Diaspora Must Drive India’s Growth Through Capital, Expertise, and Time, Panelists Say at Indiaspora Forum 2026

“The Diaspora Dividend,” a panel discussion held during the opening plenary of the Indiaspora Forum 2026 on March 23 at the JW Marriott Hotel and Convention Centre, in Bengaluru, highlighted the evolving role of the global Indian diaspora in shaping India’s economic and technological future.

Moderated by Indiaspora Founder and Chairman MR Rangaswami, the session featured Himanshu Shah, Founder, President and CIO of Shah Capital; Ravneet Mann, Partner at Stride Ventures; and Sridar Iyengar, Founder of 360plus. The discussion underscored a shared theme that the Indian diaspora’s contribution is evolving beyond remittances toward a broader role encompassing capital, knowledge, mentorship, and global connectivity, positioning it as a key driver of India’s future growth.

Speaking from an investor’s perspective, Shah noted that while recent macroeconomic indicators may appear subdued, underlying trends point to significant long-term potential.

“I’m going to give you a perspective as an investor. Now, if you look at the last 15 months, and if you look at what is going on in India, on the surface, it doesn’t look so great. Rupee has come down 15% and market is flat,” Shah said.

He added that despite concerns such as declining foreign exchange reserves, deeper structural changes signal optimism. “But beneath the surface, I see a renaissance taking place,” Shah said, pointing to developments such as the India-Europe agreement and regulatory reforms aimed at reducing bureaucratic hurdles.

According to Shah, India’s strength lies in its ideas, but execution will be key to unlocking growth. He also highlighted improvements in skill development and manufacturing capabilities, noting that these shifts could help address longstanding trade imbalances. “So all in all, it doesn’t look great on the surface, but underneath, I’m very excited,” he said.

Ravneet Mann emphasized the growing engagement of the diaspora in India’s technology and investment landscape, particularly in enabling cross-border capital flows.

“There’s a lot of diaspora looking to give back over here, a lot of founders looking to tap into that diaspora network capital experience, the playbooks that they can give,” Mann said, underscoring the importance of leveraging global expertise to strengthen execution in India.

She noted that Stride Ventures is positioning itself as a bridge between Indian opportunities and international investors by building confidence among diaspora and institutional stakeholders.

“We’re trying to go out and be an Indian fund manager that can look at regional deployment outside India,” Mann said, explaining that close collaboration with diaspora and global investors helps provide comfort and access to India’s tech ecosystem.

Mann highlighted the firm’s active role in India’s debt investment space, noting strong diaspora participation in the technology sector. However, she emphasized the need to go beyond trust-based capital and expand engagement with broader institutional investors.

“We are trying to be that bridge,” she said, referring to increasing cross-border investments and opportunities emerging from international trade corridors, particularly in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.

She added that Indian-origin founders based in the UK and Europe are increasingly turning to Indian fund managers as their first point of contact due to their agility and familiarity with both markets. Mann also underscored the importance of creating a “flywheel effect” through sustained cross-border collaboration and a more holistic, outward-looking approach to growth.

Sridar Iyengar offered a more personal perspective, drawing on over a decade of engagement with India’s development.

“Mine is a learned experience. I’m not here as an expert. I’ve learned a lot from my engagement with India for the last several years,” Iyengar said.

He emphasized that while financial capital is important, time and mentorship are equally critical contributions the diaspora can make.

“One of the things I found is that the best way that I as a diaspora member can, in fact, help India, the way forward is time. Money is available, you have to access it. But the most important thing is actually give your time,” he said, highlighting the need for role models and guidance for young people.

Iyengar also stressed the importance of understanding local contexts rather than applying external solutions. “Rather than trying to give solutions which worked for there, I have tried to understand needs here, and I learned more from the people here than I would guarantee you that I’ve learned from the people over there, and that’s something I’ve kept it in mind,” he said.

Reflecting on resilience within India, Iyengar pointed to individuals who have succeeded despite significant challenges. “They are the real role models that we could actually use. How do we circulate that and socialize that democratize,” he said.