As the Indian startup ecosystem enters the first quarter of 2026, the air is thick with anticipation—and a healthy dose of caution. We are no longer in the era of “blitz scaling” or vanity metrics. If 2021 was a fever dream of liquidity, 2026 is the cold shower of reality. As we approach the Union Budget, the conversation among investors has shifted from “how fast can you grow?” to “how long can you last?” It is also true that many top-tier VCs are moving money from outside India with a conviction to stay long, i.e., more than 10 years in the case of deeptech and a few sectors, where the time needed to grow is long but can provide return multiples.This transition is defined by three fundamental shifts: deeper conviction, sharper focus, and stronger governance.Deeper conviction: Beyond the digital surfaceIn previous cycles, “conviction” was often just a fancy word for FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Today, it has been redefined. Investors are moving away from the “copy-paste” models of the West and looking toward the “hard” problems of the Indian economy.True conviction in 2026 is found in the “un-sexy” sectors: supply chain logistics in Tier III cities, localised agricultural technology,… Read MoreYourStory RSS Feed
Home Uncategorized Key investment priorities for 2026: Deeper conviction, sharper focus, and stronger governance
