Women entrepreneurs are making significant impacts across various industries and sectors.
(L-R) - Falguni Nayar, Vineeta Singh, Pallavi Mohadikar, Swati Vakharia, Surbhi Bhatia, Sonia Anand, Priyadarshini Krishnan and Mithi Kalra
Their ventures often address unique challenges and opportunities, reflecting diverse perspectives and innovative approaches. From tech startups to social enterprises, women-led businesses contribute to economic growth, drive innovation, and foster inclusivity. While certain challenges persist in the larger startup ecosystem, these have not stopped women from proving their might and becoming true bellwethers of change. Here is a list of women entrepreneurs that are making significant strides and breaking barriers across various industries, all while inspiring countless minds in their relentless pursuit for excellence. Note: This is not an exhaustive list or ranking of any kind.
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Falguni Nayar
Falguni Nayar, the founder and CEO of Nykaa, established the beauty ecommerce startup in 2012. Today, Nykaa stands as one of the leading players in the segment. Nykaa has a team of over 1,600 members and offers a portfolio of 1,500+ brands, including its private labels, to its customers. With a strong online presence and 68 stores across India, Nykaa has also expanded into new verticals like apparels through Nykaa Fashion. Nayar, an IIM Ahmedabad graduate, boasts over 26 years of experience in areas such as ecommerce, investment banking, and broking. She has also served on the boards of various companies, including Tata Motors and Aviva Life Insurance Company India. Presently, she serves as an independent director on the boards of Kotak Securities, ACC, and Dabur India. According to Hurun India Rich List 2022, Nayar was India’s richest self-made woman post the public listing of Nykaa in November 2021.
Vineeta Singh
Widely recognised for her appearance on Shark Tank India, Vineeta Singh is the cofounder and CEO of beauty and personal care brand SUGAR Cosmetics. Singh is a serial entrepreneur and also founded FAB BAG, a beauty and grooming subscription startup. Her visibility on Shark Tank India has catapulted her to fame, and she has subsequently become an investor in several Indian startups featured on the show. As an angel investor, Singh has invested in startups like Padcare Labs, JhaJi Store, Snitch, and Josh Talks.
She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The famous Shark is widely recognised for turning down an INR 1 Cr job offer from top investment bank Deutsche Bank during campus placements to pursue her entrepreneurial passion.
Pallavi Mohadikar: Redefining Demi-Fine Jewellery with Palmonas
Pallavi Mohadikar is an IIM Lucknow alumnus with engineering background in electronics and telecommunication. Prior to Palmonas, she built Karagiri, a digital-first saree brand, which was later acquired by Mensa Brands. The wife of Palmonas founder Dr Amol Patwari, she comes with over eight years of experience in brand building and growth hacking from her stint at Karagiri. Under Pallavi’s visionary leadership, Palmonas has emerged as a beacon of elegance, offering consumers an unparalleled experience of adorning themselves with jewellery that looks like gold, feels like gold, and stays gold. Palmonas, founded by Dr. Amol Patwari and Pallavi Mohadikar in 2022, aims to offer a unique blend of sophisticated yet affordable jewelry. The company has dedicated itself to crafting pieces that resonate with modern sensibilities. Their recent collaboration with actress Shraddha Kapoor, who joined as a co-founder, marks a significant milestone, bolstering the brand's credibility and amplifying its reach. Currently, Palmonas offers around 1500 jewelry pieces on its website, encompassing a diverse range of styles, materials, and designs. They continuously strive to curate and introduce new SKUs to cater to evolving consumer preferences and emerging trends. Palmonas specializes in demi-fine jewelry, a category that blends luxury and accessibility, priced between Rs 900 to Rs 8,000. Their growth strategy includes augmenting their online presence through strategic marketing initiatives and technological innovations, while also establishing a network of flagship stores in key metropolitan areas. With Shraddha Kapoor's endorsement and active involvement, Palmonas aims to disrupt the market by redefining the standards of demi-fine jewelry, offering unparalleled quality, style, and value to their customers. Palmonas has built the aesthetics of the brand keeping in mind global tastes and choices.
