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Hi readers,
The idea of women entrepreneurs never struck me as unusual because my mother always led dinner table conversations around business and finance.
Being a serial entrepreneur herself, she has always been brimming with fresh ideas and compelling insights into running a successful business.
However, as I grew up, I realized that female founders weren’t as commonplace as I thought – there really aren’t all that many women-led companies in India.
The West faced a similar issue for a long time, but women like Coco Chanel, Estee Lauder, and Oprah Winfrey have broken through the glass ceiling to set up industry-leading firms and household names.
India has lagged behind in this respect, but the tide is definitely turning. At the peak of her career as an investment banker, Falguni Nayar ditched the security of a well-paying job to found her own business – and it’s set to be worth US$7.1 billion soon.
She’s done a spectacular job of giving Nykaa a bit of a glow up before taking the beauty startup public. The numbers speak for themselves: The IPO has opened to much fanfare in the country, and the company now faces the challenge of keeping its shareholders happy. If you’re into beauty and skincare, treat yourself to an afternoon spa and join us as we take a look under the hood at Nykaa.
— Deepti Sri, journalist at Tech in Asia
Top stories this week
Image credit: Timmy Loen
1️. 8 shades of Nykaa’s pre-IPO presentation
The beauty retail major – the first profitable Indian unicorn to go public – gives a glimpse into its earnings and its plans for the future.
2. Ruangguru becomes profitable, revenue grows by 4x
The valuation of Indonesia’s largest edtech startup has exceeded US$800 million, according to a source.
3. The leading Asian tech players eyeing an IPO in 2021 (Updated)
There are over 71 tech startups across the region planning an IPO, and 29 of them could collectively raise over US$19.5 billion.
4. Trial by fire awaits Zerodha, India’s hottest stockbroking app
Zerodha has gained from booming markets and a surge in new investors. But while its CEO is bullish about the future, he fears that a bubble may pop soon.
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