popular for online services: Overnight, technological solutions and electronic communications using virtual platforms, digital payments system, video consultations and edtech all became popular.
- As people returning to normal lives Indian techs looks weak: But with the pandemic now relatively under control and people returning to normal lives, the future of Indian startups that provided online services is beginning to look bleak.
- Negative assumptions: Going by recent media reports, the future of such tech startup companies is not so bright. Funds are drying up and not all startups are going to survive.
- Global uncertainties adding up to the existing problems: Further, issues like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a spike in global inflation rates, and fears of a possible recession have also brought down the prospects for many startups in general.
Impact of shortage in funding to tech startups
- Complete shutdown of many startups: Shortage of capital that is critical for the startups to sustain has led to cost-cutting measures with layoffs, mergers and consolidation and even complete shutdowns of some of them.
- Shut down as it unable to find market fit product: According to Inc42, a tech media platform, eight startups shut shop in 2022. These include Matrix Partners-backed SaaS startup, Protonn, which closed its operations in January 2022 since it was unable to find the right product-market fit.
- For instance, the funding case of Protonn: Protonn was a Bengaluru and San Francisco-based startup, focused on providing its platform to professionals such as lawyers, graphic designers and nutritionists to launch their businesses online, create videos, conduct live sessions, generate payment links, and track their business’s financial performance. The company had raised US$9 million in seed funding. The company, founded by former Flipkart executives, Anil Goteti and Mausam Bhatt, returned US $ 9 million to its investors.
Problem faced by edtch startups in a post pandemic world
- A case of edtech startup Uday: Uday ended its operations in April this year. The Gurgaon-based startup had difficulties finding ways to stay in business in the post-pandemic world. The startup co-founder, Soumya Yadav stated that the company was witnessing the post-pandemic world for the first time, as the kids went back to school, we faced roadblocks in growing the original model of online, live learning. We evaluated multiple different strategies and adjacent pivots however none of them were promising enough.
- Financial crunch and laying off the employees by well-established edtechs: Edtech startups such as Vedantu and Unacademy are also facing severe financial crunch, leading to hundreds of layoffs or shutting down certain verticals.
- Vedantu for instance: Earlier in the year, Vedantu laid off around 620 employees. Unacademy, earlier in the year, shut down its medical test preparation vertical, USMLE.
- Unacademy laying off its verticle: As of November, Unacademy has done three rounds of layoffs, starting with 600-800 employees from its sales and marketing team.
- Byjus: Byju’sa rival of Unacademy has also felt the pinch and is reported to have laid off close to 2,500 employees.
- SuperLearn: Another startup in the education sector, a Bengaluru-based SuperLearn, shut its operations in June because of “a dearth of funds and diminishing investor confidence.”
Other positive side of the startups
- Biotech and healthcare startups did well: While the edtech is possibly the worst hit, startups in the biotech and healthcare sector and e-commerce and fintech may not be as badly affected in the coming year.
- Healthcare startups not only survived but also benefitted: Several startups gained from the inadequacy of the Indian healthcare system and thus phenomena like online pharmacy, healthcare-at-home services, and fitness and wellness companies have sprung up and they are likely to stay.
- Funds received by healthcare startups will be helpful: Healthcare startups reportedly received funds of around US$2.2 billionn across 131 deals. They also appear to have found an appealing business model that might help them pull on with reasonable success in the coming years.
Way ahead
- Nevertheless, there is a likelihood that after seeing a boom and a significant spike in the demand in these sectors in the last two years, there may be some balancing in the next two years.
- Another possible way that startups will deal with the financial crunch, lack of adequate response is to consolidate the several different edtech and e-commerce platforms and so, one could expect a few merger and acquisition to come through in the coming years.
- Enterprisetech sector saw some of this playing out already. Startups, at least within a few exclusive sectors, have gained fair amount of prominence and appears that they are here to stay despite the possibility of a rough couple of years until issues around funds and market are evened out.
Conclusion
- It is evident that not only the economic crisis caused closures, but growing businesses in post-pandemic conditions was proving to be a challenge. Overall, Indian tech startups therefore suggest a mixed picture. Strong government support is positive but business model and market competition issues need to be addressed.
Mains question
Q. Indian edtech startups are witnessing financial crunch however, healthcare start-ups are benefitting in a post pandemic world. Therefore, Indian tech startups suggest a mixed picture. Discuss.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
Downturn in tech startup ecosystem
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 3- Challenges ahead for tech startups
Context
The startup ecosystem which has been in overdrive for the past few years — propelled by a combination of factors, but largely, by the era of cheap money — is now showing signs of weakness.
Factors that helped fuel the tech startups
- With the combination of accelerated financial inclusion (bank accounts), ease of identification (Aadhaar) and connectivity (mobile phones) it was said that it is ultimately a bet on the Indian consumer, and the economy, not on government regulations/policies.
- Low-interest rates: In the era of cheap money and negative real interest rates, uncomfortable questions over the true market size and profitability were swept under the rug.
- Growth fuelled by cash burn: High cash burn rates were the norm as both startups and investors sought growth by subsidising the customer.
What is going wrong?
- Lack of profitability: Among the startups that have gone public in recent times, Paytm’s losses stood at Rs 2,396 crore in 2021-22, while for Zomato and PB Fintech (PolicyBazaar) losses were Rs 1,222 crore and Rs 832 crore respectively.
- Drying-up of investment: Sure, investors will continue to pour money.
- Some early age start-ups will continue to be funded, as will some of the more mature ones.
- But investors are likely to be more circumspect in their dealings.
- Impact on valuation: There are also reports of startups in diverse markets, ranging from Ola to OYO, planning to raise funds at lower valuations.
- Among those who have gone public in recent times, most are trading much below their listing price.
- Tighter financial conditions, a re-rating of the market, will impact both fundraising efforts and valuations.
Lack of discretionary spending capacity
- Many numbers were given as indicators of the size of the market or TAM (the total addressable market).
- Smartphone users: One such number thrown around is the smartphone users in the country — some have pegged this at 500 million.
