The Great Indian Tech Playbook: FirstCry's Comeback, Slice's Vision, and Nilekani's Deeptech Dive
While some are still chasing hockey-stick growth curves, FirstCry is proving that sometimes, the sharpest pivot isn't to a new market, but to a tighter purse string. It seems the 'burn rate' has finally met its match in the 'return rate' – a refreshing development for anyone tired of unicorn valuations based solely on aspirations. Meanwhile, Slice is confidently penciling in FY26 numbers, presumably with a crayon made of solid gold, and Nandan Nilekani is quietly placing strategic bets on deeptech, because why bother with mere 'tech' when you can dive into the 'deep' end of innovation?
This newfound fiscal discipline at FirstCry, which saw its parent company significantly narrow losses in the March quarter by meticulously tightening costs, signals a broader maturation in the Indian startup ecosystem. Today's ETtech Top 5 further unpacks these crucial developments, including the ambitious financial projections from fintech innovator Slice for FY26, and a closer look at the strategic deeptech investments being championed by tech luminary Nandan Nilekani, highlighting diverse approaches to growth and sustainability in India's dynamic tech landscape.
