India’s Generation-Z, also called ‘Gen-Z’, is not just dreaming about the future, they are making it happen. With a lot of curiosity, the latest technology and a brave attitude, today’s young people are entering the tech world not just to use it, but to create new things. In a conversation with FE Education, Rahul Attuluri, the Co-Founder and CEO of NxtWave, explains how this generation is ready to change innovation in India, starting right from their first year in college.
“Gen Z doesn’t just want jobs, they want to create impact,” says Attuluri. “They’re aware that real innovation comes from building, not just using.”
Who are Generation-Z?
Generation-Z, born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, comes after millennials and before Gen Alpha. This is a cohort that grew up in a digital-first world, where smartphones, social media and instant communication have always been the norm. By 2025, while some Gen Zers are just entering their teens, many are already in their late twenties, emerging as a powerful force across the workforce, the consumer market and social change movements.
Growing up in a hyper-connected world, today’s youth are armed with platforms like GitHub, YouTube and Discord, where learning and collaboration are just a click away. This exposure, combined with a cultural celebration of innovation, is redefining the trajectory of tech in India.
Why is Gen-Z uniquely positioned?
What sets Gen Z apart in the tech space? Attuluri believes it’s a unique blend of mindset and environment. “They’re curious, they learn fast and they’re incredibly product-aware,” he notes. “They don’t wait for permission. They build, break and rebuild fearlessly.”
This generation’s comfort with automation, system design and AI makes them naturally inclined to think like engineers and entrepreneurs.
A new culture of experimentation
One of the most exciting shifts is how young Indians are no longer waiting until graduation or even college to start building. More are contributing to open-source projects, launching startups, and experimenting with new ideas early on.
Attuluri points to three major enablers behind this trend:
- Easy access to previously enterprise-only APIs and tools
- No-code/low-code platforms like Make.com and LangChain
- A cultural rebranding of entrepreneurship as a first career step
“At NIAT, we’ve seen students build AI agents and robotics systems within months of joining,” he shares. “The entry barriers are lower and the support systems are stronger than ever before.”
For Attuluri, traditional education models won’t cut it anymore. He believes learning must be hands-on, outcome-driven and aligned with real-world challenges.
“Education today should mirror the real world, problem-first, project-based,” he asserts. “Students should be encouraged to fail safely and iterate with guidance.”
Students turn creators
Alturi asserts that NIAT is still in its early stages but the results are already tangible. First-year students are not just learning, they’re launching.
- Questify, a gamified productivity platform with AI-powered adventure maps
- Innfill, a tech-enabled car wash service that gained paying customers in week one
- A self-driving car prototype presented to Tier IV Japan’s CEO, Shinpei Kato
“These aren’t final-year projects. These are students making a real impact from year one,” Attuluri says.
Looking ahead, Attuluri claims to have bold plans. NIAT is expanding from 1-100+ campuses and aims to reach 30,000+ students over the next two years.
“We want to be the best CSE college in India—and make it accessible nationwide and globally,” he states.