Aravind Srinivas, the co-founder and chief executive of AI startup Perplexity, has called on Indians to move beyond their long-established reputation as strong managers in global corporations and instead focus on building technology companies that can stand on the world stage. Speaking on October 1, 2025, he stressed that while Indian professionals are rightly admired for their leadership roles across multinational giants, the time has come to change the narrative and highlight India’s ability to create, scale and lead global enterprises.

Srinivas noted that India has already demonstrated a strong base of entrepreneurial talent and innovation potential. However, he argued that much of the global recognition still comes from Indians managing established firms rather than founding breakthrough companies. According to him, the country must prove to the world that it can nurture homegrown ventures capable of competing with, and even surpassing, global incumbents.

Perplexity, the AI search company Srinivas co-founded, has seen rapid growth in India, which has now emerged as its largest user market. This expansion, he said, highlights the appetite of Indian users for advanced digital platforms and underscores the potential for companies to treat India not just as a market for consumption but as a launchpad for global innovation. Srinivas also indicated that the firm is considering local investment opportunities to deepen its commitment to the Indian ecosystem.

At the same time, he acknowledged that Indian founders face stiff challenges, particularly from Big Tech players who often replicate features introduced by startups. Rather than discouraging innovation, Srinivas argued that this should strengthen entrepreneurs’ resolve to build products that are unique, defensible and globally relevant.

His message was clear: Indians must shift gears from managing success to engineering it, positioning the country as a powerhouse for building globally respected technology companies.