Anupam Mittal, the founder of Shaadi.com and one of India’s most recognized faces on 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.
Table of Contents
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
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, has created conditions where world-class talent wants to stay — and build.
Known as a serial angel investor in over 250 startups, 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.
