Australia’s startup landscape is seeing a strong surge, with Indian-origin entrepreneurs playing a key role in driving new business growth – especially across Western and North-West Sydney. Recent data shows founders with surnames like Singh, Patel, Kaur and Sharma are increasingly shaping the region’s economic future.
According to the latest business registration trends, India-born entrepreneurs accounted for 19 per cent of all new businesses in New South Wales in 2025. This makes them one of the fastest-growing founder groups, significantly outperforming their share of the population, which sits at around 3 per cent statewide.
The impact is even more visible in key growth corridors such as Parramatta, Blacktown, The Hills and Penrith. In these areas, India-born founders were responsible for more than half of all new business registrations, highlighting the community’s strong entrepreneurial drive and influence across Western Sydney.
Interestingly, the shift is also reflected in the most common surnames appearing on new business registrations. Names like Singh, Patel, Kaur and Sharma now rank among the most frequent, signalling a clear cultural and economic shift in Australia’s small business landscape.
This growth is closely tied to the rapid expansion of Australia’s Indian diaspora, which now numbers close to one million people nationwide. Over the years, strong community networks and cultural connections have played a vital role in supporting new migrants to start and grow their own businesses.
One example is Pragna Bhavsar, co-founder of a catering business in Western Sydney, who transitioned from a corporate role into entrepreneurship. Like many others, she identified opportunities within the growing South Asian community and built a business catering to both cultural and mainstream audiences.
Experts say Indian-Australian entrepreneurs are launching ventures across a wide range of industries, from hospitality and food services to consulting, digital marketing and tech-driven businesses. Many are also creating services tailored to diaspora communities, while expanding into broader markets.
As Western Sydney continues to grow, the contribution of Indian-origin entrepreneurs is becoming increasingly significant. Their success stories not only highlight economic impact but also reflect a broader shift towards a more diverse and dynamic business ecosystem across Australia.
