Indian  startups must compete without protection, says Deepak Shahdadpuri

The reluctance of venture capitalists (VCs) to fund non-tech businesses and consumer-focused products is largely related to “pace of scale”—it takes a very long time, often decades, for a non-tech consumer business to create a brand and become a market leader, says Deepak I. Shahdadpuri, founder and managing director of Singapore-based investment firm DSG Consumer Partners Asia Pte Ltd.