‘Not fired, not failed’: Anupam Mittal on why startup founders should exit the CEO role – BusinessToday

Anupam Mittal, founding father of Shaadi.com and a decide on Shark Tank India Season 5, has weighed in on a rising however typically misunderstood development in India’s startup ecosystem: founders resigning from the CEO position in their very own corporations. 

In an in depth LinkedIn publish, Mittal argued that such exits shouldn’t be seen as failure — however as an indication of maturity and evolution. 

Mittal identified that for years, Indian startups have operated underneath the belief {that a} founder should additionally stay the CEO indefinitely. Nonetheless, he believes this pondering now not matches in the present day’s fast-scaling startup setting. 

Startups now develop at a tempo the place the abilities required at completely different levels fluctuate drastically. What works for a group of 10 typically collapses at 100, and what succeeds at 100 can break down at 1,000 staff. 

Totally different levels, completely different expertise 

In line with Mittal, most founders excel within the early phases — taking an thought from zero to 1, after which from one to 10. However as corporations scale, they demand a special set of capabilities: operational depth, course of administration, and expertise in working giant organizations. 

At this stage, bringing in an expert CEO can strengthen the corporate moderately than weaken it. 

International norm, Indian stigma 

Mittal famous that in international markets, founders stepping apart for skilled management is broadly accepted and even inspired. The founder retains possession and long-term upside, whereas the corporate advantages from seasoned administration—typically main to higher outcomes for shareholders. 

In India, nonetheless, such transitions are regularly portrayed because the founder being “fired,” failing, or concerned in wrongdoing. Mittal pressured that usually, this narrative is just unfaithful. 

Making your self replaceable 

One in every of Mittal’s strongest takeaways was that founders ought to purpose to make themselves replaceable. He cited international tech giants like Google, Apple and Microsoft as examples of corporations that grew to become enduring establishments by evolving management past their founders. 

Usually, stepping down as CEO just isn’t about lack of management — however about selecting what’s finest for the corporate’s long-term development. In Mittal’s view, a founder leaving the CEO position generally is a mark of strategic readability, not defeat.