# Anupam Mittal Did a 180° on Indian Talent — And His Reason Will Surprise You

URL: https://technosports.co.in/anupam-mittal-did-a-180-on-indian/  
Published: 2026-02-23  
Updated: 2026-02-23  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Anupam Mittal, the founder of Shaadi.com and one of India’s most recognized faces on [Shark Tank India](https://technosports.co.in/tag/shark-tank-india/), recently dropped a bombshell on LinkedIn — and it’s the kind of honest, unfiltered take the internet lives for.

In a candid post, Mittal admitted that back when he was building Shaadi.com roughly 20 years ago, hiring in India felt like a “nightmare.” There were no Product Managers, no UX designers — just project managers and graphic designers he had to “bribe with tea and dreams” to help build a website. His hiring bar? Simple: if you could speak English and not blink for ten minutes, you were in.

Pretty brutal honesty from a man who now sits on the other side of the table evaluating startups worth crores.

## Then vs. Now: How Indian Talent Evolved as per Anupam Mittal

| Parameter | 20 Years Ago | Today (2025) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Talent Pool | Shallow, limited roles | Deep, world-class professionals |
| Tech Roles | Barely existed | Thriving PM, Dev, UX ecosystem |
| Migration Trend | Talent leaving for Silicon Valley | Reverse migration to Bengaluru & Mumbai |
| Hiring Quality | “English + no blinking = hired” | Competing with global standards |

## The Real Story: India’s Digital Ecosystem

![Anupam Mittal](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/02/image-1549-1024x576.png)

What really changed Mittal’s mind wasn’t just hiring numbers — it was *who* was returning. Professionals who would’ve planted roots in Silicon Valley a decade ago are now choosing Bengaluru and Mumbai, not out of compulsion but because the work here is genuinely inspiring.

As Mittal put it, “Reverse migration is a headline. The digital ecosystem is the plot.”

That’s a mic-drop moment. And it’s backed by reality. India’s startup scene, fueled by massive tech investment and policy support like the [AI Impact Summit 2026](https://technosports.co.in/), has created conditions where world-class talent wants to stay — and build.

Known as a serial angel investor in over 250 startups, [Anupam Mittal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anupam_Mittal) has always had his finger on India’s entrepreneurial pulse. His change of heart isn’t nostalgia — it’s data-driven observation from someone actively hiring at mid and senior levels right now.

## What This Means for India’s Tech Future

This shift matters beyond LinkedIn clout. It signals that India is no longer just an outsourcing hub — it’s becoming a destination for innovation. For anyone working in tech, startups, or entrepreneurship, this is your moment.

## FAQs

### **Q: Why did Anupam Mittal previously think Indian talent was poor?**

 He struggled to find skilled tech roles like Product Managers and UX designers while building Shaadi.com 20 years ago, making hiring extremely difficult.

### **Q: What changed Mittal’s opinion about Indian talent?**

  
While recently hiring for mid and senior roles, he found the talent pool had become world-class, with professionals returning from Silicon Valley to work in India.