Ankiti Bose, cofounder of Zilingo, Harsh Jain, CEO, Dream Sports and Satyan Ghazwani, Vice-Chairman, Times Internet, explains the great qualities that make the best great.

Ankiti Bose, Co-Founder and CEO, Zilingo

The Indian startup ecosystem is leading the way while the world is watching and learning. The evolution of this ecosystem during the pandemic was proof that it is resilient and ready to adapt to market challenges with record funding and many new unicorns. India-first, it is inspiring to see the future unfold before us.

I am very excited to see how many nominees are putting together the massive digital infrastructure that will accelerate the creation of so many more use cases and interesting business models in India in the future!

Harsh Jain, Cofounder and CEO, Dream Sports

Looking at The Economic Times Startup Awards and the caliber of the nominees, I would expect them all to become torch-bearing startups of the Indian tech ecosystem and transform the lives of over 1 billion Indians. To me, winners must demonstrate a clear ability to focus and solve a much larger problem. They should have a team that is extremely passionate and consistent, with a track record of world class execution, and the ability to continue experimenting as they grow exponentially.

The business must have a very large TAM (Total Addressable Market), high frequency usage, and high retention with strong unit economics. Nominees must show genuine persistence, be completely data-driven, and have a user-first approach in everything they do.

Satyan Gajwani, Vice Chairman, Times Internet

The benchmark of being a great new business leader is rapidly rising, and with India as a breakout digital economy, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make an impact. Historically, great Indian entrepreneurs have been known for being shrewd, business-savvy leaders. Today, great Indian entrepreneurs are being recognized for their ability to think big, drive transformative change, pursue grand vision and build capacities and capabilities to tackle large scale problems in critical times. The best leaders can, of course, do both – attract, inspire, and align teams chasing the skies of the future, while keeping their ears to the ground and presenting realities. As we assess businesses, I’m looking for businesses that can make a transformative impact, but also have the staying power to build strong, viable businesses that can last.

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ET Startup Awards 2021: Jury to select stars from India’s startup world