Over the past few weeks, AI startup founders have been voicing a quiet frustration, and now it's becoming a loud decision.
They’re choosing to skip Indian enterprise clients, not because they don’t believe in India, but because Indian clients often don’t believe in paying for what’s being built.
Here’s what’s happening:
✅Unpaid PoCs are becoming the norm. Startups are expected to spend weeks tailoring pilots, with no certainty of conversion.
✅Delays are constant. Endless back-and-forth, vague timelines, and no decision-makers in sight.
✅Commitment is missing. Even when interest is high, intent to pay is low.
All of this is being called the “Skip India” movement.
And the issue isn’t funding. It’s behavior.
We love to celebrate startups after they make it, but when they’re building, we hesitate to support.
We ask for discounts, want free access, and treat innovation like a trial version, not a value driver.
If we want India to lead in AI, this has to change.
Because the truth is, startups don’t run on hope; they run on revenue, and early-stage innovation survives on adoption.
So before we ask the next startup for “one more free PoC,” let’s ask ourselves — are we helping them build, or just burning their time?
Because if we keep undervaluing what’s being built here, we’ll lose the very innovation we’re proud of.
India AI growth future
This post was originally shared by on Linkedin.