Early Dreams, Bold Decisions
Growing
up in Mulund, Mumbai, I was always an average student. I studied at Singhania
School, and there was nothing particularly exceptional about my academic
performance. But there was something I always knew—I wanted to become a
businesswoman. I still have a piece of paper from my childhood where I had
written down, "I want to be a successful businesswoman." Funny how
those childhood scribbles become the foundation for everything you strive to
become.
Despite being sure that I wanted to be in business, I was equally clear that I
didn’t want to join my father's business. It was never about rebellion; it was
about independence. I didn’t want a legacy—I wanted my own journey, my own
mistakes, and my own triumphs. I’ve always believed no one can truly teach you
business. And when it comes to education, I’ve never resonated with the idea
that we should only study what we love or what we’re already good at.
Education, to me, is about expanding your horizons, not polishing what’s
already shining. So I chose to study Corporate Communication in the United
States because I was terrible at it.
Why? Because communication, especially in times of crisis, is vital for any
business. You can't avoid crises in real life—it's a myth. I wanted to develop
those soft skills. And moving to the U.S. at 17 gave me more than just academic
learning. It gave me perspective. I was suddenly in an environment where
multitasking was essential, where priorities had to be juggled, and where soft
skills became survival skills.
One of the biggest turning points in my life came
during a college semester where we had to pitch a business idea. The twist? We
were asked to pitch a faulty product. That challenge, that discomfort—it taught
me how to sell under pressure. That project is what led to Karibo, though I
didn’t know it at the time.
Building
Karibo: From College Concept to Cosmetic Brand
When I returned to India, I met Bhakti while working
at a media agency. I had already been toying with the idea of a customized
cosmetics brand—something that I had worked on during that university project.
Bhakti was passionate about cosmetics. I wasn’t. But I saw a business
opportunity. What we shared was synergy.
We didn’t want Karibo to be another luxury cosmetic brand. We wanted it to be
accessible, customizable, and intimate. Everyone deserves to experience
luxury—even a common man. Instead of investing heavily in physical stores, our
idea was to invest in experiences, to take the product to the consumer rather
than wait for them to come to us.
When we launched Karibo at 21, people didn’t take us seriously. Many assumed it
was a college project or something temporary. But a conversation with my mentor
reminded me why I started. He said, "You haven’t come to the States and
invested so much just to come back and say you can’t do it. You are capable of
minting money wherever you are." That stuck with me. Age is irrelevant.
Timing is irrelevant. Belief and action matter.
Mistakes became part of our DNA. At Karibo, we don’t punish mistakes—we learn
from them. Whether it’s me or someone on the team, making a mistake means
you’re growing. And the team? That’s our secret sauce. Everyone at Karibo feels
like a co-owner. That’s how emotionally invested they are. There was even a
time we had to push a male employee to leave because we knew he needed to
explore more in life, and he just didn’t want to let go.
More Than Makeup: Philosophy, Gender, and Partnership
People often assume that because I run a cosmetics brand, I must be obsessed
with makeup. The truth? I’m not. I’m not a fanatic about cosmetics at all. But
I understand business. Bhakti, on the other hand, is all heart for the product.
Our compatibility is what makes Karibo work. We don’t overlap roles—we
complement each other. She handles execution, team dynamics, and product
launches. I focus on backend operations, strategy, planning, and social media
ideation.
We trust each other fully. That’s the beauty of it. I believe businesses aren’t
always about solving problems. Sometimes, they’re about delivering experiences.
I’m also not here chasing valuations. I’m a desi businesswoman—I want profits.
I want to take money home. Hype doesn’t pay the bills. Good business does. And
when people ask me where I see myself or Karibo in five years—I don’t answer.
Why? Because that limits me. I never imagined I’d be here five years ago. So
why cap my future?
Shark Tank & Unplanned Wins
Shark Tank India was never about the funding for us. It was about learning. We
were bootstrapped and had our share of doubts—especially since the show heavily
favored e-commerce brands, and we were offering a more experience-driven,
service-based model. But we decided to show up anyway. Our mindset was simple:
even if we don’t make it, we’ll at least walk away with insights from people
who understand the market deeply.
As we progressed through the rounds—filling out multiple forms, showing up for
the auditions—we were pleasantly surprised to receive positive responses. One
of the most surreal moments was when Radhika Gupta approached us after the
shoot and told us she loved the lipstick she wore during filming. She even
asked for it again for touch-ups.
The judging panel—Peyush Bansal (Lenskart), Aman Gupta (boAt), Vinita Singh
(Sugar Cosmetics), Ritesh Agarwal (OYO), and Radhika Gupta (Edelweiss Mutual
Fund)—were incredibly supportive. Though only 16 minutes of our pitch aired, we
were in the Tank for over 90 minutes. Peyush, in particular, gave us detailed
feedback on unit economics and the pros and cons of pivoting toward e-commerce.
These weren’t just surface-level interactions—they were deep, practical
conversations that helped us rethink and strengthen our roadmap.
That experience reaffirmed something we had always believed deep down—Karibo
wasn’t just an idea, it was a solid product backed by real impact. Being in
that room and having such constructive discussions gave us clarity, confidence,
and a renewed sense of direction.
Real Life, Real Woman
People often glorify the “woman entrepreneur” label. I don’t. I think everyone
is hustling—man or woman. Challenges don’t discriminate. But we must be
realistic. Society still has expectations—marriage, household
responsibilities—and instead of resisting them, I believe in preparing for
them.
Before I got married, I told my mom, "I’ll marry only when Karibo can run
without me for six months." And that’s what I did. I stayed with my
in-laws for a couple of months post-wedding to understand them and let them
understand me. That built trust. My biggest supporter today is my
mother-in-law. She’s learning about Karibo. She steps in when I have long work
days. She tells me, “Don’t worry, I’ll go and sit at Karibo.”
Multitasking is non-negotiable. Planning is essential—not to control life, but
to flow with it. My grandmother once told me, "Your near future is 25.
After that, the world expects you to get married and settle. So plan
accordingly." That advice wasn’t regressive—it was pragmatic. Accept and
adapt. That’s what I’ve done.
To every entrepreneur out there: Find your strength. Own it. Don’t obsess over
your weaknesses—work on them. Don’t wait for perfect conditions—there’s no such
thing. And above all, don’t waste time trying to map your life. Walk it. Live
it. Grow through it.
Because sometimes, success isn’t about following the plan. It’s about having
the courage to throw the plan away and trust yourself anyway.