Giving Fancy Packaging to Ice-Creams & Cookies is Not Start-Up: Piyush Goyal
The term “start-up” has become a buzzword in the world of entrepreneurship, with many individuals and companies claiming to be start-ups in order to gain a competitive edge. However, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal recently emphasized that simply giving fancy packaging to ice-creams and cookies is not enough to qualify as a start-up. In fact, Goyal believes that true entrepreneurship and innovative business models are what truly define a start-up.
Goyal made these comments at the recent Startup Mahakumbh 2025, a prestigious event that brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to discuss the latest trends and opportunities in the start-up ecosystem. According to Goyal, many companies that claim to be start-ups are simply rebranding existing businesses or offering unique packaging to existing products. This, he argues, is not entrepreneurship, but rather a marketing gimmick.
“Innovative packaging is not innovation,” Goyal said. “It is entrepreneurship and a business model that matters.”
Goyal’s comments are a sobering reminder that start-ups are not just about flashy marketing and trendy packaging. True start-ups require innovative solutions to real-world problems, and a deep understanding of the market and customer needs. Simply slapping a “start-up” label on a company does not make it a start-up, and Goyal’s comments highlight the importance of substance over style in the world of entrepreneurship.
Goyal’s comments also touched on the issue of the lack of depth-tech start-ups in India. According to him, there are only around 1,000 start-ups in India’s deep-tech space, which is a disturbing situation. Deep-tech start-ups refer to companies that are working on cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology. Goyal believes that India needs more start-ups in these areas in order to truly compete with other nations.
“Start-ups in other nations are focused on AI and 3D printing,” Goyal said. “We need to focus on these areas as well in order to move forward.”
Goyal’s comments are a call to action for entrepreneurs and policymakers in India to focus on creating a more robust start-up ecosystem that supports innovation and entrepreneurship. This can be achieved through a combination of government support, access to funding, and a favorable business environment.
In conclusion, Goyal’s comments highlight the importance of substance over style in the world of entrepreneurship. Simply giving fancy packaging to ice-creams and cookies is not enough to qualify as a start-up, and true entrepreneurship requires innovative solutions to real-world problems. India needs more start-ups in the deep-tech space in order to truly compete with other nations, and policymakers and entrepreneurs must work together to create a more favorable business environment that supports innovation and entrepreneurship.
Source: https://x.com/moneycontrolcom/status/1907795297826378009
