Shark Tank India Judge Anupam Mittal on getting 100x returns: Took me a while to figure out money, the...

Shark Tank India

Judge and Shaadi.com founder

Anupam Mittal

recently shared a post on LinkedIn, reflecting on his

entrepreneurial journey

and the mindset required for outsized success. Mittal emphasised that while most people aspire to

100x returns

, they often play by 1x rules, avoiding bold risks that could lead to transformative breakthroughs. In the long LinkedIn post, Mittal recalled his decision of moving back to India after the

dot-com bust

, despite having no money, no plan and no safety net. He wrote that instead of following the play it safe, he took a leap of faith and started his

internet company

in a country where internet was barely accessible. "We didn’t follow demand. We created it," wrote Shark Tank India judge, highlighting how early creators, founders, and brands have succeeded by ignoring the rulebook and launching ideas when the market wasn’t ready.

Read Shaddi.com founder Anupam Mittal’s complete LinkedIn post here

Most people want 100x returns

But play by 1x rules

🤷🏻‍♂️

Took me a while to figure out money.

Wealth took even longer.

But there’s one pattern I keep seeing

The biggest wins usually come from breaking the rules.

Not illegally. Just unapologetically

💥

When I moved back to India post dot-com bust, I had -

❌

No money

❌

No plan

❌

No safety net

Everyone had the same advice -

“Get a job. Play it safe. Rebuild slowly.”

Instead, I did something…

Stupid? Brave? Both

😅

Started an Internet company in a country where there was no Internet

🫣

No D2C. No dating apps. No e-com playbook.

We didn’t follow demand. We created it.

And honestly, I’ve seen this play out again and again>

⚡

Creators who started before content was cool

⚡

Founders who launched when the market said “not now”

⚡

Brands that won by ignoring the rulebook

The rules are useful.

But at some point, you’ve got to know when to bend them.

So whether you’re building, creating or just figuring stuff out -

First learn the rules. Then, write your own

✍🏼

Because “play it safe” rarely makes history

🚀