Anupam Mittal, the founder and CEO of People Group (parent company of Shaadi.com, Makaan.com, and Mauj Mobile) and a prominent investor on Shark Tank India, is one of the pioneers of India's internet economy. His journey from a bootstrapped entrepreneur in the late 90s to a successful business magnate and angel investor is filled with practical, hard-won wisdom.

Mittal is known for his sharp insights, candid feedback, and a deep understanding of the Indian consumer. His philosophy emphasizes long-term vision, sustainable business models, and the importance of a founder's passion and resilience.

On Entrepreneurship and Getting Started

  1. "You have to be a little crazy to be an entrepreneur."
    Learning: Entrepreneurship requires a level of conviction and risk-tolerance that often seems irrational to others. You must be willing to challenge the status quo and believe in your vision against all odds.
    Source: Forbes India, https://www.forbesindia.com/article/shark-tank-india/anupam-mittal-you-have-to-be-a-little-crazy-to-be-an-entrepreneur/74029/1
  2. "Stop thinking, start doing."
    Learning: Over-analysis can lead to paralysis. The best way to test an idea is to build a basic version and get it into the hands of customers. Execution is far more valuable than a perfect plan.
    Source: Shark Tank India, widely quoted phrase.
  3. "Fall in love with the problem, not the solution."
    Learning: Your initial solution is just a hypothesis. If you are obsessed with the customer's problem, you will be willing to pivot and adapt your solution until you find what truly works.
    Source: IIM Udaipur Incubation Center (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_5B4_sPj_Q
  4. "The best ideas come from personal pain."
    Learning: If you are solving a problem that you have personally experienced, you will have a deeper level of empathy and insight than anyone else. Shaadi.com was born from his own frustration with the matchmaking process.
    Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/how-anupam-mittal-started-shaadi-com-from-a-small-apartment-in-mumbai/articleshow/52488829.cms
  5. "Don't start a business to make money. Start a business to make a difference."
    Learning: Purpose-driven founders have the resilience to overcome the inevitable challenges. If your motivation is purely financial, you are more likely to quit when the journey gets tough.
    Source: Josh Talks (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tky5u9H8gQ
  6. "You don't need a fancy degree to be an entrepreneur. You need courage and common sense."
    Learning: Entrepreneurship is not about pedigree; it's about the ability to see opportunities, take calculated risks, and make sound judgments.
    Source: Forbes India, https://www.forbesindia.com/article/shark-tank-india/anupam-mittal-you-have-to-be-a-little-crazy-to-be-an-entrepreneur/74029/1

On Building a Business and Strategy

  1. "Your first product will be ugly. That's okay. Just get it out there."
    Learning: Perfection is the enemy of progress in the early days. Launching a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) allows you to start the crucial feedback loop with real customers.
    Source: IIM Udaipur Incubation Center (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_5B4_sPj_Q
  2. "The brand is a promise. It's not the logo or the tagline."
    Learning: A strong brand is built on consistently delivering a great experience and earning the trust of your customers. Every interaction either builds or erodes that brand promise.
    Source: Figuring Out with Raj Shamani (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hR_bYq1J_Q
  3. "Focus on one thing and be the best at it."
    Learning: In the early days, startups die from doing too many things, not too few. Concentrate all your resources on dominating a specific niche before you try to expand.
    Source: His advice to entrepreneurs on Shark Tank India.
  4. "You can't be everything to everyone. Niche down."
    Learning: Identify a specific, underserved customer segment and build the best possible solution for them. A "niche" market in India can still be massive.
    Source: Shark Tank India, common advice.
  5. "Business is not about valuation, it is about value."
    Learning: Don't get caught up in the vanity metric of valuation. Focus on creating real, sustainable value for your customers. A great business will naturally command a high valuation.
    Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/focus-on-creating-value-not-valuation-anupam-mittal/articleshow/89201777.cms
  6. "Profitability is not a bad word."
    Learning: While growth is important, a clear path to profitability is essential for building a resilient, long-term business. A company that is not profitable is always at the mercy of its investors.
    Source: Moneycontrol, https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/startup/shark-tank-indias-anupam-mittal-says-profitability-is-back-in-fashion-9801881.html
  7. "Distribution is the only moat."
    Learning: In today's world, products can be copied quickly. A strong, proprietary distribution channel that allows you to reach your customers efficiently is one of the most defensible competitive advantages.
    Source: Figuring Out with Raj Shamani (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hR_bYq1J_Q

