Connect with us

Entrepreneurs

Minu Margeret Building Blissclub and Changing the Activewear Game for Women

Published

on

BlissClub-By-Minu-Margeret

In the world of entrepreneurship, success often comes after a journey filled with lessons learned and challenges conquered. Minu Margeret entrepreneurial voyage is a testament to this truth. She’s the founder of Blissclub, an activewear brand for women, and her path to success is marked by resilience, innovation, and a passion for creating impact. Minu Margeret began her corporate career in 2011 as a business analyst at Goldman Sachs. However, her entrepreneurial spirit soon led her to explore side gigs. She sought an idea that could take flight, much like a Frisbee needing the right lift and spin. Her first attempt was “Rent Your Wardrobe,” a startup focused on renting clothes, inspired by the American firm ‘Rent The Runway.’ The concept was logical, catering to young professionals and college students who found buying party clothes expensive. Unfortunately, the venture was aborted at the pilot stage due to operational complexities.

Margeret’s next venture was an automated laundromat for colleges on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The idea was sound, given the demand for such services, but operational challenges proved overwhelming. Despite having a co-founder, investing her savings, and dedicating herself to the business, it faced multiple setbacks and eventually had to be shut down. These early experiences taught Margeret valuable lessons, primarily that both ventures had too much drag and too little lift to take off successfully. Minu Margeret’s pursuit of entrepreneurship was temporarily paused as she explored different roles. She joined Wipro as a senior pricing analyst but soon realized her entrepreneurial itch was far from satisfied. She decided to shift gears and gain a broader understanding of the business world.

After a brief stint at Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), she pursued an MBA at the Indian School of Business (ISB). Post-MBA, she worked at AB InBev and PhonePe, constantly evolving and adding layers to her skillset. However, the entrepreneurial fire within her remained unquenched. After eight years in the corporate world, she decided to take the plunge again, but this time with unwavering commitment. Margeret’s entrepreneurial journey began with two significant challenges. The first was discouragement from some who questioned her decision due to her gender. Margeret firmly rejected the notion that her entrepreneurial aspirations were related to starting a family. She emphasized that her passion for entrepreneurship was her driving force, not her gender.

The second challenge was finding a co-founder. Margeret discovered that locating a co-founder who shared her level of commitment and vision was no easy feat. While she initially sought a co-founder who could relate to her women-first activewear concept, the search proved futile. Undeterred, Margeret decided to go solo and launched Blissclub in 2020. Her vision was to create a brand that addressed the unique needs of women in the activewear space. She drew inspiration from her experience as a national-level Ultimate Frisbee player and her quest for the perfect activewear products.

Blissclub’s journey wasn’t without its share of challenges. When seeking investors, Margeret encountered some who had misconceptions about her business. Some assumed she was simply making leggings and failed to grasp the unique value her brand brought to the market. She emphasized that Blissclub aimed to change the narrative around women’s activewear in India, offering high-quality products that were lacking in the market. Despite these challenges, Blissclub attracted investors who recognized the brand’s potential. The startup raised $20.25 million in funding, with the latest Series A round of $18 million led by Eight Roads Ventures, Elevation Capital, and Stride Ventures. Key individual investors, including Swiggy’s CEO Sriharsha Majety and WhatsApp’s ex-CBO Neeraj Arora, also showed their support.

Blissclub has rapidly grown its user base and revenues, with 75 percent of sales coming from its website. The brand’s revenue soared from ₹36 lakh in FY21 to ₹15 crore in FY22 and ₹49 crore in the first nine months of FY23. Investors have shown strong support for Margeret and her brand, recognizing her deep understanding of the market and customer-centric approach. Chirag Chadha, Vice President at Elevation Capital, praises Margeret’s ability to spot pain points in the market and her customer obsession. He highlights her experience in finance and marketing, as well as her exposure to large businesses at PhonePe and AB InBev, which has allowed her to scale Blissclub with strong fundamentals. While Blissclub’s growth is impressive, challenges remain on the path to becoming a household brand. The brand will need a multi-channel approach, combining online and physical stores, to reach a wider audience. Continuous product innovation and expansion will also be key.

Minu Margeret’s entrepreneurial journey serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that with passion, innovation, and unwavering commitment, even the most significant challenges can be overcome. Blissclub is not only changing the active wear game for women but also challenging stereotypes about women in entrepreneurship. Margeret’s journey is a testament to the power of determination and the pursuit of one’s passion.

BUSINESS

Empowering Women in Dubai’s Real Estate Market: The Vision and Journey of Leedwells Real Estate and Boon Stay

Published

on

In the dynamic and competitive real estate market of Dubai, where male dominance has traditionally been the norm, a new wave of female empowerment is making significant strides. Among the frontrunners of this movement is Leedwells Real Estate, a company established in 2021 with a mission to revolutionize the property market. Recently, in 2024, they expanded their vision with the launch of Boon Stay, a company dedicated to the holiday home concept. Together, these sister companies are committed to fostering a more inclusive and diverse industry.

