Dreamers vs Doers: Anupam Mittal Reveals the Truth About Founders

Anupam Mittal, founder of People Group and investor on Shark Tank India, is known for his candid, thought-provoking takes on entrepreneurship. In a recent LinkedIn post, he called out a common trend in the startup world, the flood of founders chasing “the next big thing” without real clarity or depth.

“I’m building the next big app,” he wrote, echoing what he hears all too often. “So is the rest of BLR 😅”

“If I had a rupee for every time someone says this, I’d have… well, a lot more,” he joked.

But beneath the humour lies a sharp insight, one that separates dreamers from doers. Mittal is no longer swayed by ambition alone. As a seasoned investor, he is learnt to look beyond excitement and into substance.

Level 1 vs Level 2 Thinking: The Real Filter

Level 1 Founders: High Energy, Low Clarity

Mittal calls this “surface-level” thinking. These are founders who are full of passion, but they stop at stating what they want to build. There is enthusiasm, but no deeper interrogation of the idea.

In his words, “9 times out of 10, it’s not a pitch–it’s a ‘Jai Mata Di’,” a sign of surface-level thinking that relies more on hope than a solid roadmap.

Level 2 Founders: Clarity Over Chaos

What catches Mittal’s attention now is a different kind of pitch, one that includes roadblocks. “Level 2 founders explain what stands in the way,” he says. These are entrepreneurs who have dissected their industry, studied the friction points, and identified the real problems.

In his words, “The way you frame your thoughts tells me everything about how you’ve processed it.”

Why This Matters

Mittal's post goes deeper than a typical motivational message. It serves as a filter for seriousness. Founders who understand their market, their risks, and what usually causes failure are more investable, not because they sound flashy, but because they HAVE done the hard thinking.

For example, when someone tells him they have “cracked the cold start problem for a niche network,” he pays attention, not because it sounds smart, but because it shows they understand what usually kills such networks.

Likewise, he respects bootstrapped founders doing INR 2 crore a month with 20% EBITDA margins. As he says, “That’s not a 💪🏼. That’s control. That’s focus.”

It’s Not Just for Founders, It’s for Everyone

Mittal’s message is not limited to startup founders. He expands the idea to students choosing careers and professionals trying to lead change. Anyone pitching an idea, leading a team, or planning their future should move beyond just passion. Understand the obstacles. Prepare for them. Talk about them.

Consistent with His Earlier Advice

This thoughtful post follows a pattern in Anupam Mittal’s public advice. He frequently shares insights with young professionals and students, like in his earlier viral post about the two most essential skills one needs to become a successful entrepreneur: the ability to sell and the ability to build.

📎 We covered that post here on StartupTalky, where he highlighted that selling is not about sleaze, but survival, and building is about focus, obsession, and grit.

Takeaway: Study the Dream, But Prepare for the Detours

If there is one clear takeaway, it is this: dreaming is not enough. Whether you are building a product, pitching a project, or plotting your career. Success depends on how deeply you have interrogated the challenge.

As Mittal puts it, “Don’t just show me the dream. Show me you’ve studied the detours.”

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StartupTalkyMuskaan Kapoor