Swati Vakharia: Pioneering Ayurvedic Wellness with Nabhi Sutra
Swati Vakharia founded Nabhi Sutra to reintroduce Ayurvedic belly button oiling, an ancient practice, into modern wellness routines. During her phase of motherhood and breastfeeding, she faced a few health issues, a major one being hair fall. While she was in the process of treating it, she was introduced to the concept of Ayurvedic treatment. Since she has always been a believer in home remedies and opted for natural products over others, she was amazed to see the benefits of Ayurveda. To my surprise, it was quite interesting and magical. With a rich entrepreneurial journey spanning over 15 years, Swati has traversed diverse domains, leaving an enduring impact in each venture she undertook. From establishing an IT firm to spearheading the creation of a women-centric magazine called "Women Planet," along with a charitable trust, Swati's entrepreneurial repertoire reflects both dynamism and versatility. Recognizing the importance of preventive measures for herself and her child, this concern for holistic healing paved the way for the inception of Nabhi Sutra.
Her journey began with a personal quest for natural remedies for her family's health issues, leading her to discover the benefits of belly button oiling. Nabhi Sutra offers nine categories of belly button oil, each targeting specific health concerns such as hair and skin care, joint pain, and menstrual pain relief. The oils are made from natural, therapeutic-grade ingredients, emphasizing purity and efficacy. Nabhi Sutra focuses on educating consumers about Ayurvedic practices through detailed product descriptions, educational blogs, and social media engagement. The startup stands out from competitors by emphasizing the importance of traditional wisdom in modern wellness. Nabhi Sutra plans to expand internationally, starting with the US market, and has received interest from six other countries. Swati’s success story underscores the potential of leveraging traditional wisdom to create innovative, market-leading products that resonate with contemporary consumers and promote holistic health. The notable presence of Swati and Nabhi Sutra on Shark Tank India Season 3 serves as a testament to the brand's significance and Swati's unwavering commitment to promoting wellness through the principles of Ayurveda.
Surbhi Bhatia: Pioneering the Mom and Baby Space with The Mom Store
The Mom Store was born, starting with just 3 products in her Bengaluru flat. The brand caters to an underserved segment with trendy yet comfortable maternity wear, maternity accessories, baby essentials, and a curated marketplace. Beyond maternity wear, The Mom Store has expanded into baby and kidswear, adopting an omnichannel approach with a presence on major online marketplaces, its own website, and a pilot concept store in Bengaluru. The Mom Store's story transcends being just a business narrative. It's a testament to the power of identifying an unmet need, combining it with a customer-centric approach, and a healthy dose of entrepreneurial grit. Surbhi had always dreamt of being an entrepreneur since her college days at St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi. After completing her MBA from IIM-Kozhikode and globe-trotting as part of her consulting projects at Deloitte Consulting, she joined Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail to drive strategic projects that gave her an insight into the fashion industry. While at her stint, she also became a mum, and realised the need for maternity apparel and infant clothing brands - both of which were virtually absent in the Indian market. She quit to start her entrepreneurship journey with The Mom Store in 2018, Surbhi Bhatia, has quickly carved a niche in the mom and baby space. Bhatia, identified a gap in the market for stylish and functional maternity wear during her own pregnancy. Surbhi has recently started a Youtube Podcast “Women Speak” - a platform for women entrepreneurs and leaders to share their journeys. Bhatia's journey as a mompreneur is an inspiration in itself. Juggling motherhood with building a successful brand, she embodies the spirit of the modern woman who strives to "have it all." Her willingness to model for The Mom Store further strengthens the brand's connection with its target audience. Surbhi is now introducing another brand in the kitty - The Woman Store - A brand focused on amalgamating Indian ad Western Wear into power dressing that seamlessly transitions from professional to social occasion.
