When it comes to combining parenthood and running a company, these moms have it down pat.
There is no doubt that motherhood is a challenging job. But some moms out there are taking on an even greater challenge—starting their own businesses. From selling natural and toxin-free products for babies to being the best lipstick brand, these mompreneurs are proving that you can have it all. Read on and get inspired by these moms who have not only overcome challenges but also built successful businesses while raising their kids and family.
1. Falguni Nayar: India’s richest self-made woman billionaire
Falguni Nayar, a mother of twins, is turning heads in India’s beauty and wellness industry with her beauty product retailer, Nykaa. Not only has Nayar revolutionized the way women shop for their favorite beauty products, but she has also become India’s richest self-made woman with a net worth of an astounding US$4.4 billion! Nykaa’s net worth reached new heights when the company was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) on November 10, 2021.
Prior to this, the company became a unicorn in 2020, after completing five rounds of funding. Today, the company has more than 100 stores in India and sells more than 4,000 beauty and wellness brands online and offline. While the idea and goal of becoming an entrepreneur existed within Nayar at a younger age, Nykaa was born much later in April 2012, when she had some spare time after her twins left for higher education.
Nayar took a huge step by quitting her well-paid job at Kotak at the age of 50, and from there, she never looked back. Today, Nykaa is one of India’s handful of profitable retailers. “I started Nykaa at the age of 50 with no experience. I hope the Nykaa journey can inspire each of you to be the Nykaa of your lives,” said Nayar.
2. Ghazal Alagh: mama who made toxin-free products for babies
The joy of motherhood can be lost in translation when you’re trying to find safe products for your babies. Stress levels are high, especially since many modern-day amenities aren’t always designed with our baby’s needs at heart! Enter Mamaearth—an eco-friendly brand created by mompreneur Ghazal Alagh who faced this same challenge.
Rather than being stressed out over this, she decided to do something and create a company that produces 100% toxin-free baby care items. Along with her husband, Alagh founded the company in 2016. Since then, the company has achieved remarkable success. Just in FY21 alone, the business has brought US$65 million in revenue.
India’s booming consumer market has been the driving force behind the growth of many brands in this industry, including Mamaearth. The company now serves more than five million people through its D2C platform as well as e-commerce marketplace sites, like Amazon, Flipkart and Nykaa.
Ghazal is an entrepreneur and mother who has been recognized among the top ten women artists in India, nationally as well internationally. “I recently gave birth to my second child and returned to work within 10 days,” she said proudly. She also explained that balancing both personal commitments helps her increase productivity and manage all aspects of life efficiently. “Being a mother is the best thing in the entire world and I think that we need to encourage other mothers by inspiring them to choose the right path and follow their aspirations,” said Alagh.
3. Vineeta Singh: painting the beauty industry with “SUGAR”
Vineeta Singh always had a passion for business, but she never thought that it would lead to running one of India’s fastest-growing beauty brands, SUGAR cosmetics. Founded in 2015, Mumbai-based SUGAR Cosmetics has raised over US$21 million in Series C funding and is quickly scaling its physical presence across India. As of 2021, the company has more than 35,000 retail touchpoints across more than 500 cities in India. Backed by notable investors, including Elevation Capital, A91 Partners and Stride Ventures, SUGAR is a popular brand among Gen Z and millennials today.
Singh’s entrepreneurial journey is an inspiration to many. She faced many challenges, but he never looked back or stopped believing in herself no matter what happened next! “At times, I’d be pumping breast milk, working out, handling office calls, and hoping to not wake my son up. I’d have sleepless nights, but I loved what I was doing. After a year, it paid off—we were recognized as the best lipstick brand. I walk into the office with files in one hand & my baby in another. The juggle is real, but it’s also totally worth it.” wrote Singh in her Instagram post.
4. Meena Bindra: turning a hobby into a US$76 million business
Meena Bindra, at the age of 40, decided that she wanted something more in her life than just being a navy wife and mother of two. One day, this bright idea came to her—why not sell simple cotton printed suits? With no formal training or experience in fashion design—but an endless passion and a hobby in designing clothes—she went ahead! Today, her “simple cotton printed suits” are one of India’s most popular fashion labels known as BIBA. Founded in 1988, BIBA Apparels is an Indian fashion brand for women and girls.
Today, they have over 285 stores that serve customers and clients in 120 cities across India. Their high-quality distribution system is supported by an exclusive vertical of 400 touchpoints in multi-brand outlets and leading e-commerce platforms. Backed by Warburg Pincus and Faering Capital, the brand has recently acquired a substantial minority stake in the designer label Anju Modi’s fashion line. The brand has recently filed its draft red herring prospectus (a document required to be filed when a company intends to raise funds from the public by selling shares ) to seek investor funds through an initial public offering (IPO).
Bindra started her entrepreneurial journey with a loan of INR8,000 (approximately US$100 at the time of writing this article), and by 2020, she has turned BIBA into a venture worth US$76 million. “When I started designing clothes as a hobby to earn some pocket money, I never dreamt of becoming a businesswoman,” said Bindra. But today she believes, “If you have the passion for something, just do it.”
Being a mom entrepreneur has its own set of challenges, especially when we talk about the Indian startup industry. While being able to develop successful businesses and brands is all about having that natural entrepreneurial trait, it also takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Struggling at first is inevitable, but there’s no reason to lose sight of your goals!
With the changing times, women are now more empowered than ever to start their own businesses and work on their own terms. We know very well how hard it is to juggle both your personal and professional life, and it’s incredibly inspiring to see women like these who have managed to do it so well. We hope you were able to learn at least one thing from this post leaving you inspired to become the next successful mompreneur!
Also read:
- The Age of Moms: Interview with Joan Ong, Founder of Supermom
- “Women Should Know When to Say No”: A Mompreneur’s Guide To Managing It All
- Successful Women Entrepreneurs You Should Know About
Header image courtesy of Freepik
