AI as the new co-founder: How entrepreneurs are using AI tools to accelerate growth

By Dinesh Gulati, COO, IndiaMART InterMESH Ltd

A PwC report states that AI will contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. In India alone, 60% of Indian startups have adopted AI in some form in 2025 (NASSCOM data). We are witnessing a rapid evolution of AI from a tool to a company resource, and the days are not far off when AI will be the new co-founder to every startup. Automation, deep research, and summarizing unstructured data are some of the tasks AI has been doing regularly, but the transition from a back-office tool to an active partner in decision-making, growth, and innovation is now becoming a reality.

Beyond office automation
A great cofounder brings complementary expertise, be it technology, finance, or business strategy, and acts as a great sounding board. Taking crucial decisions on the basis of experience and intuition is another skill ...