Mamaearth Co-founder Ghazal Alagh Calls Out ‘Analysis Paralysis’ in Indian Startups

India’s startup ecosystem is often criticised for over-planning and under-executing. Ghazal Alagh, Chief Mama and Co-founder of Mamaearth and Honasa Consumer brands, has now weighed in with a sharp message for early-stage founders: perfection is overrated.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Alagh shared hard-earned lessons from building seven consumer brands in nine years. Her core message was clear and uncompromising. “Your startup doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be real,” she wrote.

The post has struck a chord with founders, operators, and investors alike, at a time when many startups are struggling to move from idea to execution.

Analysis Paralysis Is Holding Startups Back

Drawing from her experience, Alagh highlighted a pattern she frequently sees among aspiring entrepreneurs. Many, she said, spend years refining pitch decks and business plans that never translate into real-world action.

“They call it research. But if it isn’t turning into action, then it’s just analysis paralysis and perfectionism in disguise,” she noted.

According to Alagh, ideas alone do not build companies. Inaction, she warned, quietly becomes the biggest obstacle to growth. Even the strongest ideas lose relevance if founders delay execution in pursuit of flawlessness.

Launch Early, Learn Faster

One of the strongest takeaways from Alagh’s advice was her emphasis on speed over polish. She urged founders to abandon the illusion of a perfect launch.

“Waiting for a flawless product or a bug-free website is a myth. Launch it at 90%,” she said, adding that adaptability matters more than painstaking refinement.

Alagh stressed that real consumer feedback teaches lessons no business plan ever can. Early launches, she argued, help startups correct course faster and build products that are rooted in reality, not assumptions.

The 85% Rule for Sustainable Growth

Beyond execution, Alagh also addressed founder burnout, an issue increasingly common in India’s startup ecosystem. She introduced what she calls the “85% rule.”

“Building a startup is a marathon, not a sprint,” she wrote. According to her, aiming for 100% output every day leads to exhaustion and poor decision-making.

Instead, she recommended consistent effort at 80-85%, preserving energy for moments when founders truly need to go all-in. The approach, she said, is essential for long-term survival.

Purpose Over Playbooks

Alagh also cautioned against blindly following success formulas from a different time or market. She encouraged founders to define their own purpose.

“Stop relying on borrowed playbooks,” she advised. “Your why is your greatest asset.”

According to her, a strong mission, not just a strong product, is what sustains founders when growth slows and challenges mount.

Starting Before You Feel Ready

Summing up her philosophy, Alagh challenged one of the most common myths around entrepreneurship.

“The successful ones are not the smartest or the most prepared; they are simply the ones who start before they feel ready,” she wrote.

Her final message was direct and timely for India’s next generation of entrepreneurs: stop planning the perfect business, and start building an imperfect one.

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StartupTalky- Business News, Insights and StoriesMuskaan Kapoor