As we hit the midpoint of 2025, one thing is evident. Gen AI (generative artificial intelligence) is no longer a promising experiment or an emerging landscape. It is a full-fledged transformation engine. From workflow automation to software development, GenAI is redefining how businesses operate, making systems faster, smarter and more adaptive. But the real disruption lies beneath the surface, determined by how organisations collect, manage and scale their data.

Legacy systems — rigid schemas, siloed data repositories and batch-based analytics — are cracking under the pressure of mission-critical requirements. Replacing them is a new data backbone built on real-time streaming, cloud-native platforms (for access and scale), and autonomous databases. These modern stacks are critical to unlocking the full potential of GenAI, powering everything from fraud detection and customer segmentation to hyper-personalised recommendations.

The numbers back the momentum. GenAI analytics is expected to surge from $1.7 Bn in 2025 to $5 Bn by 2029, growing at an impressive 31% CAGR. Meanwhile, the AI infrastructure market is projected to reach $394.5 Bn by 2030, up from $135.8 Bn in 2024 at a 19.4% CAGR. While India-specific data remains sparse, APAC markets will accelerate rapidly.

For Indian startups, this signals a strategic shift. They are no longer just tweaking systems but building from the ground up. The GenAI era is pushing them into continuous learning loops where innovation is not an add-on. It is baked into the core of what they build.

To unpack how high-growth startups are re-engineering their data stacks to enable seamless AI execution, Inc42 and database software developer Couchbase co-hosted a closed-door roundtable in New Delhi — the first edition of Boardroom: The AI & Data Playbook.

The session brought together nine tech leaders from various sectors, including foodtech, medtech, ecommerce, cloud, AI and more, to discuss the challenges and strategies around building AI-ready infrastructure.

The conversation, moderated by Ratnaafin Capital’s CTO Kshitij Shah, explored the core theme: How Startups Deal With Data Challenges In The Race To Scale Artificial Intelligence. The participants included:

• Dr Shakti Goel, chief architect & data scientist, Yatra Online
• Gaurav Bagga, SVP and head of engineering & product, Pristyn Care
• Shantanu Prakash, director (data analytics), CashKaro.com
• Pankaj Judge, chief for enterprise SaaS, EV and sustainability, Droom
• Sunil Rai, senior director (tech), Magicpin
• Diwas Sharma, tech head, Fashinza
• Rahul Prasad, cofounder & CTO, Bobble AI Technologies
• Amit Gupta, cofounder & CTO, TrulyMadly
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