Kunal Shah’s elevation once again underscores India’s paradox: producing leaders, not global tech giants
Meta’s decision to appoint Cred founder Kunal Shah as the next head of WhatsApp, alongside a $900-million investment in the fintech company, is being seen as a milestone for India’s startup ecosystem. It certainly is. WhatsApp is one of the world’s most influential digital platforms, with more than 3 billion users and India as its largest market.
The appointment signals that Indian entrepreneurs are no longer viewed merely as operators in a large emerging market but as leaders capable of shaping products used across the world. It is also a recognition of how central India has become to the future of digital services, from payments and commerce to artificial intelligence.
