Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys, is urging India's emerging entrepreneurs to pivot from software services toward deep technology and advanced manufacturing. He argues that this shift is crucial for achieving national self-reliance and sustaining long-term economic competitiveness.
However, the path is not without challenges. Deep tech and manufacturing startups demand far greater capital, extended development timelines, and specialized talent that India's ecosystem is still working to cultivate. The payoff, Gopalakrishnan notes, could be substantial: a focus on deep tech and AI‑embedded manufacturing has the potential to create higher‑quality engineering roles and reduce India's reliance on low‑margin IT outsourcing.
Gopalakrishnan made these remarks in a recent interview with the Economic Times, framing the pivot as essential for India's next "Unicorn 2.0" wave.