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From Infosys to Wipro: How Indian IT Giants Are Reimagining Intrapreneurship in the GenAI Era
From Infosys to Wipro: How Indian IT Giants Are Reimagining Intrapreneurship in the GenAI Era

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When we think of intrapreneurship, we may be tempted to associate it with Silicon Valley—Google X labs, Amazon’s “Day 1” philosophy, or Tesla’s rapid experiments. But in recent years, Indian IT giants have been quietly rewriting their own rulebook—building structures that allow innovation to thrive from within

As the GenAI wave reshapes industries, companies like Infosys and Wipro are emerging as case studies in how large enterprises can harness the spirit of intrapreneurship—transforming size from a liability into an advantage.

Infosys: Democratizing Innovation Through Internal Startups

Infosys has long believed that innovation doesn’t always come from a corner office. With its Infosys Innovation Fund and structured internal incubation programs, the company empowers employees to pitch, build, and scale solutions as if they were running a startup.

Some key outcomes of this approach are:

  • Teams have spun off AI-driven platforms for retail, healthcare, and finance.
     
  • Engineers are given “innovation hours”—dedicated time to prototype ideas outside client work.
     
  • The company has invested in co-creation labs with clients, ensuring that intrapreneurs are solving real problems with direct market impact.
     

The result? Infosys is not just delivering projects; it is building products and platforms—a leap from being a service provider to a solution creator.

Wipro: Embedding Intrapreneurship in GenAI Strategy

Wipro, meanwhile, has doubled down on the GenAI opportunity. Recognizing that AI isn’t just a technology but a culture shift, Wipro launched its Lab45 incubator and a $1 billion investment plan in AI.

Here, intrapreneurs are encouraged to:

  • Experiment with enterprise-grade GenAI applications in finance, healthcare, and supply chains.
     
  • Collaborate across cross-functional pods—AI engineers, domain consultants, and business strategists working as mini-startups.
     
  • Pilot solutions internally before rolling them out to clients—turning Wipro employees into the first test market.
     

This isn’t just innovation for PR—it’s intrapreneurship tied to revenue pipelines.

Why This Matters: Lessons for Leaders & Founders

The Infosys–Wipro playbook offers three clear takeaways for leaders (whether you head a corporate te2

m or a startup):

  1. Size can enable speed—if structured right. Internal capital, mentorship, and client access can give intrapreneurs a head-start that external startups often lack.
     
  2. Intrapreneurship thrives on freedom. Infosys and Wipro show that when employees are given dedicated time and psychological safety to experiment, ideas turn into ventures.
     
  3. GenAI is the new playground. While AI may seem like the obvious disruptor, both these companies show how it is in fact a culture of  intrapreneurship that is the bigger disruptive force —that which will ensure relevance in the age of AI.

Looking Ahead: The New Currency of Growth

For too long, Indian IT firms were accused of being execution shops rather than innovation hubs. That narrative is changing. Infosys and Wipro are proving that intrapreneurship, when nurtured at scale, can create not just better services, but new businesses altogether.

For founders, leaders, and professionals reading this: the question is no longer “Can intrapreneurship work in India?” The real question is—“How are you embedding it into your organization before your competitor does?”

This article was previously posted here.


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Unfold is a leading culture consulting firm specializing in fostering Inclusive, Intrapreneurial, and Future-ready workplaces. With over 8 years of experience, we excel in organizational development and change management, guiding clients to build winning cultures. Our capability development programs (like Inclusive Leadership, Allyship, Intrapreneurial DNA, Mentoring and Reverse Mentoring) and research services equip your team with the knowledge and insights they need to thrive. Through audits and assessments, we provide a clear picture of your current workplace culture and identify areas for improvement. Our team is particularly passionate about promoting intrapreneurship in India through initiatives like the Vanguard Awards, Intrapreneurship Conclave, certification program and a digital knowledge hub. Unfold has held 5 editions of Intrapreneurship Conclave and engaged with ~150 organizations till date. Overall, we guide you towards a more educated, engaged, and evolved workplace.



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