{
  "id": 2481810,
  "title": "Startup success is a Test match, not a T20 game: Accel India co-founder Subrata Mitra on why he backed Flipkart, Myntra, and others",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/startup-success-is-a-test-match-not-a-t20-game-accel-india-co-founder",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-22T02:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "YourStory",
    "slug": "yourstory",
    "url": "https://yourstory.com/2026/08/accel-india-co-founder-subrata-mitra-on-why-he-backed-flipkart-myntra"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Subrata Mitra, co-founder of Accel India, shared his insights on investing in Indian startups with the Prime Venture Partners Podcast. Mitra, who has backed companies like Flipkart, Myntra, and Mu Sigma, emphasized that startup journeys are rarely linear. He argued that successful founders are those who can endure the ups and downs, learn from failures, and seize opportunities when they arise.\n\nMitra likened the startup journey to a Test match rather than a T20 game – there are no guarantees of success, but persistence and adaptability are crucial. He stressed that founders should stay the course, but also know when to strike when the opportunity presents itself.\n\nOne key trait Mitra looks for in founders is their ability to remain committed over the long term. He explained the concept of \"long-term greed,\" which involves optimizing for outcomes over extended periods. For example, Accel's initial investment in Flipkart was far less than the eventual $200 million valuation, but Mitra was content with the return due to the company's growth trajectory.\n\nMitra also highlighted the importance of founders evolving as the company matures. Early-stage founders often wear multiple hats, but as the organization grows, they must delegate responsibilities and focus on strategic planning. He shared an anecdote about his co-founder at Erasmic Venture Fund, Mahendran, who stepped in to handle legal matters when Mitra struggled with paperwork for their $10 million fund.\n\nUltimately, Mitra's advice for investors is to support founders through their challenges, providing guidance and encouragement while allowing them to learn and adapt as they navigate the complex landscape of entrepreneurship.",
  "summary": "In this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, Amit Somani speaks with Accel India co-founder Subrata Mitra to discuss the ideas behind his book Down But Not Out, which brings stories of Indian 10 founders who experienced major setbacks but continued to build.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}