Shark Tank India's Anupam Mittal recalls his entrepreneurial journey: Became a Multi-Millionaire and then lost it all

Anupam Mittal, the witty Shark of Shark Tank India recently opened up about his astonishing path, which included incredible highs, devastating lows, and a return to success. In a forthright LinkedIn article, Mr Mittal described how he became a multimillionaire in his early twenties, lost everything during the dot-com bubble of the early 2000s, and then recovered his fortune.
He emphasised his earlier success at MicroStrategy, a business valued at $40 billion, and his subsequent collapse into deep debt when the dot-com bubble crashed. But, undeterred, the entrepreneur saw it as an opportunity to start over and put nearly all of his remaining resources in a new enterprise, finally reaching success again.
"I became a multi-millionaire in my early 20s. And then lost it all in the dot com bubble of the 2000s. Back then, I was riding high as part of MicroStrategy which skyrocketed to a $40 billion valuation. Life in the US felt like a dream. So much so I even ordered a Ferrari. But as quickly as it came, it all vanished. The dot com bubble burst, and with it, the money disappeared. In fact, I got into heavy debt," Anupam wrote in his post.
Despite this, Mr Mittal refused to quit. By 2003, he had returned to India, determined to start from scratch. He recalled his prior accomplishments and mistakes. "By 2003, I was back in India with nothing but the memory of winning - and losing big. But I wasn't done yet," the entrepreneur wrote in his LinkedIn post.
Mr Mittal then embarked on a new firm with the confidence he had gained from prior experiences. He made a risky investment, committing practically all of his remaining funds to it. "With the kind of audacity that only comes from losing it all, I set out to build another dot-com venture- Shaadi.com (amongst others such as & Mauj Mobile). The domain cost $25,000, and we had only $30,000 left. It was an all-or-nothing move. People thought I was crazy. They questioned my business sense too," he added.
However, his belief in the concept proved to be correct. "Somehow I found the courage to take that bold bet and that leap of faith, despite the criticism & naysayers, changed our fortunes," according to him.
Reflecting on his experience, Mr Mittal stated that it was never simply about the money. "It was about proving to myself that I could rise from the ashes, that my spirit of entrepreneurship wasn't tied to a single success or failure."

Anupam then concluded, "Today, I try to carry that same mindset to everything I do. Success isn't about going along with the popular opinion - It's about walking in the other direction of the crowd and hopefully being right. So, to the risk-taking professionals & founders out there - keep backing yourself. The game isn't over until you win."