India’s startup ecosystem—195,065 DPIIT-recognized ventures, 112 unicorns, $450 billion digital economy—operates under a persistent shadow: the 90% failure rate in five years, a statistic cited in 2025 founder surveys, Tracxn shutdown reports, and global benchmarks like CB Insights. Yet the data reveals nuance: 20% die in year one, 30% by year two, 50% by year …