At 26, she started her business. In its first year, it made Rs 3 crore

Starting a business is rarely about finding the perfect time. For Shivangi Sharma, the decision came at a deeply transformative stage of her life. She was three months pregnant when she began seriously thinking about building something of her own.

Two years later, the 28-year-old is the founder of Winq Cosmetics, an Indian beauty brand that reached Rs 3 crore in net sales in its first year.

Her entrepreneurial journey began with something she already understood and loved: beauty and makeup. But turning that interest into a business required more than passion. Shivangi spent time researching the Indian beauty market, understanding consumer preferences and looking at where quality beauty products were still difficult to access.

THE IDEA BEGAN WITH HER LOVE FOR BEAUTY

Shivangi had always been passionate about beauty and makeup. It was during this phase of her life that she began thinking seriously about starting something of her own.

Shivangi Sharma, founder of Winq Cosmetics, during a brand shoot when she was 5 months pregnant.

Rather than rushing into the market, she began exploring the beauty industry more closely. She researched products, consumer preferences, and the availability of quality beauty products across different parts of India.

Her exposure to international beauty brands has also shaped her understanding of formulations, textures and the overall product experience.

SHE WANTED TO BRIDGE THE GAP

The inspiration behind her brand was to bridge the gap between aspirational beauty and accessibility.

Shivangi noticed that many Indian consumers aspired to use international beauty products but often found them too expensive or inaccessible.

Winq Cosmetics is centred on bridging the gap between aspirational beauty and accessibility.

HER RESEARCH TOOK HER BEYOND THE BIG METROS

One of the biggest insights from her research came from looking beyond India’s metropolitan markets.

Shivangi identified an opportunity among consumers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Consumers in these markets were increasingly looking for beauty products that felt modern and aspirational while also offering good formulations and quality at prices within reach.

For Shivangi, this was not simply about creating another beauty brand. It was about understanding a consumer who wanted access to the same kind of beauty experience but had fewer affordable options.

HER ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY STARTED BEFORE BEAUTY

Beauty was not Shivangi’s first experience with entrepreneurship. Before founding Winq Cosmetics, she hosted a podcast called Tea with Shi and helped her mother with her clothing brand, Ramajik.

Those experiences gave her an early understanding of audiences, consumer behaviour, and what it takes to build a connection with people.

When she eventually entered the beauty industry, she brought more than just an interest in makeup. She also brought experiences that had helped her understand the business side of connecting with consumers.

BUILDING A BUSINESS WHILE ENTERING A NEW PHASE OF LIFE

Starting a business is challenging at any age. For Shivangi, the decision came while she was preparing to enter another major phase of her life.

Shivangi Sharma with her child. She began exploring her business idea during her pregnancy.

Being pregnant when the idea began could easily have become a reason to wait. Instead, it became the period when she started researching, questioning, and exploring the possibility of entrepreneurship more seriously.

The journey from an initial idea to an operating business was not built around waiting for the perfect circumstances. It began with identifying something she was passionate about and then trying to understand whether there was a genuine consumer need around it.

A FIRST-YEAR MILESTONE OF RS 3 CRORE

Winq Cosmetics reached Rs 3 crore in net sales in its first year, marking a significant early milestone for the young beauty brand.

Winq Cosmetics reached Rs 3 crore in net sales in its first year, marking a significant early milestone for the young beauty brand.

For Shivangi, the figure also reflects the demand she identified while researching the market and the opportunity she saw among consumers looking for accessible beauty products.

A VISION THAT GOES BEYOND THE BIG CITIES

Shivangi’s vision for Winq Cosmetics is centred on bridging the gap between aspirational beauty and accessibility.

The focus is on creating quality beauty products at accessible price points while keeping Indian consumers and diverse Indian skin tones in mind.

The ambition also extends beyond metropolitan audiences, with Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities forming an important part of the vision.

For Shivangi, the opportunity lies in reaching consumers who want modern, high-quality beauty products but may not always have affordable options available to them.

Shivangi’s story is ultimately not just about starting a beauty business.

It is about recognising an idea, researching whether it solves a real problem and having the confidence to begin even during a period of major personal change.

Her journey shows how entrepreneurship can emerge from everyday consumer experiences. Sometimes, the starting point is simply noticing what is missing and asking whether you can build something to fill that gap.

– Ends

Published By:

Chaitanya Dhawan

Published On:

Sep 7, 2026 17:56 IST