Sonia Anand : Empowering Women with Monk & Mei
Label Monk & Mei by Sonia Anand www.monkandmei.com , boasts of responsible and conscious clothing that has caught the imagination of the women customers. It is driven by increasing consumer awareness and demand for ethical and environmentally friendly designer women’s wear. Monk & Mei was launched in 2018, with 91 tribal women and youth karigars (artisans) from rural parts of Odisha. While working as a management consultant with PwC and Ernst & Young, Sonia K Anand would often consult for the social sector and work in the rural and tribal parts of India. The meeting with tribal women, who were working with inhumane working conditions, gave her the final push to quit her cushy corporate job and start her own venture in this space. Monk & Mei began its operations with 100 sewing machines set up on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. Sonia Anand, an ISB Alumni, wished to bring luxurious ethnic wear to every woman. Monk & Mei not only helps consumers access sustainable fashion at an affordable price but also streamlines its inventory to make production more efficient.
Interestingly, every dress on the platform comes with various accessories from leftover fabrics, reusable jute bags and tags to grow plants.
The brand boasts of more than 20 collections with 400+ styles ranging from kurta sets, lehengas and pre draped sarees in its unique line of fusion ethnic wear. Bringing the rich heritage from different parts of India, women can experience chikankari , Benarasi brocade, hand block prints in silk, chanderi and many more across its eclectic mix of collection. Each collection whether it is ‘Rajkumari on the Run’ or ‘Queen of Wands’, has a unique saga to narrate from the lives of women of today. Hence the tagline is ‘Wear a story’. With 30,000 happy customers, the brand figures among top sellers on ecommerce platforms such as Nykaa Fashion and Myntra for Earth, Tata Indiluxe. Monk & Mei also launched Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop and Aza Fashion - multi-designer online fashion channels-to cater to the Indian women worldwide.
Priyadharshini Krishnan: Root and Soil: Bridging Tradition and Modernity in Babycare
Root and Soil uniquely combines age-old practices with modern science to offer effective skincare solutions. Founded by Priyadharshini Krishnan, a textile engineer, and her partner, an agro expert raised on a coconut farm, the brand emerged from their quest for authentic, natural products for their babies. They started with oils and oil-based products, quickly recognizing their superior quality over market alternatives. Root and Soil’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that time-tested remedies are key to effective skincare. By blending traditional ingredients with contemporary scientific research, the brand provides products that are both safe and highly effective. This resonates with new-age mothers seeking reliable, natural solutions for their families. Each product undergoes rigorous testing to ensure top quality and performance, addressing various skin concerns with precision. The brand’s transparency about its ingredients further builds trust. In today’s fast-paced world, communal support is often missing. Root and Soil acts as a virtual village by offering resources, advice, and a space for parents to connect online, fostering a supportive community. Initially focused on baby care, the brand has expanded to include products for mothers, promoting overall family wellness. Root and Soil operates, women-based unit in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, employing local women to handcraft products and support community empowerment. As India’s first holistic baby care brand, all Root and Soil products are FDA approved and derma-tested, serving over 200,000 families. The brand’s future plans include expanding into retail stores across India and developing new remedies, continuing its commitment to enhancing family well-being through a thoughtful, innovative approach.
Mithi Kalra
Known for making beautiful Indo-Western and ethnic outfits in dewy colours and soothing print. Delhi-based couturier Mithi Kalra's label House of Mithi Kalra is a preferred choice by celebrities as well today. They have an offline store in Delhi’s Shahpur Jat and is available on the leading websites for the retail purchase. Their first collection was an amalgamation of Disney princess and Madhubani paintings. And then they introduced the Moon-Light collection inspired by the magic of the moon and the stars. From heavy lehengas to subtle ones, to drape-sarees to resort-wear dresses and even co-ord sets, they have been focusing on them all. That aside, her label has always been introducing sustainable collections from time to time. Mithi Kalra who hails from Delhi and a pass-out from NIFT, has always been fond of dressing mannequins since childhood, support from her family made her pursue her dreams further. With her vast clientele across the countries and globally, Kalra has displayed her designs at prominent shows like India Runway Week and done exhibitions in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities. In the future she aims at tapping the US and European Market by doing shows and exhibitions there. They already have clientele dotted in these markets, thus now they aim to expand in these markets better.
Written by Roopali Bhasin
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