Why we built GenZ

My name is Appala Sairam, and I started building GenZ at the age of 23.

This journey began while I was studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in the United Kingdom. At that time, I was working in a Pakistani restaurant, where I was the only Indian employee. Most of my co-workers were from Pakistan. I often heard jokes about my accent, my appearance, and sometimes even comments about India. I chose to ignore them and focus on my work.

However, during Operation Sindoor, the conversations became more serious. People openly questioned India's strength and its future. One day, while defending India, I compared India's progress with Pakistan.

The reply I received changed my life: “Why do you always compare India with Pakistan? Compare India with China and the United States.”

That one sentence stayed with me.

For the next two months, I spent countless hours researching why countries like China and the United States became global leaders in manufacturing, innovation, and economic growth.

The more I learned, the more I realized one thing: India does not lack talent.

We have skilled manufacturers, innovators, artisans, entrepreneurs, students, and millions of people with brilliant ideas. Yet many of them struggle to gain trust, visibility, opportunities, and access to markets. Consumers often do not know who actually manufactures the products they buy, and many innovative ideas never receive the recognition they deserve.

That realization became the foundation of GenZ.

I made the difficult decision to leave the United Kingdom and return to India to build this vision. Before leaving, I shared my idea with my family. They respected my decision but made one thing very clear: if I chose this path, I would have to build it on my own. They would not be able to provide any financial support. I accepted that responsibility because I truly believed this vision was worth pursuing.

After returning to India, I met politicians, startup incubators, and various organizations. Many appreciated the idea, but the support I had hoped for never came. Although it was disappointing, every rejection only made me more determined to continue.

To support myself while building GenZ, I became a Zomato delivery partner.

Every day, I delivered food. Every night, I worked on GenZ. While others saw a delivery partner, I saw someone taking one step closer to a vision that never left my mind.

Today, GenZ is more than just a startup. It is the result of one question that changed my life and inspired me to stop making excuses and start building solutions.

I believe India's future will not be built by one person, one company, or one government alone. It will be built when innovators, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and consumers come together to create opportunities for one another.