Leedwells Real Estate: A Clear Vision for Real Estate

Founded in 2021, Leedwells Real Estate has consistently demonstrated excellence in the property market, leveraging over 12 years of industry experience. Led by CEO Aman Kaur and Managing Director Arshe Noor, Leedwells Real Estate has solidified its reputation as a reliable and innovative real estate agency in Dubai. Their dedication to client satisfaction and market expertise ensures that clients receive personalized services tailored to their unique needs.

Championing Women Empowerment

In an industry largely dominated by male professionals, Leedwells Real Estate stands out for its commitment to empowering women. Aman Kaur and Arshe Noor recognize the success and contributions of numerous female professionals in the real estate sector. By promoting diversity and inclusion, they aim to pave the way for more women to achieve remarkable milestones in their careers.

Expanding Horizons: Boon Stay

Building on the success of Leedwells Real Estate, Aman Kaur and Arshe Noor launched Boon Stay in 2024 to address the growing demand for holiday homes in Dubai. Recognizing the city as a global travel hub, Boon Stay offers a comprehensive platform where travelers can find luxurious accommodations and curated experiences. The company’s approach mirrors popular services like Airbnb, but with a distinctive focus on luxury and personalized service.

Boon Stay’s unique business model not only caters to holidaymakers but also serves investors looking to capitalize on Dubai’s lucrative real estate market. The company offers comprehensive investment opportunities, enabling clients to generate substantial revenue through strategic property investments. This dual approach of catering to both travelers and investors sets Boon Stay apart in the competitive landscape.

A Holistic Experience

For visitors to Dubai, Boon Stay promises a seamless and luxurious experience. From arranging premium accommodations to organizing bespoke luxury trips, the company ensures that every aspect of the client’s stay is meticulously handled. This all-encompassing service guarantees a memorable and stress-free holiday, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the vibrant culture and opulence of Dubai.

Future Prospects

As Leedwells Real Estate and Boon Stay continue to expand, their vision remains clear: to create a more diverse, inclusive, and successful real estate market in Dubai. By empowering women and providing unparalleled services to both travelers and investors, these companies are set to redefine industry standards and contribute to Dubai’s reputation as a premier destination for real estate and luxury living.

In conclusion, Leedwells Real Estate and Boon Stay exemplify the transformative power of diversity and innovation in Dubai’s real estate market. Through the unwavering commitment of Aman Kaur and Arshe Noor to excellence and empowerment, they are not only achieving remarkable growth but also inspiring a new generation of female leaders in the industry.

Continue Reading

Entrepreneurs

The WittyFeed Triumph: Vinay Singhal, Parveen Singhal, and Shashank Vaishnav’s Journey to Content Dominance

Published

on

Vinay Singhal, Parveen Singhal, and Shashank Vaishnav have created a stunning success story with WittyFeed in the digital world, where content is king. Rising from the ashes of failed businesses, these computer experts changed course and built the second-largest content platform globally, only surpassed by BuzzFeed. This piece explores the story of these visionary founders and how WittyFeed rose to prominence in the content industry.

In 2013, faced with the setbacks of two unsuccessful ventures, Vinay, Parveen, and Shashank decided to stay the course. Ditching Evrystry.com and FollowMe247, they envisioned a content platform that catered to the needs of content creators, distributors, and consumers. This vision materialized in September 2014 with the launch of WittyFeed—a platform that rapidly ascended the ranks to become the third-most visited website in the Indian entertainment category.

For Vinay Singhal, WittyFeed is not just a content platform; it’s a technology play. Leveraging robust technology and analytics, WittyFeed ensures its content goes viral by intricately guiding content selection, creation, distribution, and monetization. Real-time data analysis and insights into user behavior empower thousands of influencers to disseminate content, making WittyFeed a formidable player in the global content arena.

WittyFeed’s strategic foresight extends to its strong network of influencers, positioning the platform years ahead of its competitors. Recognizing influencers as the distributors in the digital world, WittyFeed created Viral9.com—an influencer platform with around 15,000 influencers. These influencers, with millions of followers, redirect traffic to WittyFeed, creating a symbiotic relationship that propels the platform’s reach.

WittyFeed’s impact transcends borders, with a presence in Spain, the US, and the UK, while rapidly gaining traction in India. The platform boasts over 100 million sessions and 60 million unique visitors monthly, generating revenues of ₹30 crore in FY17. Programmatic advertising forms a significant revenue stream, complemented by sponsored content collaborations with around 70 brands, including Uber, Coca-Cola, and Zee Studios. By endearing itself to brands, WittyFeed aims to derive 40 percent of its revenues from brand partnerships.

