'Sucking up to power is a national cancer': 10x founder question attitude of startup leaders including boAt’s Aman Gupta

A sharp rift has emerged in India’s startup circles following controversial remarks by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal at the Startup Mahakumbh — and the aftershock is still playing out online.

While Goyal’s speech was meant as a push for deeper innovation, it has sparked backlash from sections of the entrepreneurial community. One of the loudest voices of criticism has come from 10x founder and investor Sam Baisla, who directly called out boAt co-founder Aman Gupta for applauding the minister’s comments.

Baisla: ‘Everything is wrong with this attitude’

In a strongly worded post on LinkedIn, Baisla questioned Gupta’s interpretation of the minister’s message, saying it implied that founders required government mockery to think big.

“Everything is wrong with this attitude,” Baisla wrote. “Government’s job is to facilitate and serve the citizens, not to ridicule, blame, and call them lazy. Why aren't the corporate leaders asking the government questions?”

He also pushed back against the stereotype of Indian entrepreneurs lacking ambition, asking: “If people are lazy and dumb, why do they flourish abroad?”


Baisla warned that the broader culture of seeking favour from those in power could have serious long-term consequences.

“The attitude of sucking up to powerful people and not standing up for what is right is the cancer of our country,” he said. “This culture of ‘ji sir, hum hi gadhe hain’ will destroy the future of our next generations.”

Goyal: ‘Is that the destiny of India?’

The storm began after Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal addressed Startup Mahakumbh last week, questioning whether India’s startup ecosystem was falling short of its potential.

“Are we going to be happy being delivery boys and girls... Is that the destiny of India?” Goyal asked. “This is not a startup, this is entrepreneurship... What the other side is doing — robotics, machine learning, 3D manufacturing and next generation factories.”

He presented a slide titled “India vs China. The Startup Reality Check” to drive home the gap in tech innovation.

“Do we have to make ice cream or chips?” Goyal added, urging founders to shift towards sectors like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, machine learning and robotics. He also flagged the low number of deep-tech startups — just 1,000 out of 1.57 lakh recognised ventures — as a problem that could hold back India’s development goals.

Goyal criticised certain startup models that rely on gig work, stating they risk turning young people into low-cost labour rather than empowering them.

He also highlighted the need for greater domestic investment to reduce dependence on foreign capital. “A strong foundation of indigenous investment is crucial,” he said.

At the same time, the minister assured founders that the government would continue supporting those facing challenges. “If you fail, don’t worry — try again,” he added.

Gupta: ‘We need to aim higher’

Not all reactions to Goyal’s comments were negative. Aman Gupta, co-founder of audio tech brand boAt and a judge on Shark Tank India, voiced strong support for the minister’s vision.

“It’s not every day that the government asks founders to dream bigger,” Gupta posted on X. “But at Startup Mahakumbh, that’s exactly what happened. I was there. I heard the full speech. Hon. Minister @PiyushGoyal Ji isn’t against founders. He believes in us.”

Gupta described the minister’s speech as a reminder to raise the bar. “His point was simple: India has come far, but to lead the world, we need to aim higher.”

Drawing on his own experience, he added, “It reminded me of something I say often on Shark Tank India: If you want to build a world-class product, you must know your competition. That applies to India too.”

On Goyal’s comparison with China and the US, Gupta wrote: “Benchmarking against China, the US, or anyone else — isn’t a weakness. It’s a smart strategy. We’re already the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world and the fastest-growing major economy. But if we want to be No.1, we need to also go deep into AI, deep tech, climate, mobility, and infra.”

He concluded by calling for “scientific risk, more patient capital, founder–policymaker collaboration and a long-term national vision.”

The minister’s remarks have reignited a familiar conversation in India’s startup circles — who gets to critique founders, and how?

While some viewed Goyal’s speech as a necessary challenge to complacency, others felt the tone was dismissive. The startup space remains divided: a few founders called the comments timely and aspirational, while others pointed fingers at bureaucratic delays, poor policy implementation and inconsistent support.

Prominent names including Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha, Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu and Paytm’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma have also weighed in, reflecting a growing tension between policy ambition and grassroots realities.

For now, the debate continues to unfold on social media and in boardrooms. But the message is loud and clear — India’s entrepreneurs are watching, and they expect the same level of accountability from government as is demanded of them.