'The ROI of a sibling': Shaadi.com's Anupam Mittal’s message for couples who don’t want kids or stick to one for convenience

Shark Tank India judge and Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal has a heartfelt message for those who believe one child is enough.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Mittal wrote, “Interesting to see people optimizing parenthood for convenience — ‘No kids… one kid is enough… tuition is insane… we want to travel… raising kids is tough.’ All true. All valid. All a matter of personal choice. But in the Excel sheet of life, there are two columns that made all the difference for me — my two sisters.”

For him, siblings are not just playmates but “lifetime infrastructure” — the only people who remind you who you were before LinkedIn turned you into a “professional.”


Citing the ongoing 80-year Harvard Study of Adult Development, Mittal noted that the biggest predictor of happiness isn’t money, kale, or meditation, but positive relationships. “Siblings are the longest subscription plan for that. No renewals needed,” he said.

Recalling personal experiences, Mittal shared how his sisters, Vandana and Shilpa, helped care for their father during an illness. “We rotated duties. No burnout. No ‘career vs conscience’ decisions. Without them, I’d have had to choose — and either way, I’d lose something irreplaceable.”

He added that while his parents built a life for the family, his sisters were building him — offering love, support, and standing by him through every high and heartbreak. “Maybe that’s why Anchal and I feel bad Alyssa doesn’t have a sibling. So, we’re manufacturing that anchor with her army of cousins, because I know exactly what it’s worth,” he wrote.

Posting this ahead of Raksha Bandhan, Mittal also shared a picture with his sisters.

The post struck a chord with many. One commenter wrote, “Truth bomb. In a world chasing solo success, we forget that life’s real compound interest is built in relationships. Siblings aren’t just family — they’re your emergency backup system, your unfiltered reality check, and your lifelong safety net. Money fades. Looks fade. Titles fade. But a brother or sister? That ROI never expires.”

Another added, “In the ROI of life, emotional equity beats financial equity every single time. We optimise for school fees, travel plans, and convenience… but forget that siblings are not just childhood memories — they’re lifelong backup systems. When life throws curveballs, it’s rarely your LinkedIn network that shows up at 2 AM. It’s the ones who’ve seen you at your messiest and still stayed.”