Can we generate more startups — by making people “angry”?
One of the most authoritative sources on the global startup scene and one I personally trust for insights is the Global Startup Ecosystem ranking conducted by Compass.
This year they are trying to cover around 50 startup ecosystems all across the world compared to last year’s 20. If you founders happen to get a link to a long survey, you know what it is about.
My attention as you can expect immediately traverses around India. I was pleased to observe Bangalore, the only Indian startup hub on the list featured at position #15 jumping significant 4 spots from it’s former ratings as #19 startup hub in the world back in 2012. The weather, the young population the high number of colleges within the city fostering ambitious and innovative mindset surely contribute to this.
Yet despite all its nascent potentials, I believe Bangalore could have done way better. Somehow my gaze stopped while comparing Bangalore with say Berlin as currently one of the most powerful startup hubs in Europe and the world.
Although highly industrial and developed these are not a necessarily important factor for the birth of new companies. On the contrary where the demand and supply in the job market is almost at the point of equilibrium and the systems work fine, why would anyone court change and startups as its main driver.
What pushed Berlin as a startup hub towards the stratosphere which India could also adopt?
The report claims and I tend to agree with that, the fact that in 2012 the same report tended to under rank Berlin given the local startup people’s energy and enthusiasm. That provincial mindset turned out to be a harbinger and a push for their future progress.
This quick insight somehow stack with me and left me thinking. Surely there is no need to apply this as a push for Bangaloreans where everyone is brewing with energy and ambition. But talking about Bangalore is merely scratching the surface of the upcoming Indian giant. Dozens of other hubs here in India have the same potential
How can we embed plant a side of this type of (healthy) mindset. How do we make the young population feel underestimated and understated and how to turn this into a pain point for them?
How to make people internalize and be intimidated because of the fact that this land is still not brewing its first million startups? How do we make young Indians mentally separate from the province and use it as a propelling force rather than being a subconscious part of their identity? Do we start from college? Is it going to be a cultural phenomena or merely an educational one?
This is an open question for all of us and I would like to hear your thinking on it.
