Skip to main content
C
CorpDigest
Search

Nykaa

Beauty & Personal Care (BPC)Founded 2012
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Founders

Who Founded Nykaa?

Falguni Nayar · Founded 2012 · HQ today: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Who founded Nykaa?

Nykaa was founded by Falguni Nayar in 2012. It is now led by Falguni Nayar.

Founders
Falguni Nayar
Founded
2012
Headquarters
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Number of founders
1
Current CEO
Falguni Nayar (since 2012)
Where was Nykaa founded?
Nykaa was founded in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India in 2012.
When was Nykaa founded?
Nykaa was founded in 2012.
Who started Nykaa?
Nykaa was founded by Falguni Nayar.
How old is Nykaa?
Nykaa is 14 years old as of 2026.

Founding Story

Nykaa was founded in 2012 by Falguni Nayar. After spending 20 years as a highly successful investment banker at Kotak Mahindra (eventually becoming Managing Director), she quit at age 50 to become an entrepreneur. She noticed a massive discrepancy: while the US had Sephora and Ulta, Indian women had absolutely nowhere to buy authentic, premium beauty products online (the market was flooded with fake cosmetics in local mom-and-pop stores). She entirely self-funded Nykaa's launch, building an inventory-led model to guarantee absolute authenticity, completely revolutionizing the Indian beauty industry.

Falguni Nayar

Co-founder 2012

Background

IIM Ahmedabad graduate who spent about 19 years at Kotak Mahindra, ending as Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Capital, before founding Nykaa.

Role at Nykaa

Falguni Nayar (born 1963, Mumbai) founded Nykaa in 2012 after a career in investment banking at Kotak Mahindra. She led the company through its 2021 IPO and remains Executive Chairperson, Managing Director and CEO. Under her, Nykaa reached ~$1.16 billion (₹10,022 crore) revenue in FY2026.

Falguni Sanjay Nayar was born on February 19, 1963. The company's formal name, FSN E-Commerce Ventures, is an acronym of her own name. Falguni Nayar was born in 1963.

Nykaa: CEO & Leadership History

Full timeline →

Anchit Nayar

Executive Director & CEO, Nykaa Beauty

2021 – Present

As CEO of the Beauty E-Commerce division, the founder's son manages the absolute core profit engine of the company, securing exclusive Indian rights for massive global brands like Charlotte Tilbury and Huda Beauty.

Adwaita Nayar

Co-Founder, Executive Director & CEO, Nykaa Fashion

2021 – Present

As CEO of Nykaa Fashion, the founder's daughter manages the company's highest-risk growth initiative, attempting to replicate the beauty platform's massive success in the notoriously difficult clothing sector.

Falguni Nayar

Founder, Executive Chairperson & Chief Executive Officer

2012 – Present

Built Nykaa into India's largest specialist beauty retailer, with revenue above $1 billion in FY2026.

Keep researching Nykaa

Who Founded Nykaa? FAQ

Who founded Nykaa?

Falguni Nayar, a former Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Capital, founded Nykaa in April 2012 in Mumbai.

What is Falguni Nayar's background?

She studied at Sydenham College and IIM Ahmedabad, worked at A.F. Ferguson & Co., then spent about 19 years at Kotak Mahindra before founding Nykaa.

Is Sanjay Nayar involved in Nykaa?

Sanjay Nayar, Falguni's husband and the former head of KKR in India, is part of Nykaa's promoter group.

Who founded Nykaa and where was it created?

Nykaa was founded in April 2012 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, by Falguni Nayar. Operating initially out of a small office in Mumbai, Nayar funded the company with family capital before taking on angel and private equity investors.

What role did Sanjay Nayar play in the founding of Nykaa?

Sanjay Nayar, Falguni Nayar's husband and former head of KKR India, provided strategic mentorship and early family capital backing. While he held leadership roles at global private equity firms, he later joined the Nykaa board as a non-executive director.

What early operational hurdles did Falguni Nayar overcome in 2012 and 2013?

In its first two years, Nykaa faced severe skepticism from international beauty brands that doubted Indian consumers would purchase cosmetics online without trying them in stores. Nayar personally pitched brand CEOs, promising immaculate brand presentation and strict counterfeit protection.

How much equity does the Nayar promoter family retain in Nykaa?

The Nayar family retains one of the highest promoter stakes among newly listed Indian consumer tech firms, controlling over 52% of equity, ensuring tight alignment between founder vision and long-term shareholder returns.

What educational background shaped Falguni Nayar's entrepreneurial journey?

Falguni Nayar earned a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from Sydenham College in Mumbai and an MBA from the premier Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, establishing the rigorous analytical foundation for her corporate career.

Related Founder Profiles

Compare founding stories, origins, and entrepreneurial journeys

Competitor

Myntra

View Founder Profiles
Competitor

Amazon

View Founder Profiles
Competitor

Ajio

View Founder Profiles

Explore Nykaa

Core profile pages, founders and related research hubs for this company.

Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.