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India’s digital transformation is no longer about catching up — it is leading the way.
At the CNN-News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025, Vivek Wadhwa, CEO of Vionix Biosciences and a noted academic, entrepreneur, and author, made a bold claim: “India’s digital infrastructure is far ahead of Silicon Valley’s.”
Wadhwa, who lives in California’s tech hub, said reliable internet and affordable mobile services remain a struggle there.
“I can’t even get fiber optic at my home in Belmont. Meanwhile, in India, even beggars have QR codes,” he quipped, praising India’s widespread adoption of digital payments and connectivity.
India’s Deep Tech Talent Outshines Silicon Valley
The panel discussion titled ‘Be a Sport: Bharat’s Billion Dollar Digital Play’ also featured Harsh Jain of Dream Sports and TV Mohandas Pai of Aarin Capital.
Wadhwa highlighted the exceptional AI and machine learning talent in India, calling it better and more humble than what he finds in Silicon Valley.
He criticized inflated expectations among Silicon Valley graduates and praised young Indian engineers for their hunger to learn.
“Within three to four months, they were at par with the best,” he said.
However, he added that India’s engineering curriculum needs updates in areas like cloud computing and startup skills.
Harsh Jain noted a massive improvement in access to capital for Indian startups, from pre-seed to growth stages.
But for deep tech innovation, he said, India lacks the billions in patient capital seen in markets like the US and China.
Despite this, Jain called it the best time ever to launch a startup, with digital transformation lowering entry barriers.
TV Mohandas Pai, however, raised alarm over regulatory challenges. He criticized India’s tax regime as punitive and outdated, saying it stifles entrepreneurship.
Pai warned that Rs 30 lakh crore is locked in tax disputes and said the government’s approach to digital surveillance adds further pressure on startups.
Despite these concerns, all three speakers expressed strong optimism. Jain noted that companies like OpenAI and Anthropic already recognize India as a key growth market.
Wadhwa urged young Indians to shake off colonial-era self-doubt: “Stop looking at Silicon Valley with awe. You are ahead of them. Dream bigger.”
The panel ended on a high note, with consensus that India’s digital infrastructure, AI talent, and startup grit have positioned it to lead the next era of global innovation.
Also Read: InterGlobe And Accor Launch Joint Hospitality Venture Targeting 300 Hotels In India by 2030
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