Anupam Mittal’s life journey was an inspiring transformation from a product manager to the founder of People Group and Shaadi.com. He is also a Shark investor in the prominent TV show Shark Tank India. The CEO of prominent online wedding service Shaadi.com is a virtuoso Indian entrepreneur who received the Karamveer Chakra Award in the Entrepreneurs for Social Change category. As the visionary founder of Shaadi.com, Mittal transformed the way Indians approach marriage in the digital age.
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Formative Years
His early years in the heart of Mumbai shaped his journey. The ebbs and flows followed him from the halls of Jai Hind College to the crossing of oceans for his degree at Boston College. Afterward, he sharpened his business acumen with an MBA focusing on operations and strategic management. Right after his graduation, Mittal secured a position at MicroStrategy as a product manager.
Sagaai.com: Cupid of the Digital World
Anupam returned to India after studying abroad and worked in web development in his father’s office. Encountering a persistent matchmaker trying to arrange his marriage, he conceived an innovative idea: creating an online matchmaking portal. In 1996, he launched Sagaai.com, an online matchmaking site that transformed into the cupid of the digital world. He developed the website part-time, investing his savings while maintaining his primary job. During the dot-com bubble burst of 2000-2001, his employer Micro Strategy which was previously valued at over $50 billion, collapsed completely.
When India was just warming up to the internet, Mittal dared to take the tradition of matchmaking online. Anupam discovered Shaadi.com’s potential after noticing many U.S. individuals searching for life partners online. Realizing India’s limited internet penetration, he shifted focus to the U.S. market.
Mittal’s Strategic Move
After the dot-com bubble burst and leaving Micro Strategy in 2001, he renamed Sagaai.com to Shaadi.com. He identified NRIs from the UK, U.S., and Canada as the primary target market, the expatriates seeking to marry within their communities but struggling to connect due to geographical distance. What started as a bold experiment soon transformed how millions of Indians found their soulmates. Shaadi.com transcended long-held barriers in society, empowering individuals to have autonomy in choosing their life partners.
Anupam founded People Group, which includes Shaadi.com, Makaan.com, Mauj Mobile, and People Pictures. Recognized for innovation, the company has grown significantly.
Shaadi.com, launched in 1996, became the world’s largest marriage service provider with over 35 million users. Makaan.com emerged as India’s fastest-growing online real estate platform, while Mauj Mobile became a leading mobile media company. Each venture quickly established itself as a market leader in its respective domain.
The Founder’s Funding Expedition
The founder’s funding expedition began almost a decade after his entrepreneurial success. One of his earliest investments was in Ola, the pioneering ride-hailing and mobility service company that provides various transportation options to users through its mobile app. It profoundly impacted the urban transportation infrastructure across India by transforming how people traveled within cities. BigBasket, Chalo, Whatfix, Agnikul, and Rapido are some of the companies within his investment ecosystem. As of 2024, he is estimated to have a net worth of Rs. 185 crores, and the valuation of shaadi.com is estimated at Rs. 2,500 crores. Known for cultivating promising entrepreneurs, he has empowered countless founders to pursue their vision dauntlessly.
Triumphs and Testimonials
The OG Shark of India, Anupam Mittal, has also appeared in the famous TV show Shark Tank. His on-air appearance amplified his reputation as a renowned entrepreneur. The trailblazer of online matchmaking in India has also acted in and produced the Bollywood movies 99 and Flavors. It was directed by his close friends Raj and DK. His work has earned him several awards and accolades over the years. Among them include the prestigious Outstanding Serial Entrepreneur & Angel Investor (TiE) and the Karamveer Chakra Award in the Entrepreneurs for Social Change category.