Startup Ecosystems, From My Lens

What really is an ecosystem? I don’t think ecosystems are just buildings, incubators, funding networks, or startup events. To me, ecosystems are environments where people grow because of the people around them. Almost like planting trees. You cannot force growth overnight, but if the environment is right, things slowly start compounding on their own.

India today boasts 1100+ incubators and 400+ accelerators, but I often wonder if the real value of an ecosystem comes less from infrastructure and more from proximity.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about this after coming across places like F Station in Paris. It felt less like a startup campus and more like an intentionally designed environment for collisions. Founders, operators, builders, investors, all existing close enough for ideas to move faster.

And now I’m slowly noticing similar energy emerging in India too.

Places like Tavastra Residency, Build3, Draper House, and even hacker houses quietly popping up around Bangalore. What fascinates me is that these spaces are not just offering infrastructure. They are creating proximity. And proximity changes people.

When people continuously share the same spaces, ideas move faster, collaborations happen more naturally, and ecosystems slowly start developing their own culture and momentum.

I genuinely believe the future may belong to many small but deeply connected startup ecosystems instead of a few centralized hubs. Not just nurturing smaller ecosystems but intentionally connecting them with each other.

Perhaps startup ecosystems should be thought of less like industries and more like living systems that need constant nurturing, trust, and interconnectedness.

The future may belong to ecosystems that are open enough to learn from each other, yet distinct enough to preserve their own culture.