Look, for the actual humans graduating college in India right now, this isn’t about some abstract policy shift. It’s about getting a diploma. Specifically, it means they have to do an internship to earn credits. Ten to fifteen credits, no less. Suddenly, students are scrambling, and companies—bless their cotton socks—are less than thrilled to take on underdeveloped minds eager to ‘learn the ropes.’
SETTribe, the subject of this particular yarn, claims they’re the solution. They’re positioning themselves to bridge this newly mandated — and apparently inconvenient — gap between idealistic graduates and companies that’d rather not babysit. The founder, Sarang Wakodikar, lays it out plain. The market isn’t providing. Students need credits. Employers, particularly in the IT sector, are “very few” and “willing to offer internships to fresh graduates whose foundational skills are still developing.” That last bit is a polite way of saying, ‘We don’t want to train them from scratch, but the government says we have to do something.’
“However, there are very few companies—particularly in the IT sector—that are willing to offer internships to fresh graduates whose foundational skills are still developing.”
It’s a classic case of regulatory overreach meeting market inertia. The government mandates something, and suddenly everyone’s looking for the unicorn that will make it painless. SETTribe’s pitch is simple: we’ll be that unicorn. Or at least, a particularly well-trained pony.
Is This Just More Bureaucratic Band-Aid?
Here’s the thing: this whole mandatory internship merry-go-round smells suspiciously like a solution in search of a problem, or rather, a government mandate that didn’t quite think through the practicalities. For years, internships were a way for keen students to get a foot in the door, a genuine exchange of learning for labor. Now, it’s a box to tick. This can dilute the value of internships, turning them into a bureaucratic chore for both sides. Will companies suddenly start pouring resources into meaningful training programs for students they’re legally obligated to host? Or will this just lead to more ‘busy work’ designed to look like experience?
Wakodikar’s framing of the market is sharp, though. He’s not just saying students need internships; he’s highlighting the hesitation from employers. That’s the real problem SETTribe is trying to solve. They’re acting as the intermediary, presumably vetting students and/or offering some sort of managed program to make it less of a headache for businesses.
What’s the Real Opportunity Here for SETTribe?
Forget the feel-good narrative of helping students. The real play is providing a service that companies need, even if they grumble about it. If SETTribe can genuinely streamline the process of onboarding, training, and managing these mandatory interns, they’ve got a captive audience. This isn’t just about goodwill; it’s about alleviating a regulatory burden. And when you alleviate a burden, especially a government-mandated one, there’s usually a price to be paid. Or, in this case, a fee to be charged. The market is the IT sector, a notoriously competitive and talent-hungry beast. If SETTribe can deliver a steady stream of even semi-competent interns, they’ve hit a nerve.
My unique insight? This isn’t a new problem, it’s an old one amplified by policy. The struggle for companies to find and train entry-level talent existed long before this mandate. The Indian government has just poured fuel on the fire and is expecting someone else to put it out. SETTribe is that someone. This is less about an innovative fintech product and more about savvy service provision in a newly created, government-induced vacuum.
Will This Actually Improve Graduate Skills?
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? The policy’s intent is likely to foster practical skills. The reality, however, could be quite different. If companies view these internships as a compliance exercise rather than a genuine talent development opportunity, the educational value for students might be minimal. SETTribe’s success will hinge on its ability to convince companies that these internships, while mandatory, can still yield valuable — if raw — talent, and to equip students with at least the foundational skills needed to avoid being a complete liability.
