In the early 2010s, Falguni Nayar noticed that India’s beauty and personal care market was highly fragmented. Customers struggled to find authentic international brands, and offline stores were limited to metros. Having worked in investment banking for decades, she saw a gap for a trusted online platform that could combine authentic products, advice, and convenience.
In 2012, at the age of 49, Falguni left her high-profile career at Kotak Mahindra to start Nykaa with her personal savings (~₹2 crore). The company started as an online beauty marketplace, focusing on authenticity and premium brands, bootstrapping in the initial years before attracting angel investors.
By 2015, Nykaa launched its own private labels and opened the first offline store, creating an omnichannel model. Her daughter Adwaita Nayar joined to scale offline retail, and brand partnerships with L’Oréal and MAC boosted trust.
In 2020, COVID-19 accelerated e-commerce adoption, making Nykaa a household name. The platform expanded to personal care, wellness, and fashion while building loyalty with women customers across India. Her son Anchit Nayar joined to lead the omnichannel and retail expansion.
In 2021, Nykaa went public with a blockbuster IPO. Falguni Nayar became India’s richest self-made woman billionaire, with the family retaining majority control and the company achieving a multi-billion-dollar valuation.
Falguni Nayar actively mentors women entrepreneurs, proving that risk-taking and perseverance can lead to global success—even if you start in your late 40s.
“Age is just a number. If you dream big and plan well, you can start anytime.”
A: Falguni’s 20+ years in investment banking gave her deep knowledge of capital markets, global business trends, and brand-building strategies. This experience helped her navigate funding, partnerships, and eventually a blockbuster IPO confidently.
A: Yes. Her husband, Sanjay Nayar, a top private equity professional, encouraged her entrepreneurial leap. Her children, Adwaita and Anchit Nayar, joined the business, helping scale offline retail and omnichannel operations.
A: Falguni faced skepticism about her age and lack of tech background, but she countered it with financial discipline, brand trust, and relentless execution.
A: She believes women can start late and still build global companies. Her journey shows that clarity, patience, and persistence matter more than early-age startup culture.