Falguni Nayar, a former investment banker, made a bold decision at the age of 50 to start her own venture in the beauty and wellness industry. Leaving behind a 19-year career at Kotak Mahindra Capital, she founded Nykaa, now one of India’s largest e-commerce platforms for beauty and personal care.
Nayar noticed a gap in India’s beauty market—there was no trusted online platform offering quality products. With this insight, she launched Nykaa in 2012, focusing on both local and international brands. Initially met with scepticism, she faced challenges building customer trust and convincing brands to partner with her fledgling company. However, Nayar’s persistence paid off. By blending e-commerce with physical retail stores and creating engaging beauty content, Nykaa became a trusted name for millions of consumers. Her focus on customer satisfaction and innovation took the brand to the top of the Indian market.
In 2021, Nykaa went public, making Falguni Nayar one of India’s wealthiest self-made women entrepreneurs. Despite the rapid growth, Nayar emphasizes the importance of staying grounded and always learning. Her journey is a reminder that it is never too late to start over and that with determination and vision, success has no expiration date.