- UPI transactions: The transactions routed through the UPI platform — in May there were almost six billion transactions worth Rs 10 trillion.
- Bank account holders: We have the near universality of bank accounts.
- But in reality, for most of these startups, the market or even the potential market is just a fraction of this.
- There aren’t that many consumers with significant discretionary spending capacity, and those with the capacity aren’t increasing their spending as these companies would hope.
- No increase in spending: What is equally worrying is the complete absence of any increase in spending by even these consumers who would have the capacity to spend more.
- While more consumers are on-board digital payment platforms — Paytm has about 70 million monthly transacting users — these numbers suggest that when it comes to consumers with considerable discretionary spending, the size of the market shrivels considerably.
Conclusion
Tech startups are about to witness a tough time ahead. Some startups will survive this period. Many may not. And changes in the dynamics of private markets will also have a bearing on public markets.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
Unicorn boom in India
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Unicorns
Mains level: Startups boost in India
Prime Minister has praised India’s startup ecosystem as he highlighted that the country has reached a landmark figure of 100 unicorns with a valuation of more than $300 billion.
What is a Unicorn Startup?
- Unicorns are privately held, venture-capital-backed startups that have reached a value of $1 billion.
- The valuation of unicorns is not expressly linked to their current financial performance.
- This is largely based on their growth potential as perceived by investors and venture capitalists who have taken part in various funding rounds.
Some of the successful Indian unicorns:
- Lenskart
- Cred
- Meesho
- PharmEasy
- Licious
- Grofers etc.
When was the term first used?
- American venture capitalist Aileen Lee is credited with coining the term in 2013.
- It was used to emphasize the rarity of the emergence of such startups.
Unicorn boost in India
- The growth of Unicorns in India has been phenomenal in the past two years.
- From 17 Unicorns in 2018 the number went up to 38 in 2020 and it’s 71 and counting in 2021.
- Many of these unicorns, which have cumulatively raised more than 9 billion dollars till date, have also seen a surge in valuations.
Features of a unicorn Start-up
To be a unicorn is no cakewalk and each unicorn today has its own story with a list of features that worked in its favour.
The few pointers that are commonly seen across all the unicorns is as under:
- Disruptive innovation: Mostly, all the unicorns have brought a disruption in the field they belong to. Uber, for example, changed the way people commuted.
- ‘Firsts’: It is seen that unicorns are mostly the starters in their industry. They change the way people do things and gradually create a necessity for themselves.
- High on tech: Another common trend across unicorns is that their business model runs on tech. Uber got their model accepted by crafting a friendly app.
- Consumer-focused: Often, theirgoal is to simplify and make things easy for consumers and be a part of their day-to-day life.
- Affordability: Keeping things affordable is another key highlight of these startups. Spotify, for example, made listening to music easier to the world.
- Privately owned: Most of the unicorns are privately owned which gets their valuation bigger when an established company invests in it.
- *Mostly software based: A recent report suggests that 87% of the unicorns’ products are software, 7% are hardware and the rest 6% are other products & services.
Entrepreneurship today is ‘survival-driven’ self-employment, formed out of necessity, as well as opportunity motivated, largely because poverty and lack of formal employment opportunities rear their ugly head in striving economies.
Reasons for sudden success
- COVID pandemic: The pandemic accelerated adoption of digital services by consumers helping start-ups and new-age ventures that typically build tech-focused businesses delivering an array of offerings to customers.
- Boost in online services: Many Indians who had traditionally been subscribers of brick-and-mortar businesses moved online and explored a host of services ranging from food delivery and edu-tech to e-grocery.
- Work-from-home culture: This added significant numbers to start-ups’ user base and expedited their business expansion plans and attracting investors.
Inherent challenges to Start-ups in India
- Financial scarcity: Availability of finance is critical for the startups and is always a problem to get sufficient amounts.
- Lack of Infrastructure: There is a lack of support mechanisms that play a significant role in the lifecycle of startups which include incubators, science and technology parks etc.
- Regulatory bottlenecks: Starting and exiting a business requires a number of permissions from government agencies. Although there is a perceptible change, it is still a challenge.
- Compliance hurdles: For example, earlier Angel tax, which stands removed no, falls under corruption and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
- Low success rate: Several startups fail due to shifting away the focus on the fundamentals of business grows.
- Lack of an Innovative Business Model: To be successful a start-up must be innovative. Unfortunately, Indian startups are less innovative than startups elsewhere.
- Non-competitive Indian Markets: Too many startups serving too few consumers are saturating the Indian market. Most startups serve the fraction of Indians who live in urban India.
- Digital divide: The majority of Indians who live in rural areas and small towns remain untouched by most startups.
Various initiatives by the Govt.
There are numerous government initiatives to assist start-ups:
- MUDRA Scheme: Through this scheme, start-ups get loans from the banks to set up, grow and stabilize their businesses.
- SETU (Self-Employment and Talent Utilization) Fund: Government has allotted Rs 1,000 Cr in order to create opportunities for self-employment and new jobs mainly in technology-driven domains.
- E-Biz Portal: It is India’s first government-to-business portal that integrates 14 regulatory permissions and licenses at one source.
- Credit Guarantee Fund: launched by the GoI to make available collateral-free credit to the micro and small enterprise sector.
- Fund of Funds for Start-ups (FFS): 10,000 Rs corpus fund established in line with the Start-up India action plan under SIDBI for extending support to Start-ups.
- Tax Sops: Tax exemption on Capital gain tax, Removal of Angel tax, Tax exemption for 3 years and Tax exemption in investment above Fair Market Value.
Roadmap for the future success of start-ups
Start-ups can judiciously take cues from unicorns in understanding the ecosystem and building a business model that adds value while being sustainable.
- New-age startups should devise a customer-centric business model.
- Through proper branding and strategy, they should make sure that this value proposition reaches the end-user.
- What brings startups closer to success is the execution and customer acquisition strategy, where all the action occurs.
- Notably, technology (rather deep-technology) has played a key role in the making of pioneer business models.
Attracting venture capitalists
- VCs are actively looking for investment opportunities in early-stage startups.
