Shark Tank India judge Anupam Mittal says India is not a cheaper version of America, it is a far more …

Shaadi.com founder and Shark Tank India judge Anupam Mittal has initiated a debate with a recent LinkedIn post declaring that India is ‘where pricing strategies come to die’. He noted that the global tech companies often enter the market by simply converting dollar prices into rupees, only to be met with uniquely Indian consumer behaviour from sharing subscriptions and stretching free trials to finding ‘jugaad’ workarounds. In the post shared on professional networking platform, Mittal recalled that while building Shaadi.com, he learned that the Indian consumers pay only when the outcome is important enough. He also argued that this distinction is now confronting the AI companies rolling out India-specific plans, forcing them to rethink value delivery.

Anupam Mittal feels that India is a demanding market

Rejecting the notion that India is a cheaper version of America, Mittal believes that it is instead a far more demanding market. “Customers here can smell ‘chep raha hai’ from a km away,” he wrote, adding that if an AI product proves useful, affordable, and habit‑forming in India, it will become a better product everywhere.He also pointed out that India has already reshaped industries like telecom, payments, and entertainment by demanding better value and innovation. Now, he said, it is AI’s turn to face the same test.

Read Anupam Mittal’s complete LinkedIn post here

India is where pricing strategies come to die!Every few years, a global tech company arrives with $ converted to Rs.Then India happens 😅We share subscriptions. Stretch free trials. Find jugaad workarounds.And finally ask the only question that matters…Bhai, isse mera kya hoga?When we were building Shaadi.com, the lesson came early. Indians pay when the outcome becomes important enough.That distinction is now coming for AI.As AI companies roll out India-specific plans, I think they are being schooled in value.India is not a cheaper version of America. It is a far more demanding market with customers who can smell ‘chep raha hai’ from a km away 😉If an AI product can become useful, affordable and habit-forming here, It will become a better product everywhere.India did this to telecom, payments and entertainment.Now AI gets its turn. 🤖🇮🇳