Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com and judge on Shark Tank India Season 5, has weighed in on a growing but often misunderstood trend in India’s startup ecosystem: founders giving up the CEO role of their own companies.

In a detailed LinkedIn post, Mittal argued that these departures should not be seen as a failure, but as a sign of maturity and evolution.

Mittal noted that for years, Indian startups have operated under the assumption that a founder must also stay on as CEO indefinitely. However, he believes this thinking no longer fits today’s rapidly scaling startup environment.

Startups are now growing at a pace where the skills required at different stages vary dramatically. What works for a team of 10 often collapses with 100, and what succeeds with 100 may break with 1,000 employees.

Different stages, different skills

According to Mittal, most founders excel in the early stages: taking an idea from zero to one and then from one to ten. But as companies grow, they demand a different set of capabilities: operational depth, process management, and experience managing large organizations.

At this stage, bringing in a professional CEO can strengthen the company rather than weaken it.

Global norm, Indian stigma

Mittal noted that in global markets, founders who step aside for professional leadership are widely accepted and even encouraged. The founder retains ownership and the long-term advantage, while the company benefits from experienced management, which often leads to better results for shareholders.

In India, however, these transitions are often portrayed as the founder being “fired,” failing, or involved in misconduct. Mittal stressed that, in most cases, this narrative is simply false.

Become replaceable

One of Mittal’s strongest takeaways was that founders should aspire to make themselves replaceable. He cited global tech giants such as Google, Apple and Microsoft as examples of companies that became enduring institutions through the evolution of leadership beyond their founders.

Often, stepping down as a CEO isn’t about losing control, it’s about choosing what’s best for the long-term growth of the company. According to Mittal, a founder stepping down as CEO can be a sign of strategic clarity, not defeat.