Why Indian Apps and Software are not popular worldwide ?

TL;DR

• Lack of Financial Support

• Brain Drain

• Education System

• Lack of Home Support and Resistance to Change

India is one of the top three software exporter in the world. The 1970's saw the emergence of Indian Software companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) , Infosys, Hindustan Computers Limited (HCL), Wipro, Tech Mahindra. This companies are now the biggest companies in India according to their market valuation. With the rise of such software companies rose the aspirations of the Indian middle class. More and more students from the STEM stream started pursuing Computer Science and Information Technology Engineering . As of 2022, approximately 2,40,000 Computer Science Engineering students graduate every year. With such tremendous software ecosystem in India the question that arises is why India is not able to produce applications that compete the likes of Facebook , Amazon , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , YouTube and other giants .

The reasons why India still does not have any popular apps are :

LACK OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT

In the beginning, startups require hefty capital investment. However, the availability of finance for such businesses, especially the new ones, is a significant problem. Venture capitalists invest in startups which have high revenue or which have higher valuation. Thus they do not invest for a longer period rather they just pump the valuation of a company. In turn the founder loses a lot of equity and at the end the vision to make an Indian popular app diminishes and the only motto left is to exit at a good valuation.

BRAIN DRAIN

For getting better opportunities India's skilled force moves out of India in search of better rewards for their effort and talent. 66 unicorn companies out of 582 unicorn companies in the USA had Indian origin founders or co-founders. Clubhouse - A social network unicorn startup had Indian origin founder. When the most skilled people move out of the country it adversely affects the country's economy.

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Indian Education system promotes 'Managerial' mindset rather than 'Entrepreneurial' mindset . It teaches student to mug up the textbooks. The idea to make student understand different concepts and ask questions about the same is missing from the current education system of India. Simply put the Education is not curiosity based but information based where students are taught to memorise information. This in turn results into lack of innovation.

LACK OF HOME SUPPORT & RESISTANCE TO CHANGE

A lot of Indians do not trust new apps and are kind of old school to only trust the apps which the majority uses. It is a quality of the Indian consumer that it remains loyal to an organization. Most Indians do not want to change to newer UI and do not want to experience different applications. Lack of native audience reduces investors trust and thus a company does not grow. Koo is a great example of this notion where people are not supporting an Indian app but want to be loyal with Twitter.