Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Indian Founders Create More Value Abroad Than In India
A new report looked at companies started by people who grew up in India.
It found that these founders created more company value outside India than inside the country.
Their overseas companies were worth about $560 billion in total.
Indian-based unicorn founders were linked to about $349 billion in value.
Most of the overseas companies were in the United States.
Some were started entirely by Indian teams, while others had Indian-origin founders working with other founders.
The report says Indian founders often aim to solve difficult problems and build very large businesses.
It also says India now has more money, markets, and skilled workers, so founders may not need to leave the country to build companies at scale.
Indian founders who grew up in India have created $560 billion in company value abroad, compared with $349 billion from founders of India-based unicorns.
The report counted 205 current and former overseas unicorns with founders who grew up in India, versus 102 India-based unicorns.
The United States accounted for 187 of the 205 overseas companies, or 91 percent.
Seventy overseas companies worth $243 billion were built by entirely Indian founding teams, while 135 worth $317 billion included Indian-origin founders in core teams.
A broader index covering founders born in India included 323 companies, including 200 founded in or relocated to the United States.
- Who
- Indian founders who grew up in India, along with Indian-origin founders on overseas founding teams.
- What
- A Prosus and Dealroom report found that these founders created $560 billion in company value abroad, compared with $349 billion linked to founders of India-based unicorns.
- When
- The report was published on September 21, 2026.
- Where
- Most of the overseas companies were based in the United States, which accounted for 187 of the 205 companies.
- Why
- The report links the value creation to Indian founders' talent, ambition, technology, and ability to solve complex problems; it also says India is gaining the capital, markets, and operating talent needed to support large-scale company building.
- Overseas company value
- $560 billion
- India-based unicorn value
- $349 billion
- Overseas unicorns with founders who grew up in India
- 205
- India-based unicorns
- 102
- Overseas companies based in the United States
- 187, or 91 percent
- Entirely Indian founding teams
- 70 companies valued at $243 billion
- Broader Indian Diaspora Index
- 323 companies, including 200 founded in or relocated to the United States