Anupam Mittal, millionaire entrepreneur and Shark Tank India judge, recently shared that being laid off early in his career turned out to be a pivotal moment. Reflecting on his experience during an interview with Himesh Madaan on YouTube, Mittal called the job loss “the best thing that could’ve happened” to him, as it led him to create the successful matrimonial platform, Shaadi.com.

Mittal recounted his early career at MicroStrategy in the US, where he initially joined as a sales consultant and quickly rose to become the director of strategic partnerships. The company, valued at $100 million when he started, skyrocketed to $40 billion within three years during the dot-com boom. Thanks to stock options, Mittal became a multi-millionaire in his early 20s. “It was surreal—I never imagined that level of success. I’d ordered a sports car, attended corporate parties on cruise ships, and lived extravagantly,” he shared during the Barbershop podcast earlier this year.

However, the dream came to an abrupt end when he was laid off. Despite the initial shock, Mittal credits this turning point for spurring his entrepreneurial journey. Determined to chart his own path, he founded Shaadi.com, which has since become a leading matchmaking platform.

Mittal also spoke about his approach to risk-taking, revealing that he has declined offers as high as Rs 800 crore. “I’ve had opportunities to walk away with $100 million, but I turned them down. I’ve sold companies for smaller amounts, but I’m still taking risks. Someday, I’ll look back and know I made the right decisions,” he said.

His story underscores how setbacks can pave the way for greater achievements and the importance of embracing calculated risks in the pursuit of long-term success.