Kanwal Rekhi said India possesses the talent, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit required to establish a new Silicon Valley [1].

This perspective suggests that the geographical center of global technology innovation could shift if India optimizes its regulatory and social frameworks to support high-risk ventures. Rekhi, a Silicon Valley veteran and the first Indian to take a company public on the Nasdaq, said the raw materials for a tech revolution are already present in the country [2].

Rekhi said cities such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad are locations that already have the necessary ingredients to lead this growth [1]. He said these hubs provide a foundation of skilled labor and technical expertise that rivals established international centers [3].

However, the transition from a talent hub to a global innovation leader requires more than just skilled engineers. Rekhi said that an enabling environment is required to foster the next generation of companies [1]. This environment involves a culture that encourages risk-taking and provides the structural support necessary for startups to scale without prohibitive barriers.

"Absolutely. India has nothing missing in its genes," Rekhi said during an interview with CNBC TV18 [1].

Rekhi said these views in a press release dated Feb. 24, 2026, coinciding with the release of his memoir [2]. He said the primary obstacle is not a lack of capability, but the need for a supportive ecosystem that mirrors the early days of the U.S. tech boom. By bridging this gap, Rekhi believes India can move beyond being a service provider to becoming a primary source of global product innovation [1].

“"Absolutely. India has nothing missing in its genes."”

Rekhi's assessment highlights a critical transition point for the Indian economy, moving from a 'back-office' service model toward a product-led innovation economy. While the technical workforce is abundant, the gap remains in the 'enabling environment'—specifically the legal, financial, and cultural risk tolerance that allowed Silicon Valley to thrive. If India can implement these systemic changes, it could decentralize global tech power away from the US.