Hyderabad: Women entrepreneurs should focus on building businesses that are sustainable, scalable and capable of creating long-term value, Mamaearth Founder Ghazal Alagh said while addressing an interactive session titled “From Idea to IPO – Building Beyond Boundaries”, organised by the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) Hyderabad Chapter at Hotel Daspalla on Tuesday.
The session, moderated by corporate leader Dr. Suman Rangabhashyam, brought together FLO Hyderabad members, entrepreneurs and business professionals to discuss entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership.
Ghazal Alagh shares Mamaearth journey at FLO Hyderabad
Recalling the inspiration behind Mamaearth, Ghazal Alagh said motherhood sparked the idea for the company.
“When you buy a washing machine, it comes with an instruction manual. But when you become a parent, no one hands you a manual,” she said.
She recalled managing customer calls while holding her infant in her arms during the company’s early days.
“That is how our journey began. Today, that small idea has grown into one of India’s leading beauty and personal care companies, employing thousands of people,” she said.
Sharing her entrepreneurial journey, Alagh said neither she nor her co-founder had any prior experience in the FMCG sector.
“Everything was built from the ground up. What started as an idea has grown into a company with revenues running into thousands of crores. It has been a challenging but rewarding journey,” she said.
Speaking about the key to Mamaearth’s growth, she stressed the importance of identifying the right market opportunity.
“My biggest success was choosing a category with limited competition. A successful business is not just about creating a good product. It is about solving a genuine consumer problem and executing consistently,” she said.
Alagh also advised entrepreneurs to raise funds only when necessary.
“Raise capital only when your business truly needs it. Investors look beyond ideas. They want evidence that a business can scale sustainably,” she said.
Explaining her approach as an investor, she said she evaluates startups based on the attractiveness of the category, the strength of the business model, financial performance and the credibility of the founders.
Responding to a question about gender bias in fundraising, Alagh said the startup ecosystem has become more inclusive.
“Things are changing. More women are building meaningful businesses today, and such uncomfortable questions have reduced considerably. Listen to advice, but ultimately trust your instincts,” she said.
Speaking about her experience as a judge on Shark Tank India, Alagh remarked that serving on a company’s board is often more challenging than evaluating startups on television.
“Handling a company’s board can be much tougher than presenting a business idea to sharks. Compared to that, handling the Sharks was much easier,” she said, drawing laughter from the audience.
Welcoming the gathering, FLO Hyderabad Chairperson Seetha Reddy described entrepreneurship as a journey driven by resilience, innovation and continuous learning.
She said India is witnessing one of its most dynamic phases of economic growth, with entrepreneurs increasingly solving real-world problems through innovation.
Highlighting National Handloom Day, Seetha Reddy said preserving India’s handloom heritage is essential for sustaining artisan livelihoods and promoting traditional craftsmanship.
“Our handlooms represent generations of skill and culture. Through the Handloom Pavilion, we hope to encourage greater appreciation and adoption of handloom products,” she said.
She also announced a major milestone for FLO Hyderabad, stating that the Telangana government has allotted 1,000 square yards of land near Shilparamam for the chapter’s office and one acre at Bharat Future Park, following discussions with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy during the organisation’s Silver Jubilee celebrations.
The event concluded with a Handloom Pavilion showcasing the richness, diversity and contemporary appeal of Indian handloom textiles as part of FLO Hyderabad’s National Handloom Day celebrations.
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