In a bold move that could reshape the consulting industry, Indian startup Rocket has launched an AI platform that generates McKinsey-style strategy reports for a fraction of the cost. But as the company positions itself as a disruptor, it faces a critical test: can AI-driven strategy survive in an economy grappling with Middle East oil shocks and currency volatility?
The $250 Alternative to Traditional Consulting
Rocket 1.0, launched this week from Surat, India, connects research, product building, and competitive intelligence in a single workflow. For $250 per month, the platform generates what CEO Vishal Virani calls “McKinsey-grade” research reports alongside product builds – a stark contrast to traditional consulting fees that often run into thousands for similar work.
“Everyone can generate code now… it has become a commodity. But what to build is something which everyone is missing,” Virani told TechCrunch. His platform draws on over 1,000 data sources including Meta’s ad libraries and Similarweb’s API to produce detailed product strategy documents covering pricing, unit economics, and go-to-market recommendations.
Economic Headwinds Test India’s Tech Ecosystem
Rocket’s launch comes at a precarious moment for India’s economy. The ongoing Middle East conflict has sent oil prices soaring, with Brent crude hitting $111.33 per barrel as geopolitical tensions escalate. For India – the world’s third-largest crude importer – this represents more than just higher energy costs.
The rupee has plunged nearly 10% against the dollar in the past year, hitting record lows. Bernstein analysts warn that if the conflict persists through 2026, the currency could drop “catastrophically” beyond 110 to the dollar. India’s benchmark equity indices have already fallen 12% this year amid foreign capital outflows.
“The result could be a stagflationary shock of pretty large magnitude,” warned Arvind Subramanian, India’s former chief economic adviser. “The stag part of the stagflation is already being felt in terms of restaurants closing down and households having less natural gas.”
AI Strategy in a Volatile Market
Rocket’s timing raises fundamental questions about AI’s role in strategic decision-making during economic uncertainty. The platform synthesizes existing data from known pricing models and competitive insights, but as TechCrunch noted in testing, users may still need to validate outputs before making business decisions.
This limitation becomes particularly relevant as India’s economic landscape shifts rapidly. The crisis could shave 1% off GDP growth, potentially delaying India’s ambition to become the world’s fourth-largest economy. With 60% of natural gas and over 90% of LPG imports coming from the Middle East, supply disruptions are already causing restaurant closures and affecting industries from ceramics to funeral services.
Broader AI Industry Context
Rocket’s emergence reflects broader trends in the AI industry. Anthropic recently announced that Claude Code subscribers will need to pay extra for third-party tools like OpenClaw, citing unsustainable usage patterns. “Subscriptions weren’t built for the usage patterns of these third-party tools,” explained Boris Cherny, Head of Claude Code at Anthropic.
Meanwhile, OpenAI has released ambitious policy proposals addressing AI’s economic impact, suggesting robot taxes and public wealth funds. As AI reshapes work and production, “the composition of economic activity may shift – expanding corporate profits and capital gains while potentially reducing reliance on labor income,” the company noted.
The Validation Challenge
Rocket’s growth metrics – from 400,000 to over 1.5 million users across 180 countries – suggest strong demand for affordable strategic insights. The company reports annualized average revenue per user around $4,000 and operates at gross margins over 50%, with 20-30% of customers being small- and medium-sized businesses.
But as economic conditions deteriorate, the platform faces its ultimate test. Can AI-generated strategy documents account for sudden currency devaluations, supply chain disruptions, and shifting consumer behavior? Virani acknowledges the platform offers human support when users encounter issues, but the real question is whether AI can navigate the complex interplay of global events affecting local markets.
A New Era for Strategic Planning
Rocket represents more than just another AI tool – it signals a potential democratization of strategic consulting. At $25-$350 monthly subscriptions versus traditional consulting’s five-figure engagements, the platform could make sophisticated market analysis accessible to startups and SMBs that previously couldn’t afford it.
Yet the current economic climate serves as a stark reminder that strategy isn’t just about data analysis; it’s about understanding how geopolitical events, currency fluctuations, and supply chain vulnerabilities interact in real time. As India’s government proposes a $6.2 billion “economic stabilisation fund” and considers cutting infrastructure spending to manage the crisis, Rocket’s AI will need to prove it can do more than synthesize existing patterns – it must help businesses navigate unprecedented challenges.
The coming months will reveal whether AI-driven strategy platforms can deliver value when traditional economic models are being stress-tested by global events. For Rocket and its growing user base, the real innovation may not be in generating reports, but in helping businesses survive and adapt in increasingly volatile markets.