Startups

Falguni Nayar and Nykaa: Redefining Beauty with Belief

Reyansh Oswal

01 Jan 2026 — 1 min read

At an age when most people think of slowing down, Falguni Nayar chose to start over. After spending nearly two decades in investment banking, she walked away from a stable, high paying career with one bold belief. Indian women deserved a better beauty shopping experience.

In 2012, she founded Nykaa, starting as an online platform that sold genuine beauty and wellness products. At the time, the market was flooded with counterfeits, limited choices, and low trust. Falguni focused on one thing above all else. Authenticity. Every product on Nykaa was original, every brand carefully chosen, and every customer treated with respect.

Building Nykaa was not easy. Logistics were complex, consumer habits were slow to change, and competition kept rising. But Falguni combined her financial discipline with deep customer insight. Nykaa became more than a store. It became a community. Through tutorials, reviews, influencers, and content, Nykaa educated consumers and built trust at scale.

Then came a masterstroke. Nykaa launched its own private labels, improving margins while strengthening brand loyalty. From makeup to fashion, the company expanded thoughtfully, never losing focus on quality and experience.

In 2021, Nykaa made history. Falguni Nayar became India’s richest self made woman after the company’s blockbuster IPO. It was not overnight success. It was the result of patience, clarity, and courage.

Her journey proves one powerful truth. Age is not a limitation. Vision is everything.

LuwakTech’s sharp insights and inspiring startup stories ignite passion, spark ideas, and empower the upcoming bunch of entrepreneurs to chase their dreams.

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