⚠If you’re a budding entrepreneur, don’t start your business before you read this.
I think entrepreneurs are overlooking a golden opportunity that’s right under our noses. While we’re chasing the next unicorn in metro cities, a quiet revolution is brewing in most of “Bharat” or rural India.
The numbers don’t lie: rural demand growth is outpacing urban markets for at least two straight quarters, with 6% growth in July-September quarter versus urban’s 2.8%.
Here’s your real, no-nonsense playbook for building for Bharat:
➡Kill the sachet-only mindset.
Rural consumers are upgrading from Rs 5 packs to larger sizes – they want value, not just affordability. Build refined options.
➡Design distribution for reality.
Even bigger FMCG companies only reach one-third of rural markets, the rest two-thirds could be an opportunity for new businesses. Build micro-warehouses in small towns. Partner with local kirana networks. Use rural post offices.
➡Create local service networks.
Rural spending on healthcare (6.8%) and conveyance (7.6%) is rising. But who’s servicing these products? That’s an opportunity to train the local youth and build viable service businesses.
➡Digitize the right way.
Rural India doesn’t need another payment app. It needs digital tools for inventory management, crop pricing, and local service booking.
➡Leverage existing infrastructure.
Government’s Direct Benefit Transfer system, a program that transfers government benefits directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries, reaches millions. Can your business take advantage of this infrastructure and serve this audience?
This Republic Day, let’s stop treating Bharat as our backup market. The future isn’t in saturated cities – it’s in the heartland where real India lives and grows.
Because building for Bharat isn’t CSR. It’s smart business.
