Entrepreneurs in emerging markets develop unique resilience by navigating daily chaos. This learned ability to "deal with chaos" translates into a powerful advantage when managing the inherent uncertainty of startups and the complex global business environment.
For large, potentially controversial projects, dedicate significant time upfront to meet every stakeholder group—from supporters to critics. By socializing the idea and framing its benefits for each party, you can build widespread support that preempts future opposition.
Spend significant time debating and mapping out a project's feasibility with a trusted group before starting to build. This internal stress-test is crucial for de-risking massive undertakings by ensuring there's a clear, plausible path to the end goal.
Unlike private companies seeking product-market fit within a specific segment, designing digital public infrastructure (DPI) requires a different mindset. The goal is creating a level playing field that enables *everyone* to participate and allows markets to innovate on top.
Successful tech exits act as a powerful catalyst for new company creation. Employees who gain experience and capital from a major exit then leave to start their own ventures, creating a virtuous cycle of talent and seed funding that rapidly grows the entire startup ecosystem.
Instead of competing to build sovereign AI stacks from the chip up, India's strategic edge is in applying commoditized AI models to its unique, population-scale problems. This leverages the country's deep experience with real-world, large-scale implementation.
When executing a large-scale government technology project, physically separating the technology team (e.g., in Bangalore) from the political and bureaucratic hub (e.g., in Delhi) is a crucial tactic. This creates a shield, allowing engineers to focus on deep work without constant interference.
Prioritize projects that promise significant impact but face minimal resistance. High-friction projects, even if impactful, drain energy on battles rather than building. The sweet spot is in areas most people don't see yet, thus avoiding pre-emptive opposition.