Mumbai, 9 February 2026: Indian family-owned businesses are stepping into a phase of strong confidence and ambitious growth plans, outperforming many of their global peers in optimism, according to PwC’s 12th Family Business Survey, Indian family businesses: The age of reinvention.
The comprehensive survey, which included insights from around 40 Indian business leaders alongside responses from 1,325 family business leaders globally, reveals that while Indian firms stand out for their growth ambition, they are comparatively cautious in investing in technology and AI, a gap that could shape the future competitiveness of these enterprises.
Growth Ambitions Surpass Global Peers
The survey shows that Indian family businesses are more bullish about growth than their global counterparts, 91% of Indian firms are confident about their company’s growth prospects, compared with 73% worldwide. 55% of Indian family businesses plan aggressive expansion, far higher than the 16% rate reported globally.
This confidence is supported by a belief that India’s expanding domestic market and resilient demand provide favourable conditions for business expansion. Leaders say they are not just focused on stability but are actively planning to pursue new opportunities and new business adjacencies.
Cautious Approach to Technology
While Indian family businesses show strong intent about technology, their actual adoption remains measured. Despite this confidence, Indian family enterprises remain cautious in embracing the latest technology:
- 39% of them say they prioritise digital transformation and AI, compared with 24% globally.
- Yet 24% characterise themselves as cautious or selective technology adopters, compared with just 8% worldwide.
- Only 15% of them are early adopters of emerging technologies.
Experts say that this measured approach reflects both opportunity and hesitation. Many Indian family enterprises have embraced basic digitisation, but they are yet to move decisively into the next phase — using technology and AI to drive decision intelligence, embed data-driven risk management, and strengthen operational governance.
According to PwC leaders, the future of Indian family businesses will depend not just on whether they adopt technology, but on how they integrate it into strategic decision-making and governance frameworks.
Governance and Succession: Areas Needing Attention
The PwC survey also identifies structural challenges that may affect long-term performance and resilience:
- 52% of Indian family businesses have no cross-industry board representation, compared with 29% worldwide.
- 42% of Indian family businesses have no women on their boards, compared to 32% globally.
- Resistance from senior generations remains a key barrier, cited by 52%.
- 21% have delayed leadership transitions due to uncertainty, compared to 10% worldwide.
As Indian family firms look ahead, the survey suggests that future outperformance will hinge not only on growth ambition but on how decisively they embrace technology, governance reforms, and inter-generational leadership preparedness.
Transitioning from basic digital adoption to sophisticated, AI-enabled decision strategies will be crucial.
Also Read: Over 63% of Indian family businesses achieved double-digit revenue growth in CY2024
