Mamaearth's Ghazal Alagh points out 3 mistakes that start-up founders are making

In the noisy world of startup advice, it’s easy for new founders to feel buried under endless “golden rules” from mentors, books, and LinkedIn threads. But according to Mamaearth’s co-founder Ghazal Alagh, some of these rules are not just outdated — they can actively hold you back. In a candid LinkedIn post titled The startup advice I wish people could ignore, she broke down three popular pieces of wisdom she believes are overrated, even dangerous.

Alagh began by challenging the popular belief that a product must be perfected before hitting the market. She argued that waiting for perfection can hold founders back, suggesting that it’s better to launch when the product is about 90% ready and then refine it based on consumer feedback. In her view, speed and adaptability matter far more than painstaking polishing, as the pursuit of perfection often ends up slowing progress rather than driving it.

Her second focus was the often-repeated rule to hire only A-players. While she acknowledged the importance of top-tier talent, she emphasised that ambitious, driven individuals who may not fit conventional profiles can be just as valuable, if not more. Drawing from her own experience, she noted that some of her most impactful team members were unconventional hires who brought fresh perspectives. For her, the real strength lies in building a balanced team that blends proven expertise with hungry, scrappy newcomers.

Finally, she challenged the common advice to focus only on the core product. She argued that this mindset assumes a perfect product-market fit and unlimited time and resources, which is rarely the case. Citing Mamaearth’s own journey, she highlighted how exploring adjacent opportunities — products and ideas that go beyond the main offering — acted as strong growth engines rather than unnecessary distractions.


Summing up her philosophy, Alagh encouraged founders to embrace an iterative approach — launch early, gather feedback, and refine along the way. She stressed the value of hiring for drive and potential rather than relying solely on impressive credentials, and advocated for pursuing adjacent opportunities that can unlock new avenues for growth. Her closing message was a caution against blind imitation, noting that many advisors achieved success in different times under different conditions. What worked for them may not work for you, she warned, urging entrepreneurs to stop relying on borrowed playbooks and instead craft their own path to success.