Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw shares drone cleaning video, asks startups: 'Where's your innovation?'

Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has sparked a debate on social media after sharing a video showing a drone being used to clean windows in Bengaluru and questioning whether startups are delivering sufficiently innovative solutions.

Posting the clip on X, the billionaire entrepreneur wrote, "This is what drones in Bangalore can do - wash windows, roads, pavements n more! Come on start ups. Where’s your innovation?"

The video appeared to show a drone carrying out window-cleaning operations on a building. While highlighting the technology's capabilities, Mazumdar-Shaw's remarks appeared to challenge startups to think beyond routine applications and develop more ambitious innovations.

Post sparks online debate

The post attracted a wide range of responses from social media users, with many weighing in on the potential impact and uses of drone technology.

One user raised concerns about the effect of automation on employment, writing, "This will directly impact the jobs of poor, daily wage earners. Sad."

Another commenter pointed to several other possible applications for drones, including CCTV health monitoring, post-rain damage assessment, identifying billboard violations, monitoring footpath encroachments, detecting illegal trash disposal, tracking construction waste dumping and issuing automated challans for illegally parked vehicles.

Questions over startup innovation

Some users interpreted Mazumdar-Shaw's remarks as criticism of the current startup ecosystem.

"They are busy building startups that can monetize slavery..." one commenter wrote.

Others focused on practical challenges associated with the technology. Responding to the post, one user commented, "I agree Kiran, but where do we get so much water."

The discussion reflects differing views on the role of emerging technologies, with users debating their impact on employment, urban management and the direction of innovation in India's startup ecosystem.