On Women’s Day, conversations around women entrepreneurs in beauty often centre on ambition. For Kanikka Dewanii, Founder of Mintree, the story is equally about discipline.
When she launched Mintree, her goal was clear: to create a truly luxury, clean, vegan Indian beauty brand that could compete with global giants. Having worked with brands under LVMH and L’Oréal, she understood aspiration and positioning. What she didn’t see was an Indian brand confidently occupying that premium, performance-driven space. “I wanted Mintree to prove that ‘Made in India’ could mean high-performance, sustainable, and globally benchmarked luxury,” she explains.
Over time, her understanding of the market evolved. Clean beauty is no longer niche; it is expected. The real differentiator today lies in delivering visible results while remaining ethical and profitable.
Earning a Seat at the Table
As a woman entrepreneur navigating funding and manufacturing conversations, Dewanii quickly realised that preparation was power. “Confidence must be backed by numbers, clarity, and strong negotiation,” she shares.
Fundraising became one of her toughest lessons. Legal clauses, dilution terms, and investor protections forced her to become financially and legally literate. “Resilience is about protecting the brand’s long-term integrity,” she says.
Her leadership style reflects that clarity. “I remain calm, strategic, and grounded. Thinking long-term rather than chasing aggressive expansion is how I operate.”
Profitability Before Hype
Mintree began as a B2B brand, supplying to top-tier salons. This was a conscious move toward profitability and independence. It is no surprise, then, that her mantra remains simple: build slow, build strong, build profitably.
Personally, her relationship with beauty has shifted as well. “Beauty should enhance confidence, not create insecurity,” she says.
This Women’s Day, her journey reflects a new blueprint for homegrown skincare founders, one where luxury meets responsibility and growth is measured not just in scale, but in strength.