- They possess the selection ability to effectively screen startups having a higher potential to succeed.
- VCs primarily look for a mindset alignment with promoters and companies where they, as investors, can add value by leveraging their industry experience, expertise, network and reputation.
Conclusion
- The current economic scenario in India is in expansion mode. Indian Startups are now spread across the length and breadth of the entire country.
- The word ‘unicorn’ has come a long way from just being a mythological creature to a regular feature in business and finance discussions.
- Innovation and economic growth depend on being able to produce excellent individuals with the right skills and attitudes to be entrepreneurial in their professional lives.
- The Indian government’s policies like Make in India, Digital India, Atmanirbhar etc. shows the enthusiasm to arrest this talent.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
What is Pravaig Field Pack?
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Pravaig Field Pack
Mains level: Not Much
A Bengaluru-based venture has produced a rugged tactical battery that it is now planning to sell to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces in Europe.
Pravaig Field Pack
- It is a heavy-duty power bank that is portable and weighs 14 kilograms.
- It is of great utility to the digitally connected modern military and Special Forces personnel who have to operate in high-risk zones while using gadgets that require constant power back-up.
- These batteries are designed, engineered and made in India.
- The field pack can be used to charge a MacBook 60 times.
Significance of Pravaig
- This supply marks a major shift in the defense landscape of India — a tipping point in the reversal of India’s high technology defense industry, from users to developers, from importers to exporters.
- The field pack can be used to energize a military person’s field duties and it can be used to deploy remote sensors.
- A powerful tactical battery can be used even to operate larger military equipment such as drones and it can even help coordinate tactical operations which involve multiple weapons systems.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
Startup India Initiative and its Success
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Startup India Initiative
Mains level: Success of the scheme
A research, reviewing India’s entrepreneurial policy Startup India, affirmed its positive impact in reducing regional entrepreneurial disparities.
Startup India Initiative
- The Startup India campaign was first announced by PM Modi during his speech on 15 August 2015 address from the Red Fort.
- The action plan for this initiative is focusing on three areas:
- Simplification and Handholding.
- Funding Support and Incentives.
- Industry-Academia Partnership and Incubation.
- An additional area relating to this initiative is to discard restrictive States Government policies within this domain, such as License Raj, Land Permissions, Foreign Investment Proposals, and Environmental Clearances.
- It was organized by the Department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPI&IT).
The success of the scheme
- Minister for Commerce and Industry has informed the Lok Sabha that the entrepreneurial portal had more than 65,000 startups registered.
- Of which, 40 attained the ‘unicorn’ status in the last twelve months, bringing the total as of date to 90.
- India now ranks third among global startup eco-systems.
- The networking, training and mentoring facilities provided by Startup India alongside entrepreneurship outreach campaigns in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, helped address regional entrepreneurial disparities in India.
Limitations to its success
(1) Heavy concentration in megacities
- Entrepreneurship continues to be “highly concentrated” in three megacities, namely, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi NCR.
- India’s venture capital industry is also clustered in and around these three cities.
- Such concentration can lead to increased economic inequality and hinder emergence of entrepreneurs from industries other than those belonging to the clusters.
(2) Narrow Representation
- The Startup India Action Plan document has no mention of the words ‘caste’, ‘tribe’, ‘marginalised’, ‘indigenous’ or ‘social group’.
- Additionally, the policy’s reliance on technology does not take into consideration India’s digital divide, especially with respect to urban and rural areas.
(3) Few Women in the industry
- There is an under-representation of women and marginalized caste groups in the national startup ecosystem.
Dedicated measures to support Women
- 10% of the fund in the Fund of Funds operated by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has been reserved for women-led startups.
- Further, all the alternate investment funds where the SIDBI takes equity have been mandated to contribute 20% in business which are women led.
- There is a capacity-building program and a dedicated webpage for women on the portal.
Way ahead
- There is a need for policies and progressive strategies from governments to encourage startups and provide access and assistance in key areas including tax clarity, incubation, affordability and licensing.
- In any case, governments should be well prepared and dedicated to creating a culture of startups to impact the entrepreneurial ecosystem in their cities, countries and citizens.
Also read:
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
Why society gains when start-ups fail
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Unicorns
Mains level: Paper 3- Start-ups in India
Context
As per the Economic Survey 2021-22, India has become the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world after the US and China.
Start-up ecosystem in India
- India attracted huge investment in startups in 2021: Private equity investment was $77 billion, of which $42 billion went to early-stage ventures.
- Every startup where salaries are paid by investors rather than customers is breathlessly rethinking business plans.
How do startups benefit society?
1] Innovation, productivity and job creation:
- The high failure rate of startups is not a problem per se — society only needs a few successes to harness the gains of innovation, productivity and job creation.
- A new book, The Power Law makes the case that startup investing is unlike public market investing.
- He suggests public markets follow a “normal” distribution like human height — most people cluster around the average with a few exceptionally low or high.
- But venture investments follow a “power law” of distribution, that is, most go to zero but the tiny number that succeeds more than compensate for the losses or mediocrity of the many.
2] Losses caused by startups are not passed on to society
- Startups don’t socialise their losses, Corporate bank loans expanded from Rs 18 lakh crore in 2008 to Rs 54 lakh crore in 2014.
- Such high corporate bank loans created bad loans that needed many lakh crores of government money to recapitalise nationalised banks.
- This money was diverted from government spending on healthcare, education and defence.
- The current venture capital binge will also create many write-offs but this cost will fall on consenting adults with broad shoulders — foreign institutions, angel investors and entrepreneurs with successful previous exits.
3] Startups will solve real problems for Indians:
- Ending our poverty needs higher productivity regions, cities, sectors, firms and individuals.
- A modern state is a welfare state that does less commercially so it can do more socially.
- It needs allies in reimagining financial inclusion, supply chains, distribution logistics, employability, retail, transport, media, healthcare, agriculture and much else.
- Many of our startups shall redeem their pledge to solve these problems “not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially”.
