Sabr Rakhiye, Aap Company Bana Rahe Hain, Maggi Nahi! Ghazal Alagh Urges Founders to Build a Legacy Over Quick Exits

Ghazal Alagh, Co-founder of Mamaearth and Chief Mama at Honasa Consumer, has delivered a sharp message to India’s startup ecosystem, urging early-stage founders to stop chasing quick exits and start building long-term businesses.

In a LinkedIn post shared on Thursday, Alagh addressed what she described as a growing obsession among young entrepreneurs with “exit strategies” rather than company-building.

“One of the most frequent questions I get from early-stage founders is, ‘What’s the exit strategy?’” she wrote. “It’s not a wrong question, but what surprises me is the short-term vision, impatience for quick results, and the only desire to make quick money.”

Her post struck a chord across founder and investor circles, especially as India’s startup ecosystem matures beyond rapid-growth, high-burn models.

A Call for Patience in Startup Building

Alagh framed her response with a line that has since gone viral on professional networks.

“Sabr rakhiye, aap company bana rahe hain, Maggi nahi!” she wrote, drawing a contrast between instant results and long-term company building.

The message reflects a broader shift in entrepreneurial thinking, where sustainability, governance, and brand trust are becoming as important as growth metrics.

Builders Over Renters

Alagh stressed the importance of building teams with long-term commitment rather than short-term ambition.

“Hire builders, not renters,” she said. “Renters care about the ‘valuation’ on their CV. Builders care about the ‘impact’ of the product.”

She added that scale demands people who “treat the company’s mission as their own,” not those focused only on short-term career gains.

Trust Over Trends

The Honasa co-founder also warned founders against chasing market trends for short-term gains.

“Trends give you a spike in GMV; trust gives you a lifetime consumer,” she wrote.

She explained that her brands do not launch products to “capture a market” but to “solve a recurring problem for a family”, highlighting a consumer-first philosophy rather than growth-at-all-costs expansion.

The “Children Test” for Founders

In a deeply personal reflection, Alagh shared what she calls the “children test” for business decisions.

“I often ask myself: ‘Is this a company my children would be proud to lead or work for one day?’” she wrote.
“If the answer is no because of the shortcuts we’re taking, then we’re on the wrong path.”

This approach places ethics, culture, and long-term reputation at the centre of business strategy.

Exit Is a Destination, Legacy Is a Journey

Summing up her message, Alagh drew a clear distinction between financial outcomes and long-term impact.

“An exit is a destination but a legacy is a journey,” she wrote.
“The fastest way to kill a great company is to treat it like a temporary project.”

Her post arrives at a time when Indian founders are reassessing business fundamentals amid tighter funding cycles and greater investor scrutiny.

For many in the startup ecosystem, Alagh’s message serves as a reminder that real company-building is measured not by speed, but by endurance, trust, and long-term relevance.

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StartupTalky- Business News, Insights and StoriesMuskaan Kapoor