Anupam Mittal finds it 'amazing' that Shark Tank India pitchers aren't IIT, IIM 'elites'

Anupam Mittal believes the next decade would be defined by Indian entrepreneurs globally. 'So there is no better time to be an entrepreneur than now,' the Shark Tank India judge said.

Shark Tank India judge Anupam Mittal recently opened up about how the popular business reality show changed the perception of entrepreneurship among Indians. Speaking to Business Insider, the founder and CEO of People Group said he found it amazing that the companies that approached the show were small businesses run by homemakers or families and not "elites" founders from IIT and IIMs.

"What I found amazing was that the companies that came to the show were not the elites who came from IIT or IIM," Mittal told the publication. "These are small businesses founded by housewives and family members. Entrepreneurship is not the reserve of the few. The next decade will be defined by Indian entrepreneurs globally and so there is no better time to be an entrepreneur than now. Shark Tank has put belief in every Indian that they can do it and that changes the game."

Elaborating further on how the show's contributions, Anupam Mittal said that it is a catalyst for driving entrepreneurship and giving it legitimacy. "In life timing is everything. Shark Tank’s first season was in December 2021, which was the peak of the startup hype cycle, and it demystified the whole conversation around startups and funding," he said.

The "shark" who has been with the show since the first season said that Shark Tank India played an amazing role in celebrating entrepreneurship and the startup ecosystem. "India is a land of entrepreneurs with every second person running some small business, many from home. A decade ago, if you told someone you were an entrepreneur, you would be told to come back when you get serious," he added.

Read more: Ashneer Grover highlights how Shark Tank India continues to use his name for views