Stories
IDFC FIRST Bank CEO V. Vaidyanathan: India's Best Time Ever to Start Up
- •V. Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO of IDFC FIRST Bank, believes India is experiencing its best time ever for startups due to a fundamentally changed entrepreneurial infrastructure.
- •The current ecosystem offers digital infrastructure, AI, venture capital, private equity, and a strong mentor network, which were largely absent a decade ago.
- •Younger generations are starting businesses with less capital and permission, leveraging cloud infrastructure, ubiquitous payments, and AI, leading to more ambitious innovations like rockets and deep-tech.
- •While capital access has improved, Vaidyanathan emphasizes the importance of customer testimonials and strong governance for attracting investors and building enduring companies.
- •IDFC FIRST Bank supports startups beyond just accounts, offering financial solutions and access to experts, and encourages founders from Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities to leverage the increasingly accessible infrastructure.
Key Questions Answered
IDFC FIRST Bank CEO V. Vaidyanathan believes it is the best time to start a business because the overall startup ecosystem has fundamentally changed. Founders now benefit from established digital infrastructure, widespread cloud and AI tools, accessible venture capital, mentors, and successful older entrepreneurs backing the next generation.
Leap To Unicorn Season 4 introduces dedicated tracks across Fintech, Deeptech & AI, ESG, and D2C. The initiative provides application frameworks, bootcamp sessions, mentor networks, founder-investor interactions, and a selection journey to support young companies.
While initial startup waves focused on digital payments, mobility, and commerce rails, today's founders are building more ambitious physical goods and deep-tech solutions. Mr Vaidyanathan notes that new entrepreneurs are now venturing into complex areas like rockets, robotics, manufacturing, and AI-led businesses.
