At a time when India is rapidly transitioning into an ageing society, Shantanu Naidu, founder of Goodfellows, delivered a keynote address that reframed the conversation—from a demographic “problem” to a deeply human opportunity.
Speaking at THE WEEK Goodfellows Silver Economy Summit in Mumbai, Naidu challenged the dominant narrative around ageing. Rather than viewing it through the lens of policy burdens or market potential alone, he urged stakeholders to recognise the lived experiences of senior citizens. “These are not just data points or statistics,” he emphasised. “They are real people with real emotions, real histories.”
The summit, which brought together policymakers, healthcare experts, entrepreneurs and social sector leaders, focused on building an “age-ready” India. Drawing from his work with Goodfellows—a companionship startup for the elderly—Naidu highlighted the importance of proximity and empathy. He spoke of “spending thousands of hours in living rooms” with seniors, learning that their needs go far beyond clinical care or technological solutions. “The foundation of everything we build must be rooted in dignity, respect and emotional connection,” he said.
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Naidu cautioned against two extremes that currently define the silver economy: a purely clinical, utilitarian approach on one hand, and a hyper-commercial, opportunity-driven mindset on the other. Instead, he proposed a middle path—one that balances professional rigour with genuine human engagement.
He also reminded the audience that the systems and services being built today are not just for the current elderly population, but for future generations—including those in the room. “Whatever we build now is what we are going to use,” he said, urging participants to see themselves as future beneficiaries.
While acknowledging advances in healthcare that are extending life expectancy, Naidu posed a more profound challenge: ensuring that longer lives are also meaningful ones. “We are getting better at helping people live longer. But how do we help them feel alive?” he asked.
Central to that answer, he argued, is addressing loneliness and the need for acknowledgement. Regardless of whether organisations operate as for-profit or non-profit entities, he said, their efforts must prioritise making seniors feel seen, heard and valued.
Naidu concluded with a call for a shared value system in the rapidly expanding silver economy. With the sector poised for significant growth, he warned that scale and profitability should not come at the cost of empathy. “This is about building a world for people who built the world for us,” he said.
