In today’s economy, digital platforms are infrastructure. Just like roads and electricity powered the industrial era, platforms like Uber, ChatGPT, and Amazon power the digital age. But here’s the catch—most of these are privately owned and expensive to access.
For instance, Indian entrepreneurs, especially from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, platform cost is a barrier, not just a factor.
- Startup failure rate in India is ~90% (IBM Institute).
- API usage fees are pricing out early-stage innovators.
- AI tools like ChatGPT are unaffordable for most students or bootstrapped founders.
But India has shown what’s possible. It has created platforms already. For instance, it has created UPI, a public payments infrastructure, open to all and ONDC is building an alternative to Amazon/Flipkart, enabling local sellers to go digital.
Why not extend this to:
- AI (IndiaGPT?)
- Mobility & logistics (open Uber-alternative)
- Cloud & data infrastructure (sovereign stack)
By creating public digital platforms, the government can:
- Lower entry barriers for startups
- Democratize access to cutting-edge tech
- Retain intellectual property within India
- Fuel job creation and inclusive innovation
India has entrepreneurs. It needs platforms that empower them. Incubators should create them too.