Ghazal Alagh: Early Life and Education

Ghazal Alagh: Early Life and Education

Raised in Gurgaon in a modest middle-class household, Ghazal Alagh's early life was rooted in traditional Indian values. She completed her initial schooling in Haryana and went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Computer Applications (BCA) from Punjab University. However, her passions were not confined to technology alone.

With a creative spark, she later pursued a Summer Intensive in Modern Art, Design, and Applied Arts at the School of Visual Arts and an Intensive Course in Figurative Art from the New York Academy of Art in 2013.

Her journey shows that the road to success doesn't always pass through elite B-schools—it can start anywhere, as long as it’s fueled by determination.

Ghazal Alagh: Career Before Mamaearth

Ghazal began her professional journey at NIIT as a corporate trainer. Earning ₹1,200 a day, she trained managers and developers from various IT firms. In a reflective post, she shared the joy of using her first paycheck to take her mother shopping.

Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to found Dietexpert, a health and wellness platform, and she also nurtured her love for creativity as an artist at Being Artsy.

But destiny had bigger plans.

How Mamaearth Was Born

The turning point came with the birth of her first child. Struggling to find safe, toxin-free baby care products in India, Ghazal and her husband, Varun Alagh, took matters into their own hands. In 2016, they launched Mamaearth, under the umbrella of Honasa Consumer Pvt Ltd, with an initial investment of ₹25 lakhs and a product line of just seven items.

The brand grew rapidly, becoming the first Asian company to receive the “MADE SAFE” certification and emerging as a pioneer in clean, sustainable, and eco-friendly personal care.

Growth & IPO of Honasa Consumer Ltd

Mamaearth initially thrived in the D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) segment, later expanding into offline retail. Honasa Consumer Ltd went public on October 31, 2023, with shares priced between ₹308–₹324.

But by November 2024, the brand faced market volatility. After hitting ₹541 per share in September 2024, the stock tumbled to ₹227 by November, cutting its valuation by nearly ₹7,500 crore. As of early 2025, the company is valued at ₹7,300 crore—down from unicorn status, yet still a formidable presence.

Ghazal Alagh & The Derma Co.

Among the other ventures under Honasa's umbrella is The Derma Co., a skincare brand focused on results-driven solutions for acne, dark spots, and early signs of aging. Designed for millennials, the brand emphasizes science-backed formulations without gimmicks.

Ghazal’s leadership helped shape The Derma Co., Ayuga, Aqualogica, and investments in Dr. Sheth’s, BBLUNT, and more.

Personal Life: Beyond the Boardroom

Ghazal is married to her business partner, Varun Alagh, and is a mother to two boys. Her commitment to safe products isn't just corporate branding—it's personal. She tests every product herself before it hits the shelves.

She speaks often about work-life balance, entrepreneurship, and mental health. Following what she calls the "85% Rule", she advocates for consistent progress over perfection, and the importance of building without burnout.

Angel Investor Ventures: Ghazal Alagh’s Investment Footprint

Beyond building a billion-rupee brand, Ghazal Alagh has steadily carved her space as a trusted name in India’s startup ecosystem. She has made several early-stage investments across consumer brands, wellness startups, femtech, AI, and community-based platforms.

In March 2025, she invested in UnderNeat, a shapewear brand founded by digital personality Kusha Kapila. This move marked her focus on influencer-led, consumer-first ventures.

Earlier in October 2023, Ghazal backed P-TAL, a brand reviving India’s traditional brass and copperware craftsmanship, through a ₹4.33 crore seed round.

In June 2023, she invested ₹15 crore in Crib, a startup offering wellness and parenting solutions tailored for urban Indian mothers.

December 2022 saw Ghazal participate in the ₹9 crore seed round of Leap.club, a private professional network focused on women’s career growth.

In October 2022, she put ₹30 lakhs into Wishlink, a content-to-commerce fashion discovery platform that helps influencers monetize their looks and product recommendations.

Later that month, she invested ₹10 crore in unScript.ai, an artificial intelligence-powered video production tool that simplifies branded content for D2C marketers.

In September 2022, Ghazal supported FS Life (formerly FableStreet) during its ₹50 crore Series B round, showcasing her confidence in India's premium fashion segment.

Earlier in May 2022, she joined the Series A round of Bliss Club, a fitness wear brand for women, with an investment of ₹1.5 crore.

In January 2022, she backed Humpy Farms, a sustainable dairy and organic farm initiative, with ₹1 crore in angel funding.

Finally, in July 2021, Ghazal made one of her earliest investments in Uvi Health, a femtech startup focused on PCOS and reproductive health, committing ₹2.47 crore during its pre-seed round.

Through each investment, Ghazal Alagh has championed purpose-driven innovation, putting her money—and experience—into ventures that align with health, inclusivity, sustainability, and digital empowerment.

Shark Tank India: The Investor in the Spotlight

Ghazal appeared as a Shark on Shark Tank India Season 1, where she backed several young entrepreneurs with both capital and mentorship. She described her experience as “intense yet invigorating,” highlighting how each pitch required instant decision-making and gut instinct.

Awards and Recognition

Ghazal’s contributions have been widely recognized:

• Forbes Asia 2022: Listed in Power Businesswomen

• Entrepreneur India 2021: Women Entrepreneur of the Year

• Business Today 2022: Most Powerful Women in Business

• BusinessWorld 40 Under 40: Honored for leadership and innovation

Her social media often reflects on the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. As she once wrote:

“Progress is never linear. Even the tiniest improvements, when consistent, can unlock powerful transformations.”

Conclusion

Ghazal Alagh’s journey—from a trainer earning ₹1,200 a day to co-founding a ₹9,800 crore empire—is more than just a success story. It’s a tribute to the power of purpose-led entrepreneurship.

In every bottle of Mamaearth, there’s a mother’s promise. In every milestone she reaches, there’s proof that business and empathy can go hand in hand.

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FAQs

Who is Ghazal Alagh?
She is the Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Honasa Consumer Ltd., known for Mamaearth.

When was Mamaearth founded?
It was launched in 2016 by Ghazal and Varun Alagh.

What is Ghazal Alagh’s age?
She was born on 2 September 1988. As of 2025, she is 36 years old.

Who are her children?
Ghazal has two sons, Agastya and Ayaan.

What is her educational background?
She holds a BCA from Punjab University and has studied art and design in New York.

When was Mamaearth’s IPO?
Honasa Consumer Ltd launched its IPO on October 31, 2023.

Which media covers Ghazal Alagh’s story?
All insights in this feature are curated exclusively for IndyaStory magazine.