While WittyFeed has thrived, the platform remains vigilant about potential challenges, especially as Facebook’s algorithms evolve. Vinay emphasizes the importance of steering clear of click-bait and focusing on quality content to maintain a symbiotic relationship with Facebook. Future strategies include the integration of video content, fostering collaborations with mobile apps, and seeking a series A funding round for expansion.

The success of WittyFeed lies in the synergy of its founders—Parveen Singhal, Vinay Singhal, and Shashank Vaishnav. Parveen, the Chief Content Officer, envisions video content as the next growth frontier. Vinay, with a knack for building solutions, steers the technology-driven aspects, while Shashank, the Chief Technology Officer, brings real-time data analytics to the forefront.

As WittyFeed charts a course toward greater heights, its founders remain attuned to the evolving nature of digital consumption. Vinay Singhal encapsulates the essence of their journey, emphasizing the imperative of staying at the forefront of change. The triumvirate’s journey from the brink of failure to commanding one of the world’s largest content platforms is not just a success story; it’s a testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of strategic vision. In an ever-evolving digital landscape, WittyFeed and its founders stand poised for continued impact and influence.

Continue Reading

Entrepreneurs

Rahul Narang and Saurabh Arora: Architects of Healthcare Transformation at Lybrate

Published

on

Rahul Narang and Saurabh Arora‘s combined genius is evident in the rapidly changing field of healthcare innovation as they lead Lybrate, a ground-breaking online platform for medical consultations. The story takes place against the backdrop of Saurabh Arora, who attended Columbia Business School and IIT Delhi before purposefully changing his course. 2014 saw Arora leave his position as a data scientist at Facebook in Silicon Valley in order to pursue his homegrown business goals. This crucial choice launched Lybrate in 2015, a platform that has the potential to completely transform patient-doctor relations.

Arora’s vision for Lybrate germinated during a visit to India, where he keenly observed the challenges posed by self-medication in rural areas and the inconveniences faced by urban denizens. Fueled by a determination to bridge these gaps, Arora enlisted the expertise of his former colleague and friend, Rahul Narang, who assumed the role of co-founder and chief technology officer at Lybrate.

The platform, operating as an online out-patient department (OPD), strategically deploys technology to enhance the accessibility of quality healthcare across India. Arora’s mission was to seamlessly connect patients and doctors, transcending geographical constraints. In less than three years, Lybrate has garnered over 1 lakh registered doctors, facilitating upwards of 6 million interactions monthly. These interactions span doctor searches, health queries, and appointments for consultations and lab tests.

The triumph of Lybrate can be attributed to its innovative approach and meticulous planning. Arora underscores the critical importance of aligning the product with the workflow of doctors, fostering positive word-of-mouth recommendations. The nascent stages involved securing funding, with Gokul Rajaram, a luminary in developing Google’s AdSense network, playing a pivotal role. Lybrate secured a seed round of $1.23 million from Nexus Venture Partners, Rajaram, and independent investor Vispi Daver in August 2014. A subsequent funding round in July 2015 saw a commitment of $10.2 million from Tiger Global, Nexus Venture Partners, and Ratan Tata, propelling Lybrate’s mission to new heights.

The healthcare landscape in India presents a formidable challenge, marked by a concerning doctor-patient ratio of 1:1,700, as highlighted by a joint report from KPMG and Ficci. What sets Lybrate apart is its unwavering focus on alleviating the doctor shortage. The platform’s workflow begins with anonymous health-related queries from patients, evolving into online or offline consultations as comfort levels with the doctors on the platform grow.

Lybrate’s distinctive patient engagement model places the patient at the center, offering access to a comprehensive spectrum of healthcare services. This strategic differentiator positions Lybrate favorably against Practo, its major competitor, which primarily functions as a doctor discovery platform. While Practo concentrates on appointment scheduling, Lybrate is committed to transforming the patient-doctor interaction and propelling it into the digital realm.

Despite the myriad challenges, Lybrate has achieved a commendable turnover of over ₹22.45 crore in FY15-16, with aspirations to reach ₹25 crore in the current fiscal year. The platform boasts various revenue streams, including ‘Lybrate Consult,’ allowing users to consult preferred doctors for a fee. ‘Lybrate Lab+’ and ‘Lybrate Cube’ contribute significantly to the company’s revenue by facilitating lab tests and providing tools for doctors to enhance their online presence.

As the health tech industry witnesses an influx of competitors, Lybrate’s early entry into the fray positions it as a frontrunner. However, challenges persist, and success in this dynamic landscape hinges on delivering a substantial value proposition for both patients and doctors. The journey of Rahul Narang and Saurabh Arora with Lybrate symbolizes a commitment to quality and innovation, marking the advent of a new era in online healthcare solutions.

Continue Reading

Trending