Three issues related to startups
- 1] Fiscal and monetary policy normalisation: The global capital supply fuelling startup funding faces challenges from fiscal and monetary policy normalisation: The rate-sensitive two-year US government bond recently touched a 1.6 per cent yield after being at 0.4 per cent as recently as November — because the risk-free return cannot be return-free-risk forever.
- Investors are returning to weighing financial sustainability and capital efficiency along with addressable markets.
- 2] Excesses: This explosive startup funding has created excesses.
- 3] A different approach of public markets: Private markets are not only delaying IPOs — Amazon went public within three years of starting with less than half the value of a unicorn — but unicorn IPOs’ underperformance suggests that public markets have a different calibration.
Conclusion
The few startups that survive will raise India’s soft power and prosperity by using improbable ideas to solve impossible problems. What we need is to ensure the policy environment for the startups to boom.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
Risks involved in over-valued unicorns
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper-Unicorns in Indian economy and issues with their valuation
Context
The biggest-ever initial public offering (IPO) in India fell flat on its face on the first day of its listing in the stock exchange, with shares being traded at prices less than 27% of the IPO price.
Rise of unicorns in India and factors driving it
- Unicorns in diverse sectors: There has been a unicorn gale in India in recent years, covering diverse sectors from fintech to cloud kitchen.
- Growth in digital payment is reflected in the fintech sector that has contributed the most to the unicorn list.
- Factors driving growth: An ecosystem which combines thriving digital payments, a growing smartphone user base and digital-first business models adopted by many start-ups has driven expectations of investors, resulting in large-scale fund flows into new business ventures.
- Growing smartphone user: Expectations are high as the country has around 640 million Internet users, of which 550 million are smartphone users.
- Growing digital payments: Digital payment has seen a growth of 30.19% as of March 31, 2021 and by the end of September 30, the unified payments interface (UPI) registered 3.5 billion transactions amounting to ₹6.54 trillion.
FinTech and EdTech leading unicorns
- American investment firms Tiger Global and Sequoia Capital have been the major investors, providing very quick follow-up rounds of funds across all stages and sectors.
- Fundamental financial performance of the business is not factored in these decisions which could lead to biased valuations.
- Idea of disruptive technologies: The idea of disruptive technologies has become a buzzword for characterising start-ups.
- The idea was that start-ups with limited resources can aim at technology disruption by inventing an entirely new way of getting something done.
- The story is similar in educational technologies (EdTech) as well.
- The novel coronavirus pandemic has been a blessing in disguise for EdTech firms, as it is this external environment that is pushing the industry, giving it an acceleration by four to five years.
- Too many acquisitions with big ambitions to grow inorganically puts pressure on the balance sheet in the years to come as some of the new acquisitions are likely to fail.
- Even, EdTech firms with reasonably good business models are highly overvalued due to abundant liquidity.
- Cost of achieving behaviour change: Almost every second advertisement on primetime television is either of a digital payment firm or EdTech platform.
- New firms in services will have to indulge in this process for a longer period than firms in other industries such as transportation as these firms have to bring about a particular kind of change that customers are significantly comfortable using the service.
- Firms burn cash to give massive discounts to customers in the hope that people will get so habituated to these platforms that they will remain active even when the prices are hiked.
- To some extent this worked in the context of mobile telephone services as Indians have got hooked to mobile phones and reoriented spending to buy more sophisticated smartphones and data.
- But in other services this does not seem to work so easily.
- The projection flaw: Data by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) points to this flaw of over-optimistic demand projections as there are just about 23 million households which earn more than ₹5 lakh per year i.e., less than ₹42,000 a month, which is about 7% of all Indian families.
- It is only this class which can be coaxed to behavioural changes — i.e. people who can afford various kinds of goods and services.
- If firms want to go beyond this 7% of households they have to offer bigger discounts, burning more cash, with the possibility that once the discounts are reduced, customers drop off.
Consider the question “India is witnessing the unicorn boom in the starts-ups. However, valuation of these unicorns has raised concerns. In light of this, examine the factors driving the rise of unicorns in India and why their valuation raises concerns?”
Conclusion
We are witnessing new unicorns emerging every month, which are products of inflated valuations to tap more funds to burn more cash. These valuations are solely on the basis of future earnings, with virtually no profits to show in the present.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
The three acts of entrepreneurship that accelerated India’s start-up ecosystem
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 3- Start-up ecosystem in India
Context
Three acts of entrepreneurship from five years ago — Jio, UPI, and GST — have converged to accelerate our startup ecosystem.
Let’s look at each in more detail
- Impact of JIO: India’s per GB internet data costs are just 3 per cent of those in the US.
- A bold and risky $35 billion bet made by a private company transformed Indians from being data deprived to data-rich; consumption has jumped 15 times because costs fell by over 90 per cent.
- The addition of millions of consumers and smartphones since Jio’s delightful five-year disruption of the market has exploded the most important universal metric in startup valuation — addressable market.
- Affordable digital connectivity is transforming 75 crore of them into consumers, entrepreneurs, employees, and suppliers.
- Role of UPI: Google’s letter to the US Federal Reserve suggesting America learn from India’s Universal Payments Interface (UPI) acknowledged that our real-time, low-cost, open-architecture payment plumbing is a public good.
- UPI’s mobile-first architecture is a key pillar of the paperless, presenceless, and cashless framework of the Aadhaar-seeded India Stack.
- Impact of GST: GST attacked complexity and incentivised law-abiding supply and distribution chains.
- It was long in the making but going live needed the risk-taking of starting with a second-best architecture, accepting some unjustifiable rates, and state revenue guarantees.
- The doubling of indirect tax registered enterprises since GST creates a virtuous economic cycle of higher total factor productivity for enterprises and employees.
Flourishing startup ecosystem
- India now has the highest ratio of unlisted to listed companies with a $1 billion valuation.
- Initial public offering documents filed by early startups like Nykaa, Paytm, Zomato and PolicyBazaar roughly average a 10x valuation rise since the triad did IPO.
- Estimates suggest India’s startup ecosystem valuation will explode from $315 billion today to $1 trillion by 2025.
