253. Being born into the right network

The 2025 list of “self-made entrepreneurs” has been released, but it doesn't accurately reflect genuine self-made success. Examine the top 10 names— nearly all originate from just 2–3 elite castes. These groups constitute less than 15% of India’s population, yet they dominate the highest tiers of business wealth.

Family businesses tend to be conservative by nature. Perhaps this is why manufacturing shifted to China, technological leadership remains in the US, and advanced industrial innovation flourishes in Germany and Japan, all while Indian business families continue debating succession plans.

Wealth, networks, and opportunities are concentrated within specific families, creating substantial barriers for those from less privileged backgrounds or outside established business lineages. In India, social mobility remains limited, and entrepreneurship is often inherited rather than achieved through personal effort.

Society divides its population into two groups: those who create jobs and those who spend their lives doing them. This situation also harms the country, as no nation can compete globally if it sidelines most of its talent.

Many Indians never get the opportunity to grow significantly. Consider the stories we admire: Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Larry Page, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk. None of these entrepreneurs hail from established business dynasties; instead, they created new industries by taking risks.

When we talk about being “self-made," we typically mean: - born into the right network - having access to money and guidance early on - the freedom to fail without everything collapsing.

When the same small group consistently succeeds across generations, inequality essentially persists under a different label. For India to achieve real growth, it must provide strong backing for first-generation entrepreneurs, simplify access to loans for those outside the elite, and introduce meaningful incentives for marginalized communities that have been excluded from business opportunities for decades.

When an individual with no legacy, surname privilege, or safety net creates something meaningful, it signifies true progress for a country.