Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of Perplexity AI, has called on Indian entrepreneurs to take bold steps in challenging global tech giants like Instagram and WhatsApp. Speaking on a podcast hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Srinivas expressed his admiration for the “bravery” it would take for an Indian company to disrupt the digital advertising ecosystem dominated by Meta and Google.
Srinivas highlighted the immense potential for Indian startups to carve out their niche in the market, emphasizing the need for innovative platforms that offer compelling reasons for users to engage and share content. He stated, “If you can build way better targeting than Instagram does, at least for consumers in India that you are trying to target for your business, there’s an opportunity.”
The discussion also touched on the challenges faced by smaller players in setting up robust consent mechanisms, a critical factor in competing with established giants. Srinivas pointed out that companies like Meta and Google benefit from extensive data resources, creating a “data moat” that is difficult for new entrants to overcome. However, he encouraged Indian entrepreneurs to explore innovative consent models and leverage existing frameworks like DigiLocker to address these challenges.
With platforms like Instagram boasting 229.5 million users in India and YouTube leading with 462 million users, the market presents a massive opportunity for homegrown alternatives. Srinivas’s remarks come at a time when India’s software and network-based service industries are playing a pivotal role in the country’s Digital India strategy.
As concerns around data protection and security grow, Srinivas’s call to action serves as a rallying cry for Indian startups to innovate and compete on a global scale. His vision underscores the importance of fostering a robust ecosystem that supports technological advancements and entrepreneurial spirit in India.