Conclusion
Gandhiji’s notion of democracy — where the weakest have the same opportunity as the strongest — needs an economic meritocracy only possible when entrepreneurs have all the ingredients in the right proportions.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
Risks involved in Indian tech unicorns gaining at China’s expense
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UPI
Mains level: Paper 3- Bubble in tech start-ups
Context
Investment firms with a reputation for tracking and hunting unicorns — startups with billion-dollar-plus valuations are shifting their attention to India from China. While this cannot be good for China, the question remains over whether or not it is good for India either.
China’s crackdown on tech industry
- Beijing has decided to crack down on the tech industry, wiping out $1.5 trillion in market value.
- The crackdown began with the abrupt suspension of the much-anticipated initial public offering (IPO) of Ant Group last November.
- China’s regulators stopped the ride-hailing company, Didi Chuxing, from accepting new users, as soon as it went public on the New York Stock Exchange.
- There have been sweeping industry-wide changes, from anti-monopoly legislation to new rules governing data collection and use.
- All of this has investors spooked.
How India can benefit from China’s crackdown on the tech industry?
- Due to China’s crackdown, for the first time since 2013, the value of venture deals in India surpassed that of China.
- Converging factors in India: If this keeps up, India will experience a veritable blessing of unicorns, thanks not only to the fact that the money fleeing China needs refuge, but to many converging forces within India itself.
- India is the world’s second largest digital market.
- The use of the United Payment Interface has made digital payments easier in a society that was — and still is — so tied to cash.
- The pandemic lockdowns have driven an unusually large proportion of that digital population to spend an unusually large amount of time and spend money online.
- This means that in a very short time, the need to serve this digital population has exploded.
- The Chinese crackdown could not have come at a more opportune time.
- Many startups are in a hurry to capitalise on the boom with many investors looking to capitalise them.
Concern: the risk of tech-bubble
- When investors rush in to seek refuge because they are fleeing risk elsewhere, even if the refuge looks promising, they can contribute to a self-reinforcing cycle that ends up destroying the refuge.
- Eager to get a piece of the action, each investor may over-value a company, far exceeding what is justifiable based on market fundamentals.
- The stampede builds and soon you have the makings of a tech bubble.
Way forward for investors
- Instead of reflexively chasing the next shiny startup in India, investors ought to ask a few questions.
- Do the startups and the markets they serve have the capacity to scale up and do they justify sticking with them for a long period?
- Has the Indian initial public offerings market really proven itself?
- Are there enough large corporations that might buy these startups?
- Can the under-investment in essentials, such as education, health and job market readiness, clog the talent pipeline?
- Can the Indian government be trusted not to borrow a page from the government it would like to emulate — the Chinese state — and attempt a crackdown of its own?
Consider the question “Indian tech start-ups are dealing with the gush of capital owing to the convergence of certain factors. Examine these factors and also the concerns with such influx of capital.”
Conclusion
India desperately needs patient capital, skilled talent and appropriate technology to solve the country’s numerous fundamental problems laid bare by the pandemic. The last thing India can afford is a bubble that bursts and for all three to take flight and seek refuge in yet another country because no one wants to pick up the pieces of a popped bubble.
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Back2Basics: IPO
- An initial public offering (IPO) refers to the process of offering shares of a private corporation to the public in a new stock issuance.
- An IPO allows a company to raise capital from public investors.
- The transition from a private to a public company can be an important time for private investors to fully realize gains from their investment as it typically includes a share premium for current private investors.
- Meanwhile, it also allows public investors to participate in the offering.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
Startup ecosystem can help India become powerhouse of global economy
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Unicorn club
Mains level: Paper 3- How startup ecosystem can help transform India
Context
With 62 per cent of the population in the working-age group and 54 per cent below the age of 25, we have the advantage of leveraging the skill and ability of our youth to drive the nation forward through productive output and innovation.
Significance of startup ecosystem in the country
- In 2021 alone, Indian startups have so far raised upward of $20 billion in funding.
- Today, India is home to more than 40,000 startups and is building a robust tech and internet infrastructure.
- The last decade-and-a-half has witnessed a significant change in the landscape — from the founding of new startups, to global investor interest, to the advances made in infrastructure and policies.
- Global investors too are realising the potential upside in India’s huge, under-penetrated market as the country steadily makes a place for itself as a leading R&D hub for many Silicon Valley companies.
- Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian startups have rapidly innovated to provide indigenous, tech-enabled solutions to combat challenges from testing kits and ventilators to remote monitoring, and preventive technologies, as well as innovations in supply chain management, logistics, and education.
Factors driving startup economy in India
- The steady rise of Indian IT companies in the 2000s, a large talent pool of a skilled workforce, increased expendable income, and rising capital inflows have collectively contributed in large part.
- Young generation: Moreover, the ability of the young generation to take risks, move fast, and disrupt things without fear, has become our biggest asset today.
- Increasing internet use: In the next five years and likely to have an estimated 850 million internet users by 2030, the country stands at the cusp of unprecedented economic growth.
How it helps economy
- The proliferation of this startup economy has brought with it new business opportunities, innovation, tech-centric approaches and job creation across sectors.
- A mature startup ecosystem, with seasoned entrepreneurs and technology-led solutions, paves the way for innovation and expanding its global footprint.
- While value creation lies at the centre of entrepreneurship, Indian startups are also taking big strides in building synergies and partnerships with global entities, further demonstrating the evolution of the startup ecosystem and its appetite for innovation, collaboration and disruption.
- In fact, one of the paradigm shifts brought about through technology during the pandemic has been systemic shift to online education and remote learning at scale.
- Solutions built by Indian startups saw widespread adoption not just domestically but also on a global scale, firmly establishing the country as a cornerstone of tech and innovation in the world.
Suggestions
- Educations and reskilling: In order to transition beyond the current capabilities and achieve the demographic dividend, education, and reskilling, and upskilling of our workforce is crucial.
- Policy environment: Apart from the domestic policy environment, the global environment and technological advances are also changing, and it is imperative that India is prepared for this revolution.
