Anand Mahindra Cheers RuntimeBRT's Startup Rallying Cry
Synopsis
Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra praised RuntimeBRT co-founders Caleb and Aryaman Shah as 'sutradhaars' of India's startup revolution, highlighting their rallying phrase 'Picture abhi baaki hai' as a powerful signal that the country's startup story is far from finished.
Key Takeaways
Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra publicly praised RuntimeBRT co-founders Caleb and Aryaman Shah on 20 October 2026 .
Mahindra described the duo as 'incredible cheerleaders' and 'wonderful sutradhaars' of India's startup revolution.
He playfully questioned why it took the platform nine years rather than nine months to deliver their startup rallying message.
Mahindra highlighted their phrase 'Picture abhi baaki hai, mere dost!' as their most powerful message.
India's startup ecosystem, fuelled by the Startup India initiative (2016) , has grown into one of the world's largest, producing numerous unicorns and decacorns.
India's startup revolution has no shortage of cheerleaders — but few carry the weight of a nine-year commitment to the cause. On Tuesday, 20 October 2026, Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra took to X to salute Caleb and Aryaman Shah, the duo behind startup-focused platform RuntimeBRT, calling them 'incredible cheerleaders for this exploding startup ecosystem.'
With characteristic warmth and wit, Mahindra could not resist a playful jab: 'Why has it taken you nine years, rather than nine months, to deliver this rallying cry for startups?!' The humour barely masked the genuine admiration beneath it. He dubbed the pair 'wonderful sutradhaars' — the Hindi word for narrator or thread-holder, the one who holds a story together — of India's startup revolution.
The phrase that landed hardest
For Mahindra, one line from the RuntimeBRT team stood above the rest. He highlighted their message — 'Picture abhi baaki hai, mere dost!' ('The film isn't over yet, my friend!') — as perhaps their most powerful. It is a phrase borrowed from Bollywood's cultural shorthand for unfinished business, for promise still to be fulfilled. Applied to India's startup moment, it carries real weight. India has spent the better part of a decade building its startup credentials. The Startup India initiative, launched in 2016, lit the fuse — simplifying regulations, channelling policy support, and signalling to the world that India was open for entrepreneurial business. What followed was a surge: unicorns, decacorns, global venture capital flowing into Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, and beyond, making India one of the three largest startup ecosystems on the planet.Why 'sutradhaars' matter in a noisy ecosystem
The term Mahindra chose — sutradhaar — is precise. In a crowded field of investors, accelerators, and policy voices, the platforms that consistently connect, narrate, and amplify the founder story serve a function money alone cannot buy. RuntimeBRT, by Mahindra's account, has been doing exactly that, even if it took nine years rather than nine months to reach this moment of visibility. The chairman's sign-off carried the confidence of someone who has watched this ecosystem grow from ambition to architecture. Picture abhi baaki hai is not just a Bollywood line. In Mahindra's framing, it is a thesis — the best of India's startup story is still ahead, and the people narrating it matter as much as the founders living it.Point of View
A high-profile chairman's shoutout translates directly into founder credibility and investor visibility. More broadly, it signals that institutional validation from legacy industry is now a currency the new-economy startup world actively courts and values.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the founders of RuntimeBRT?
RuntimeBRT is co-founded by Caleb and Aryaman Shah , described by Anand Mahindra as 'incredible cheerleaders' for India's startup ecosystem.
What does 'sutradhaar' mean in the context Mahindra used it?
'Sutradhaar' is a Hindi term for a narrator or thread-holder — someone who connects and holds a story together. Mahindra used it to describe RuntimeBRT's role in narrating India's startup revolution.
What is 'Picture abhi baaki hai, mere dost' and why did Mahindra quote it?
It is a popular Bollywood-inspired phrase meaning 'The film isn't over yet, my friend.' Mahindra cited it as RuntimeBRT's most powerful message, suggesting India's startup story still has its biggest chapters ahead.
What is the Startup India initiative?
Startup India was launched in 2016 by the Indian government to foster entrepreneurship, simplify regulations, and promote innovation, helping make India one of the world's largest startup hubs.
Why is Anand Mahindra's support for startups significant?
As chairman of the Mahindra Group , one of India's largest conglomerates, Mahindra carries enormous credibility. His public endorsements amplify startup-ecosystem voices to a vast audience of investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.
