In this episode of New Rules of the Game, we sit down with Murli Thirumale, a serial entrepreneur and seasoned tech executive whose journey spans three major startups—Net6, Ocarina, and Portworx—all of which ended in successful acquisitions. Murli shares behind-the-scenes insights into how each company was built, what differentiated them in crowded markets, and the lessons learned from scaling through acquisition by industry giants like Citrix, Dell, and Pure Storage. Murli also reflects on the changing enterprise landscape, the rise of container-native storage, and what it means to lead with integrity in the venture world. Whether you're an IT leader, founder, or investor, this conversation is a masterclass in navigating the intersection of innovation, timing, and strategic exits.