Giving Fancy Packaging to Ice-Creams & Cookies is Not Start-up: Piyush Goyal
In a recent conference, Startup Mahakumbh 2025, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal made some thought-provoking remarks on the concept of start-ups in India. His statements have sparked a debate among entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry experts, highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of what constitutes a start-up.
Goyal’s comment that giving fancy packaging to ice-creams and cookies doesn’t make it a start-up might seem straightforward, but it carries a deeper meaning. In an era where branding and aesthetics play a significant role in attracting consumers, many businesses, especially in the food and beverage industry, focus on creating unique packaging designs to stand out in the market. However, this approach, in itself, does not qualify as innovation or entrepreneurship.
Goyal’s statement emphasizes the importance of having a solid business model and a unique value proposition that solves a real problem or meets a genuine need. Simply dressing up an existing product or service with fancy packaging is not enough to be considered a start-up. This is a crucial distinction that entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors must recognize.
The minister’s remarks were made in the context of the Indian start-up ecosystem, which has been growing rapidly in recent years. According to a report by NASSCOM, the Indian start-up ecosystem has grown by 15% year-on-year, with over 50,000 start-ups across the country. However, Goyal’s comment highlights a disturbing trend – only 1,000 start-ups in India’s deep-tech space, which includes areas like artificial intelligence, robotics, and data analytics.
This lack of focus on deep-tech start-ups is a concern, as it implies that many Indian start-ups are not pushing the boundaries of innovation and are instead focusing on incremental improvements or me-too products. This is a missed opportunity for India to create world-class technology and solutions, which could have a significant impact on the global economy.
Goyal’s statement also highlights the need for a shift in mindset among entrepreneurs and policymakers. Instead of focusing solely on creating start-ups that are mere extensions of existing businesses, there is a need to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in areas that have the potential to create significant social and economic impact.
The minister’s comment has also drawn attention to the fact that start-ups in other countries are focusing on cutting-edge technologies like AI and 3D printing. In contrast, many Indian start-ups are still focused on traditional areas like e-commerce, food delivery, and ride-hailing. While these sectors are important, they are not necessarily driving innovation or creating new industries.
In conclusion, Piyush Goyal’s statement that giving fancy packaging to ice-creams and cookies is not start-up is a wake-up call for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors. It emphasizes the need for a more nuanced understanding of what constitutes a start-up and the importance of focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship in areas that have the potential to create significant social and economic impact.
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