- Foster entrepreneurship: Apart from policy-level decisions that promote entrepreneurship, the onus is also on India’s corporate sector to foster entrepreneurialism, and create synergies to build impactful technology solutions, sustainable and resource-efficient growth.
- Inclusion and sustainability: As country stands at the cusp of unprecedented economic growth, speed, inclusion, and sustainability are key elements in this mission.
- Tap the potential of rural and semi-urban India: The collective future efforts of the public and private sectors to improve physical and digital connectivity will also help unlock the untapped potential of rural and semi-urban India to truly lead Industry 4.0 and beyond.
- Focus on goals of national importance: In view of achieving this transformation at scale, the Indian startup ecosystem must focus on developing solutions that allow businesses in key sectors to meet goals of national importance.
Conclusion
Coupled with the nation’s focus on strengthening digital infrastructure in healthcare and education, and boosting employment in manufacturing, there is little doubt that India@100 will be a powerhouse of the global economy.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
India’s FAANG moment has arrived
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: FAANG
Mains level: Paper 3- Importance of tech start-ups.
Context
In the US, the Big Tech FAANG five are Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google (now Alphabet). Today, in India, Zomato’s stock market debut is a big occasion for India that could pave the path for other online successes.
Significance for economy
- It is the first among a host of domestic unicorns to have taken the IPO road, heralding a watershed moment.
- Boost for startups: It is also also a big leap for our country as a whole, which today boasts of the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world.
- Creation of online ecosystem: The response to Zomato’s initial public offer (IPO) gave us interesting insights into the robustness of the online economy in a pandemic-stricken world.
- Help creation of tech-giants: It could alter the composition as well as perception of markets, giving Indian investors a feel of new-generation, tech-heavy, assets-light and agile entrepreneurial growth stories, woven around the consumer internet ecosystem in India.
- Attracting FDI: With global liquidity at unprecedented levels and tech being the toast of the season, we could be looking at FDI inflows in unforeseen proportion in days to come.
- The ascent of new-age enterprises like Zomato and Paytm on the Stock Market, followed by likes of Oyo, Ola, Swiggy, Byju’s and even Flipkart could signal the emergence of India’s own FAANG family.
What sets the tech startups apart?
- Their reliance on big data and leveraging of ever-evolving technology, while sustaining a two-way connection with clients set them apart.
- The ‘stickiness’ and the ‘connect’ built over the years through carefully fabricated social layers puts them in the league of giant social media influencers.
- During the last few decades, two distinctive traits that have the potential to push the boundaries of limitations are the creation of a large talent pool and India’s prowess in software and data (including AI/ML) technology, both on a global scale.
Conclusion
As we celebrate 30 years of economic reforms, today’s debut, at least for the markets and the economy, may well be called India’s re-tryst with destiny.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
[pib] SAGE (Senior-care Ageing Growth Engine) Initiative
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SAGE Initiative
Mains level: Old age security
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the SAGE (Seniorcare Aging Growth Engine) initiative and SAGE portal for elderly persons.
SAGE Initiative
- The SAGE will be a “one-stop access” of elderly care products and services by credible start-ups.
- The start-ups will be selected on the basis of innovative products and services.
- Their products should be able to provide across sectors such as health, housing, care centers, apart from technological access linked to finances, food and wealth management, and legal guidance.
- The start-ups who have applied will be selected by an independent screening committee of experts.
- A fund of upto Rs.1 crore as one-time equity will be granted to each selected start-up.
Why need such initiative?
- India’s elderly population is on the rise as per surveys.
- The share of elders, as a percentage of the total population in the country, is expected to increase from around 7.5% in 2001 to almost 12.5% by 2026, and surpass 19.5% by 2050.
- There is an urgent need to create a more robust eldercare ecosystem in India, especially in the post-COVID phase.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
[pib] Stand Up India Scheme
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Stand-Up India Scheme
Mains level: Not Much
The Ministry of Finance has informed that more than 81% of account holders are Women under Stand Up India Scheme.
Try this PYQ from CSP 2016:
Q.With reference to ‘stand up India scheme’, which of the following statement is/are correct?
- Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
- It provides for refinance through SIDBI.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Stand-Up India Scheme
- Stand Up India Scheme was launched on 5 April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at the grass-root level of economic empowerment and job creation.
- This scheme seeks to leverage the institutional credit structure to reach out to the underserved sector of people such as SCs, STs and Women Entrepreneurs.
- The objective of this scheme is to facilitate bank loans between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.1 crore to at least one SC or ST borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a Greenfield enterprise.
- The offices of SIDBI and NABARD shall be designated Stand-Up Connect Centres (SUCC)
- It is similar to but distinct from Startup India.
Back2Basics: Start-Up India Scheme
- Startup India Scheme is an initiative of the Indian government, the primary objective of which is the promotion of startups, generation of employment, and wealth creation.
- It was launched on the 16th of January, 2016.
- A startup defined as an entity that is headquartered in India, which was opened less than 10 years ago and has an annual turnover of fewer than ₹100 crores (US$14 million).
- The action plan for this initiative is based on the following three pillars:
- Simplification and Handholding
- Funding Support and Incentives
- Industry-Academia Partnership and Incubation
- An additional area of focus is to discard restrictive States Government policies within this domain, such as License Raj, Land Permissions, Foreign Investment Proposals, and Environmental Clearances.
- It was organized by The Department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPI&IT).
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
What are the One-Person Companies (OPCs)?
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: OPCs
Mains level: Entreneurship promotion
In her Budget speech, the Union Finance Minister had announced measures to ease norms on setting up one-person companies (OPCs).
Q.What are One-Person Companies (OPCs)? Discuss how they will help startups and non-resident Indians?
What is an OPC?
- As the name suggests, a one-person company is a company that can be formed by just one person as a shareholder.
- These companies can be contrasted with private companies, which require a minimum of two members to get going.
- However, for all practical purposes, these are like private companies.
- It is not as if there was no scope for an individual with aspirations in business prior to the introduction of OPC as a concept.
- As an individual, a person could get into the business through a sole proprietorship mode, and this is a path that is still available.
Why do we need such companies?
