Fixderma Co-founder Shaily Mehrotra Joins Shark Tank India Season 5, Shares Entrepreneurial Journey

Shaily Mehrotra, co-founder of Fixderma and FCL, has joined Shark Tank India Season 5 as one of the new shark investors on the popular entrepreneurship show. The entrepreneur, who leads a company valued at ₹1,500.00 crore, recently shared insights about her journey from Varanasi to building a major skincare brand.

Early Journey and Mindset Shift

Mehrotra's entrepreneurial path began in Varanasi, where she developed her foundational values before moving to Southeast Asia at age 24. The transition proved transformative for her business perspective. "Varanasi gave me my foundation. It's a city where life moves at its own pace, and you learn patience very early," Mehrotra explained. The move to Southeast Asia and her Stanford education expanded her vision significantly, teaching her that ambitious dreams could be pursued openly and confidently.

Building Fixderma Through Bootstrapping

Fixderma's growth story reflects a commitment to quality over quick profits. The company remained bootstrapped for several years until 2020, receiving funding from Lotus Herbals in 2021. During the bootstrapped phase, Mehrotra faced challenging decisions regarding product quality and sourcing.

"There were many moments when choosing the harder path felt almost irrational," Mehrotra recalled. "Competitors were launching cheaper, faster versions, and here we were obsessing over every active ingredient."

Building Trust with Dermatologists

Without a legacy business background, Mehrotra developed relationships with dermatologists through direct engagement and transparency. Her approach involved visiting clinics across cities, focusing on understanding skin concerns rather than traditional sales tactics. "I didn't talk as a salesperson; I spoke as someone genuinely trying to understand real skin concerns," she noted.

The strategy proved effective through consistent feedback incorporation and honest communication about product readiness. "If something wasn't ready, I said so openly," Mehrotra explained, emphasizing that trust develops through honest conversations over time.

Investment Philosophy on Shark Tank India

As a new shark investor, Mehrotra focuses on specific founder characteristics when evaluating potential investments. Her investment criteria emphasize authenticity and long-term vision over short-term metrics.

"You can immediately sense when someone has lived the problem they're solving. It shows in their eyes, not in their pitch deck," Mehrotra observed.

Entrepreneurship Realities for Women

Mehrotra addresses the gap between social media portrayals and entrepreneurship realities, particularly for women entrepreneurs. She highlights the challenges often hidden from public view, including isolation, resource constraints, and balancing multiple responsibilities.

"Social media shows the highlight reel, never the waiting period," she stated. "Being self-made is lonely. There were stretches when I felt I didn't belong anywhere, too ambitious for comfort, but too under-resourced for the world to take seriously."

Her message to young women entrepreneurs emphasizes consistency over perfection: "You don't have to be perfect or fearless. You just have to be consistent and kind to yourself while doing it."