Ghazal Alagh is the co-founder of MamaEarth, a fast-growing brand that offers natural, toxin-free personal care products for moms and babies. Ghazal was born on September 2, 1988 in Gurgaon, Haryana. In 2010 Ghazal got the Degree in Bachelor’s in Computer Applications from Panjab University. In 2013 she did “Summer Intensive Course” in Modern Art & Design and Applied Arts and Intensive course in figurative art at the New York Academy of Art.
Ghazal is married to Varun Alagh (Co-founder of MamaEarth brand) and has two sons, Agastya Alagh born in 2014 and Ayaan Alagh born in 2022.
MamaEarth’s journey began when Gazal and Varun became parents and discovered a lack of safe, natural, and toxin-free baby products in the Indian market. They discovered that the majority of the products on the market contained harmful chemicals that could harm babies’ delicate skin. This inspired them to launch MamaEarth, a brand that provides safe, natural, and toxin-free products for both babies and adults.
Gazal and Varun began by making homemade baby products in their kitchen in the early days. They then put these products to the test on their own child, and received positive feedback from other parents as well. They decided to launch MamaEarth as a brand after being encouraged by the response.
The company initially faced numerous challenges, including a lack of funds, limited resources, and competition from established brands. Gazal and Varun, on the other hand, concentrated on developing a strong online presence and leveraging social media to reach out to their target audience.
Their efforts were rewarded, and MamaEarth quickly became popular among parents looking for safe and natural baby products. Adult skincare, haircare, and personal care products have also been added to the brand’s product line.
MamaEarth is now one of India’s fastest-growing personal care brands, with a diverse product offering and a strong online presence. In 2021, she became one of the seven judges of reality show “Shark Tank India” in which aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their ideas and business models to investors and persuade them to get investment for their business.
The brand has also received several awards and recognition for its innovative and eco-friendly products – MamaEarth was awarded as the young turks startup of the year at IBLA 2022.
MamaEarth became the first unicorn of 2022 when its parent Honasa Consumer raised $52 Million on 1st January in a round led by Sequoia, at a valuation of $1.2 Billion.
More than 80 “toxin-free, natural products” are available, including bamboo-based baby wipes, face masks, lotions, and hair-care products. Late in 2019, Mamaearth also launched a second brand, Derma Co. Its products have achieved an annual revenue run rate of more than Rs 500 crore, which few new-age consumer brands have achieved.
Ghazal Alagh, fondly known as the “Chief Mama” at Mamaearth, believes that building a successful business is like raising a child. As the founder of Honasa Consumer Ltd, Mamaearth’s parent company, she emphasizes the importance of instilling principles that form the core of the company’s character.
In an interview with moneycontrol, she shared the three values that she and Varun Alagh put in place while building Honasa Consumer Ltd:
1. Embracing Feedback: “Being open to input and constructive criticism from our peers and team”. This approach led to continuous improvement and fresh perspectives.
2. Knowing When to Say “No”: “Strategy is in knowing when to say no and avoiding unnecessary expenditures. It fosters resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and innovation”.
3. Lifelong Learning: “The ideology of always learning and never settling for the ordinary has helped us achieve our long-term goals,”.
Recently, Mamaearth made headlines as it prepares for an IPO, aiming to raise over $300 million to fuel its growth.
Words of Encouragement: Ghazal Alagh’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to take that leap of faith, embrace their passion, and be unafraid of failure. By experimenting, learning from mistakes, and staying true to their principles, entrepreneurs can achieve remarkable success.
Gazal Alagh, the brand’s co-founder and CEO, is dedicated to developing safe and sustainable personal care products that benefit both people and the environment.
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