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Satyam Darmora, together with Vinay Singhal and Saurabh Munjal, shared how startups are being built for Bharat by enabling affordable Internet access, regional cultures for promotion and the creation of mass market brands adapted for the next billion users of India
Satyam Darmora, along with Vinay Singhal and Saurabh Munjal. (RL) (Image: News18)
The new companies focused on the next one billion users in India are redefining the country’s growth history by promoting prosperity, trust and deep cultural connections, businessmen said in the CNN-News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025. Speaking during the discussion panel during the discussion panel Building for Bharat: how startups are winning the next billion users of IndiaSatyam Darmora, founder and CEO of Wiom, said that affordable Internet access is crucial to allow dreams in all Bharat.
“Everyone deserves to dream, and we must change the narrative of India of poverty relief to the creation of prosperity,” said Darmora, highlighting the need to build an inclusive digital infrastructure for unattended communities.
Darmora explained how Wiom provides unlimited Internet access to only RS 5 per day, making online education, entertainment and information accessible to masses. He added that India is the first country in the world to legally allow people to resell unused Internet, which allows Wiom’s innovative model. “The true gap between dreams and reality is access to information, and today most Bharat is still data hungry,” he said.
Vinay Singhal, co -founder and CEO of Stage, spoke about how regional narration and cinema can feed self -confidence and pride among the various communities of India. Stage produces high quality films and web programs in the Haryanvi, Rajasthani and Bhojpuri web regions that previously lacked a formal entertainment industry. “We believe we are building the layer of trust in this country,” said Singhal.
“Once people feel comfortable with whom they are, societies prosper,” he added, explaining how Stage has helped create 150 production houses only in Haryana, producing 50 original films annually in each regional market.
Saurabh Munjal, co -founder and CEO of Archian Foods, discussed the construction of Lahori, a profitable brand of mass market drinks, by Chandigarh. “Most of the new companies chase the 30–50 million main users: we are building for the 100 million rupees that are not part of that cohort,” he said.
Munjal said the company focused on the shared love of India for the flavors of Chatpata Masaledar and kept its products at a price of RS 10, making them accessible to the masses. He pointed out that after Lahori the water with cumin flavor (Jera Water), larger players like Bisleri and Parle Agro entered the segment. “Good competition is a good place to be. Validate that what we think made sense,” Munjal said.
Entrepreneurs also talked about the need for new companies to understand the unique behavior of India’s consumer instead of copying Western models. “In India, people save buy, unlike the West, where you buy more to save more,” said Darmora. It was emphasized that the next wave of innovations must be “born in India, not just build in India.”
In their final comments, the founders described their ambitions for the future. Saurabh Munjal said that Lahori aims to achieve a national footprint within two years and become the choice of preferred drinks for Indian consumers within five years. Vinay Singhal said that in the next five years, he expects each Indian to be proud of his regional cultural identity. Satyam Darmora said that Wiom’s goal for 2030 is to put unlimited Internet available to 50 million Indians for only RS 10.
Jokingly, joining the session, Darmora added: “In the future, for RS 10, you should be able to be able to see a incredible content or get unlimited Internet of us.”
The session highlighted how startups are taking advantage of Bharat’s aspirations for the self -confidence of the promotion, allowing access to information and building affordable and culturally resonant products for the India of tomorrow.