Entrepreneurship has definitely seen a jump in the last 10 years. There have been a lot of small businesses taking their big dreams out into the world and trying to grow themselves. There is also a mindset shift where people believe that living in India doesn’t mean that one has to focus only on doing a job, they can build a company where they observed a gap and feel they can build a brand.

When Ghazal Alagh, Co-Founder and CIO, Honasa Consumer Pvt Ltd, started Mamaearth, there was no personal care brand in India that was toxin-free. At that time, there were 2-3 big brands that were running for around 50 years, so consumers did not have a choice to choose better or make an alternative choice. Ghazal Alagh understood that white space and catered to that.

“Consumers were also able to understand and relate to the problem. They have shown love and support to us and I think that has brought us where we are today. I have realized that if the consumers like what you’re doing, agree with your proposition, and understand the purpose of your company, then they will buy into you,” she said.

Starting a Business

Initially, in the first two months, Ghazal said that we also thought that why bigger brands are not solving the problem of the right products, and one day, we just said that if no one else is doing it then why don’t we do something about it. “At that time, we were also having a choice of either we should be scared of the failure and don’t enter into entrepreneurship or regret later on in the life. But we made the choice and said let’s try it out and build a company,” she stated.

Ghazal said in the beginning, there were a lot of doubts and our families were also skeptical about what we were doing, we had rent to pay, and a two-year-old kid to take care of. Our parents have also asked us why we want to disrupt our settled and comfortable life. But, we were adamant as the purpose was very close to our hearts. “We were not able to see a kid crying for a small thing as a good personal care product to be applied on his/her skin. Therefore, we launched Mamaearth. We started with a small dream that even if we are able to help 100 parents in India, we will consider ourselves lucky. But the moment the brand got launched into the market, we received a very good response,” she asserted.

“I believe it’s important to be stubborn to prove yourself and if you strongly believe in something, you will figure out a way to do it,” Ghazal added.

No Secret Sauce for Success

Business is more about figuring out what will make you successful. Success is a word and everyone has a different definition of it. The definition of success keeps evolving as people will always have a desire to keep moving forward.

“In order to build a business, you’ll start and there will be a lot of troubles that will come your way. Then you have to think that what is that one thing which will motivate you to overcome all of those problems and continue moving forward is what defines success for me. For instance, for us, business is growing and numbers are happening but what keeps us awake at night is the quality of the product, the consumer feedback, and the difference that we are able to make in society. With Mamaearth, we have taken this initiative called plant goodness, where every order that is placed on our website, we link it with a tree that we plant on the behalf of our consumers. With our other brand Aqualogica, we’re providing access to clean drinking water in villages. What keeps us going is the fact that we’re not only doing a business but also creating a difference in the world,” she said.

READ MORE: Mamaearth Eyes Presence in Over 100 cities by End of 2021

Don’t Have a Fear of Shedding Equity

If the company is growing and it needs partners who can help it take that to another level, you’ll eventually shed off some equity. If your equity is getting reduced that doesn’t mean you will not want to onboard good partners. Till the time you’re the founder and it’s your vision that everybody else is supporting you to build and take forward, it’s good enough.

“Whenever I have to take any such decisions, at times you feel you’re losing a certain amount of control, but if it’s right for the company, please take that step. Have as many good people to support you. To date, I don’t regret giving up any stake or equity in that,” Ghazal concluded.

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