Many have debated when venture capital became a big deal in India. Some think it was in the 1990s after new policies were implemented, some say it was somewhere in the late 2000s and others say it was the 2010s. But, at whatever point it can be pinpointed to, VCs were seen to have the traditional role of a financial backer. But, maybe, in recent times, VCs seem to have become influencers. Not the kind dancing in an Instagram Reel to the latest viral 10-second tune. Maybe, there's a tiny chunk of investors out there doing that. The kind that's shaping narratives for India's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
How did that happen? With the pools of people hooked on to social media platforms & the penetration of the Internet and smartphones in India, VCs seem to have realized that the lava of their words could melt the shackles that hold them back from being brand-builders and storytellers.
And the need's certainly there. One report outlines that the Indian startup ecosystem attracted more than $150 billion in investments, with FinTech, e-commerce and enterprise tech leading the charge. And India is said to have close to 120 unicorns, as of October 2024. The Shark Tank India-ization of the ecosystem may have meant that more people feel encouraged to drop everything and start their own venture, while not being aware that supposedly, close to 130,000 startups fail every day in India.
So, with the rising trend of VCs as storytellers, can they be the Northern Star for these startups?