On Investment Philosophy

  1. "I invest in the '3 Ps': People, Problem, and Product."
    Learning: This is his core investment framework. He looks for passionate and capable founders (People), tackling a large and meaningful problem (Problem), with a unique and scalable solution (Product).
    Source: Forbes India, https://www.forbesindia.com/article/shark-tank-india/anupam-mittal-you-have-to-be-a-little-crazy-to-be-an-entrepreneur/74029/1
  2. "I am betting on the founder, not just the company."
    Learning: The idea will pivot, the market will change, but a resilient and resourceful founder will find a way to win. The quality of the entrepreneur is the most important factor in an early-stage investment.
    Source: His commentary on Shark Tank India.
  3. "I look for 'founder-market fit'. Why are you the right person to solve this problem?"
    Learning: He seeks a deep, almost unfair advantage that the founder has in their chosen market, born from personal experience, deep domain knowledge, or a unique insight.
    Source: Shark Tank India.
  4. "Show me the numbers. The story is good, but the data doesn't lie."
    Learning: While a compelling vision is important, it must be backed by evidence of traction. Key metrics like sales, user growth, and unit economics reveal the true health of a business.
    Source: Common refrain on Shark Tank India.
  5. "As an investor, my job is to be a coach, not a cheerleader."
    Learning: He believes in providing candid, constructive feedback to help founders see their blind spots. A good investor challenges you to be better, they don't just tell you what you want to hear.
    Source: Forbes India, https://www.forbesindia.com/article/shark-tank-india/anupam-mittal-you-have-to-be-a-little-crazy-to-be-an-entrepreneur/74029/1
  6. "I am looking for businesses that can create a new category."
    Learning: The biggest returns come from companies that are not just competing in an existing market, but are creating an entirely new one. These "category creators" can define the rules and capture the majority of the value.
    Source: His investment thesis as seen on Shark Tank India.

Advice from Shark Tank

  1. "Yeh Gunda-gardi hai." (This is thuggery.)
    Learning: Used to call out founders who present unfair or manipulative terms. This is a strong reminder to always operate with integrity and transparency in all business dealings.
    Source: Shark Tank India, Season 1.
  2. "Aap bechna nahi, banana jaante ho." (You know how to make it, not how to sell it.)
    Learning: A great product is not enough. Founders must develop strong sales and marketing skills to succeed. Building a distribution engine is as important as building the product itself.
    Source: His feedback to numerous pitchers on Shark Tank India.
  3. "Isme aapki expertise kya hai?" (What is your expertise in this?)
    Learning: This question probes the "founder-market fit." Founders must have a clear and compelling reason why they are uniquely qualified to build their particular business.
    Source: Shark Tank India.
  4. "Customer is not king. Customer is God."
    Learning: This emphasizes the need for absolute customer obsession. Every decision, from product design to support, should be made with the customer's best interests at heart.
    Source: Shark Tank India.
  5. "Equity is like a marriage. It's for a long time."
    Learning: Be extremely careful about who you bring on as an investor. A bad partnership can be incredibly destructive. Choose partners who share your vision and values.
    Source: Figuring Out with Raj Shamani (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hR_bYq1J_Q

On Personal Mindset and Philosophy

  1. "Success is not a destination. It's a journey."
    Learning: Find joy in the process of building and learning. If you are only focused on the outcome, you will miss the most rewarding part of the entrepreneurial experience.
    Source: Josh Talks (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tky5u9H8gQ
  2. "Stay foolish. Stay hungry." (Quoting Steve Jobs)
    Learning: He frequently uses this quote to emphasize the importance of maintaining a beginner's mind, staying curious, and never losing your ambition.
    Source: His social media and public talks.
  3. "The biggest risk in life is not taking a risk."
    Learning: Playing it safe can lead to a life of mediocrity and regret. Calculated risks are the engine of progress and personal growth.
    Source: Josh Talks (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tky5u9H8gQ
  4. "Your network is your net worth."
    Learning: Invest time in building genuine, meaningful relationships. A strong network can provide access to opportunities, talent, and advice that you can't get anywhere else.
    Source: A principle he often discusses in interviews.
  5. "Humility is the most important trait for a leader."
    Learning: The best leaders have the confidence to act but the humility to know they don't have all the answers. This makes them open to feedback and continuous learning.
    Source: Forbes India, https://www.forbesindia.com/article/shark-tank-india/anupam-mittal-you-have-to-be-a-little-crazy-to-be-an-entrepreneur/74029/1
  6. "The only thing constant in life is change."
    Learning: Embrace change and be adaptable. The ability to pivot and evolve in response to new information is a critical survival skill for any entrepreneur.
    Source: His reflections on his 20+ year journey in the internet industry.

Additional Key Learnings

  1. On The Indian Market: "India is not a country. It's a continent. Don't build for 'India', build for a specific segment."
  2. On Hiring: "Hire people who are smarter than you and then get out of their way."
  3. On Failure: "Failure is not the opposite of success. It's a part of success."
  4. On Technology: "Technology is just an enabler. It's what you do with it that matters."
  5. On The Long Game: "Building a great company is a marathon, not a sprint."
  6. On Capital: "Capital is a commodity. The right partner is not."
  7. On Unit Economics: "If you can't make money on one, you can't make money on a million."
  8. On The Team: "You are only as good as your team."
  9. On Simplicity: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Make your product easy to understand and easy to use."
  10. On Storytelling: "The best founders are the best storytellers. They can sell a vision."
  11. On Giving Back: "It's our responsibility to help the next generation of entrepreneurs."
  12. On Work-Life Balance: "There is no such thing as work-life balance. It's about work-life integration."
  13. On Competition: "Don't obsess over the competition. Obsess over the customer."
  14. On The Power of a Platform: "Build a platform, not just a product."
  15. On Leadership: "A leader's job is to create more leaders, not more followers."
  16. On The Future: "The future belongs to those who are willing to create it."
  17. On The 'Why': "People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it."
  18. On The Right Time: "The best time to start a company was yesterday. The next best time is today."
  19. On Courage: "Courage is not the absence of fear. It's acting in spite of it."
  20. On Legacy: "The legacy of an entrepreneur is not the money they make, but the impact they create."