- A single-person company and sole proprietorship differ significantly in how they are perceived in the eyes of law.
- For the former, the person and the company are considered separate legal entities. In a sole proprietorship, the owner and the business are considered the same.
- This has an important implication when it comes to the liability of the individual member or owner. In a one-person company, the sole owner’s liability is limited to that person’s investment.
- In a sole proprietorship set-up, however, the owner has unlimited liability as they are not considered different legal entities.
- Some see the proposal as a move to encourage corporatization of small businesses. It is useful for entrepreneurs to have this option while deciding to start a business.
Is this a new idea?
- Such a concept already exists in many countries. In India, the concept was introduced in the Companies Act of 2013.
- Its introduction was based on the suggestions of the J. Irani Committee Report on Company Law, which submitted its recommendations in 2005.
- Pointing out that there was a need for a framework for small enterprises, it said small companies would contribute significantly to the Indian economy.
- But because of their size, they could not be burdened with the same level of compliance requirements as large public-listed companies.
Features of OPCs
- The law on one-person companies that took shape, as a result, exempted such companies from many procedural requirements, and, in some cases, provided relaxations.
- For instance, such a company does not need to conduct an annual general meeting, which is a requirement for other companies.
- A one-person company also does not require signatures of both its company secretary and director on its annual returns. One is enough.
- There was, however, criticism that some rules governing a one-person company were restrictive in nature. This year’s Budget has dealt with some of these concerns.
How many OPCs does India have?
- According to data compiled by the Monthly Information Bulletin on Corporate Sector, there were 34,235 OPCs out of a total number of about 1.3 million active companies in India (Dec 2020).
- Data also show that more than half of the OPCs are in business services.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
[pib] Startup India Seed Fund Scheme
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Seed Funding
Mains level: Startup promotions in India
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) has been approved for the period of next four years starting from 2021-22.
Seed Fund Scheme
- The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization.
- 945 Crore corpus will be divided over the next 4 years for providing seed funding to eligible startups through eligible incubators across India.
- The scheme is expected to support about 3600 startups.
Q.Discuss various inherent non-policy challenges to Start-ups in India.(150W)
What is Seed Funding?
- Seed funding or seed-stage funding is a very early investment which aims at helping a business grow and generating its own capital.
- Also referred to as seed money or seed capital, investors often get an equity stake in exchange for the capital invested.
- The investors can themselves be the founders and use their savings as seed money for their new company — also known as bootstrapping.
Why Seed Funding matters?
- It is a fact that starting a new business and lifting it up off the ground is a huge ask for most entrepreneurs and it only gets tougher with capital constraints.
- Seed funding helps get things started before the business earns any revenue.
- It is an effective solution for startups and growing businesses as it provides the much-needed early monetary support.
- It can cover everything from infrastructure costs, marketing and development costs as well as the cost of initial hiring. Investment is the fuel of any business and seed funding is the first drop of this fuel.
- As seed money becomes much-needed cash reserve or working capital, not having it is one of the main reasons for failure.
Various options for Seed Funding
- Crowdfunding
- Corporate seed funds
- Incubators Accelerators
- Angel investors
- Personal Savings
- VC Funding
- Angel Funds or Angel Networks
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
[pib] Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems, 2019
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems
Mains level: Not Much
The Results of the second edition of Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems were recently released by Minister of Commerce & Industry.
About the Ranking
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has conducted the second edition of the States Startup Ranking Exercise.
- The key objective is to foster competitiveness and propel States and Union Territories to work proactively towards uplifting the startup ecosystem.
- It has been implemented as a capacity development exercise to encourage mutual learning among all states and to provide support in policy formulation and implementation.
7 focus areas
- Institutional Leaders
- Regulatory Change Champions
- Procurement Leaders
- Incubation Hubs
- Seeding Innovation Leaders
- Scaling Innovations Leaders
- Awareness and Outreach Champions
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
[pib] Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)
Mains level: Not Much
The SVEP is propelling enterprises in rural areas and building rural entrepreneurs during this pandemic.
Try this PYQ 2015:
How does the National Rural Livelihood Mission seek to improve livelihood options of rural poor?
- By setting up a large number of new manufacturing industries and agribusiness centres in rural areas.
- By strengthening ‘self-help groups’ and providing skills development
- By supplying seeds, fertilizers, diesel pump-set sand micro-irrigation equipment free of cost of farmers.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
About SVEP
- The SVEP is implemented by Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana –National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development, as a sub-scheme since 2016.
- Its aims are to support the rural poor come out of poverty, supporting them set up enterprises and provide support till the enterprises stabilize.
- SVEP focuses on providing self-employment opportunities with financial assistance and training in business management and soft skills while creating local community cadres for promotion of enterprises.
- It addresses three major pillars of rural start-ups namely – finances, incubation and skill ecosystems.
Key elements of SVEP
- Create a Block Resource Centre – Enterprise Promotion (BRC-EP); The BRC should act as a nodal centre to implement SVEP. Block Level Federation (BLF) to come up under NRLM could be one of the institutional platforms for BRC.
- Cluster Level Federation (CLF) /VOs shall hold the entity till BLF comes into existence. BRC should follow a self-sustaining revenue model.
- BRC to be assisted by CRP-EP and the Bank Coordination System (Bank Mitra). BRC to provide resource and reference material including videos, manuals etc.
- Help enterprises get bank finance using tablet-based software for making the business feasibility plan, doing credit appraisal and tracking business performance.
- Use the Community Investment Fund (CIF) to provide seed capital for starting the business until it reaches a size where bank finance is needed.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
[pib] NIDHI-EIR Programme
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NIDHI EIR
Mains level: Not Much
A brochure featuring Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) under the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) programme was launched by Dept. of Science and Technology (DST).
Try this MCQ:
Q.The NIDHI-EIR Programme sometimes seen in news functions under the:
a)Ministry of Science & Technology
b)Ministry of Commerce and Industry
c)Ministry of Finance
d)Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
About NIDHI-EIR
- DST has announced a National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) is an umbrella programme for nurturing ideas and innovations into successful startups.
