Giving Fancy Packaging to Ice-Creams & Cookies is Not Start-up: Piyush Goyal
In a recent statement at Startup Mahakumbh 2025, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal clarified that giving fancy packaging to ice-creams and cookies does not qualify as a start-up. According to him, it is simply entrepreneurship and a business model. His comments came as a response to the growing trend of startups in India, where many entrepreneurs are focusing on innovative packaging and branding rather than actual innovation.
Goyal’s statement highlights the importance of substance over style in the startup ecosystem. While fancy packaging and branding can be effective marketing strategies, they do not necessarily indicate a company’s ability to innovate or disrupt an industry. In order to truly be considered a start-up, a company must be working on a new or improved product, service, or business model that has the potential to create a significant impact.
Goyal’s comments are particularly relevant in the Indian startup ecosystem, where the term “start-up” is often used loosely to describe any new or small business. However, not all new businesses are created equal, and not all businesses that are small are start-ups. A true start-up is a company that is working on something new and innovative, whether that be a new product, a new service, or a new business model.
Goyal’s statement also highlights the importance of focus in the startup ecosystem. While many Indian startups are focusing on innovative packaging and branding, others are focusing on actual innovation and disruption. For example, some startups are working on developing new technologies such as artificial intelligence and 3D printing, which have the potential to create significant impacts in various industries.
Goyal’s comments also came as a response to the growing concern about the lack of deep-tech startups in India. According to him, the fact that only 1,000 startups in India’s deep-tech space is a “disturbing situation”. Deep-tech startups are those that work on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, robotics, and biotechnology. These startups have the potential to create significant impacts in various industries and can be a major driver of economic growth.
Goyal’s statement also highlights the importance of focusing on actual innovation rather than just hype. While many startups in India are focused on creating hype and generating buzz, others are focused on actual innovation and creating value. For example, some startups are working on developing new products and services that can improve people’s lives, such as healthcare startups that are working on developing new treatments for diseases.
In conclusion, Piyush Goyal’s statement is a reminder that giving fancy packaging to ice-creams and cookies is not start-up. True start-ups are companies that are working on actual innovation and disruption, whether that be in terms of new products, new services, or new business models. It is important for entrepreneurs and investors to focus on actual innovation rather than just hype and to recognize that start-ups are not just about packaging and branding, but about creating value and making a difference.
Source: https://x.com/moneycontrolcom/status/1907795297826378009
