Falguni Nayar

Falguni Nayar spent much of her career in investment banking before founding Nykaa in her fifties — a reminder that the best time to build is not always in your twenties.

What they built

Nykaa combined a curated online store with content, its own physical retail, and in-house brands, building trust in a category where authenticity and selection matter deeply to customers.

Why it matters for India

Nykaa's IPO made Nayar one of India's most visible self-made women founders and showed the scale possible when a founder understands both the customer and the numbers.