Building A Global AI Startup From India

Building A Global AI Startup From India

Author: Y Combinator March 16, 2026 Duration: 39:32

In this episode of The Lightcone, we talk with Mukund and Madhav Jha, the founders of Emergent - an AI platform that lets anyone build and ship production-ready software. In just eight months, users have created more than 7 million apps on Emergent, with the number doubling in just the last 45 days. We discuss how they built one of the most powerful AI coding agents, why they focused on non-technical users and what it's like building in India for a global audience.


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Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

01:06 - What Is Emergent?

01:18 - Founder Backstory

02:09 - From AI Testing to General Coding Agents

02:52 - Getting Ahead of the Market

04:18 - The Pivot to Non-Technical Users

05:22 - Why Second Movers Can Win in AI

09:04 - Building for Production, Not Just Prototypes

18:21 - Live Demo: Building Apps with Emergent

24:40 - How Emergent Hires and Runs a Lean Team

29:04 - Is SaaS Dead? The Rise of Personalized Software

34:04 - The Future: Niche Apps, Solo Builders and AI Agency


Behind every successful startup is a story, and the Y Combinator Startup Podcast is where those stories are told in full. This isn't about polished theory; it's the raw, practical conversation happening between founders who have been in the trenches and the Y Combinator partners who advise them. You'll hear directly from people who have navigated the chaotic journey from a flicker of an idea to building a company that scales, discussing not just their victories but, more importantly, the hard lessons and tactical decisions that aren't found in any textbook. Each episode feels like a candid office-hours session, stripping away the hype to focus on the real work of making something people actually want. For anyone curious about the mechanics of building a technology company-the early uncertainties, the pivotal moments, and the relentless focus on execution-this podcast offers an unfiltered look at the craft. Tune in for genuine insights from the frontlines, where the focus remains squarely on the art and science of building things that matter.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Y Combinator Startup Podcast
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