- EIR programme is one of the programs introduced under NIDHI to inspire the best talents to be entrepreneurs, to minimise the risk involved in pursuing start-ups, and to partially set off their opportunity costs of high paying jobs.
- It provides tremendous opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs to expand their networks and get critical feedback on their ventures in order to promote their entrepreneurial career goals and aspirations.
The opportunities under NIDHI-EIR program include:
- Guidance from experienced, innovative and highly successful entrepreneurs on the business concept, strategy or venture and insight into specific industries or markets.
- Best practices for starting a business and broaden the professional network.
- Co-working spaces for developing the idea into a marketable product.
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Start-up Ecosystem In India
[pib] National Startup Advisory Council
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: National Startup Advisory Council
Mains level: Mechanisms to promote startup in India
The Union Government has notified the structure of the National Startup Advisory Council to advice on measures needed to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country.
National Startup Advisory Council
- The Council will be chaired by Minster for Commerce & Industry.
- It will consist of the non-official members, to be nominated by Central Government, from various categories like founders of successful startups, veterans and persons capable of representing interests of incubators and accelerators etc.
- The term of the non-official members of the Startup Advisory Council will be for a period of two years.
- The nominees of the concerned Ministries/Departments/Organisations, not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India, will be ex-officio members of the Council.
- Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade will be the Convener of the Council.
Various functions
- The Council will suggest measures to foster a culture of innovation amongst citizens and students in particular, promote innovation in all sectors of economy across the country
- It will also suggest measures to facilitate public organizations to assimilate innovation with a view to improving public service delivery, promote creation, protection and commercialization of intellectual property rights.
- It would suggest making it easier to start, operate, grow and exit businesses by reducing regulatory compliances and costs, promote ease of access to capital for startups, and incentivize domestic capital for investments into startups.
- It would also mobilize global capital for investments in Indian startups, keep control of startups with original promoters and provide access to global markets for Indian startups.
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START-UP India Launch by Prime Minister Modi on 16th January, 2016, aimed at celebrating the entrepreneurship spirit of country’s youth and has been attended by CEOs and founders of top startups (over 1500) from across the country. Let’s see this in brief!
<In Part I, we have taken a glance on Simplification and Handholding of Start up Plan, rest part will be covered in Part II of this series>
What is Start up India programme and its mandates?
- Startup India is a flagship initiative, intended to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and Startups in the country that will drive sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities.
- In order to meet the objectives of the initiative, Government of India is announcing this Action Plan that addresses all aspects of the Startup ecosystem.
How can this Action Plan help accelerate the Startup movement?
- It is spread across movement from digital/ technology sector to a wide array of sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, social sector, healthcare, education, etc.
- From existing tier 1 cities to tier 2 and tier 3 cities including semi-urban and rural areas.
The Action Plan is divided across the following areas:
- Simplification and Handholding
- Funding Support and Incentives
- Industry-Academia Partnership and Incubation
What is the exact definition of a Startup ?
- Startup means an entity, incorporated or registered in India not prior to 5 years, with annual turnover not exceeding INR 25 crore in any preceding financial year.
- Provided that such entity is not formed by splitting up, or reconstruction, of a business already in existence.
What will be the Action plan for Simplification and Handholding task?
#Compliance Regime based on Self-Certification
- To reduce the regulatory burden on Startups thereby allowing them to focus on their core business and keep compliance cost low.
- Startups shall be allowed to self-certify compliance (through the Startup mobile app) with 9 labour and environment laws (refer below).
- In case of the labour laws, no inspections will be conducted for a period of 3 years.
- In case of environment laws, Startups which fall under the ‘white category’ (as defined by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)) would be able to self-certify compliance and only random checks would be carried out in such cases. [Can you think of question on white category in Prelims?]
#Startup India Hub
To create a single point of contact for the entire Startup ecosystem and enable knowledge exchange and access to funding.
How will “Startup India Hub” be a key stakeholder in this vibrant ecosystem?
- Work in a hub and spoke model and collaborate with Central & State governments, Indian and foreign VCs, angel networks, banks, incubators, legal partners, consultants, universities and R&D institutions.
- To all young Indians who have the courage to enter an environment of risk, the Startup India Hub will be their friend, mentor and guide to hold their hand and walk with them through this journey.
#Legal Support and Fast-tracking Patent Examination at Lower Costs
- To promote awareness and adoption of IPRs by Startups and facilitate them in protecting and commercializing the IPRs.
- By providing access to high quality Intellectual Property services and resources, including fast-track examination of patent applications and rebate in fees.
- The scheme for Startup Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) shall facilitate filing of Patents, Trademarks and Designs by innovative Startups.
Various measures being taken in this regard include:
#1. Fast-tracking of Startup patent applications:
Patent application of Startups shall be fast-tracked for examination and disposal, so that they can realize the value of their IPRs at the earliest possible.
#2. Panel of facilitators to assist in filing of IP applications:
Facilitators will be responsible for providing general advisory on different IPRs as also information on protecting and promoting IPRs in other countries.
#3. Rebate on filing of application:
Startups shall be provided an 80% rebate in filing of patents vis-a-vis other companies. This will help them pare costs in the crucial formative years.
#Relaxed Norms of Public Procurement for Startups
- At present, effective April 1, 2015 Central Government, State Government and PSUs have to mandatorily procure at least 20% from the Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME).
- In order to promote Startups, Government shall exempt Startups (in the manufacturing sector) from the criteria of “prior experience/ turnover” without any relaxation in quality standards or technical parameters.
#Faster Exit for Startups
- To make it easier for Startups to wind up operations.
- The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Bill 2015 (“IBB”), tabled in the Lok Sabha in December 2015 has provisions for the fast track and / or voluntary closure of businesses.
- In terms of the IBB, Startups with simple debt structures or those meeting such criteria as may be specified may be wound up within a period of 90 days from making of an application for winding up on a fast track basis.
Let us know what do you think on this question?
#Q. How will start ups create an ecosystem that can flourish with ‘Digital India’ initiative? Discuss with examples.
Published with inputs from Arun