Finding product-market fit (PMF) in India is like cooking a new dish without tasting it — looks perfect on Instagram but might leave everyone scrambling for water.
Founders often dream big, only to learn their product is a solution in search of a problem or to realize that their “perfect solution” isn’t solving any real problems.
India’s cultural and regional diversity makes PMF more art than science. What clicks in Pune might flop in Patna, what excites Bangalore may bore Bhopal.
One city loves your product, another ignores it, and rural regions wonder what you’re even talking about. Add the pressure to scale fast, and many startups jump the gun before perfecting their offering.
As the ecosystem evolves, collaboration, data-driven insights, and mentorship will play pivotal roles in enabling startups to overcome PMF hurdles and build resilient, market-ready solutions that cater to India’s unique consumer needs.
Founders need to continue to solve real problems, stay nimble, and embrace feedback (even the kind that hurts). Also, deeply localize solutions while maintaining scalability.
In India, that requires deep empathy, humour to handle the chaos, and a lot of chai-fuelled perseverance! ☕
