It is the age of on demand service and entrepreneurs are capitalizing on the internet boom to create a name for them. The story of Richa Singh also falls in the same category. An IIT Kharagpur graduate in aerospace engineering, Richa always had the desire to aim for the stars. After completing her graduation she became a certified financial advisor and went on to complete her MBA from IIM Ahmedabad.
During her career, she took upon several roles across big corporations. However, her true desire was to do something on her own capitalizing on the expertise she gained over the years. She identified the booming trend in the ecommerce sector and planned to launch her own startup called Big Stylist. It makes you live smarter and more beautiful every day by providing reliable and professional beauty services, delivered right at your doorstep.
Please provide a brief overview of your product/ service.
Making getting ready a whole lot easier, BigStylist is an app and web-based beauty and styling services provider, which gives you access to a network of the best beauty professionals in your neighborhood. Customers can place orders and get access to experienced stylists and beauticians on BigStylist through three channels- their website, placing a request through Whatsapp or through their recently launched Android app.
What inspired you to build the above product/ service?
BigStylist was started because of a personal pain point. While at IIT Kharagpur and later while working in different cities, Richa found it difficult to locate affordable and reputed beauty parlors. She did some research at the ground level, and after realizing the magnitude of the pain point conceptualized BigStylist.
What is your life mantra?
Growth! Personal and professional every day. I want to learn and improve every day. Be a better person and professional.
What was the most challenging part of your journey till now?
The most challenge part has been putting together a team which is young and fast and yet experienced enough to pay attention to details. Maintaining the speed of growth with having every brick of development perfectly placed is a challenge we are proud to have mastered.
How did you overcome those challenges?
Lot of experience and high power work backgrounds the founding team brings in helps move heavy blocks rather strategically to create value.
Share some details about the investments that you have been able to fetch for the business till now.
Info Edge: $1 Million in pre-series A. Now in advance stages of series A conversation.
According to you, what are the three qualities an individual must have to achieve success?
Alignment of all energy to the goal, or focus 2. Inspiring people to achieve their best. People build teams and teams succeed. 3. Hard Work.
Share any one habit which you think makes you more productive.
Making a list of work to be done today. Crossing out all items by the end of the day.
Share any one habit which you wish to change in yourself.
Sleep Less
Answer in less than 50 words
One tip to success:
Work Hard
One mistake you believe every individual must avoid:
Complacency
One most important lesson that you have learnt till now:
Being a better human/ person is very important. It reflects in your professional score cards too.
What are your plans for next 3 years?
Grow BigStylist to make it a Global company, and leader in the country.
If you get a chance to start your career again what would you do differently this time?
Will skip some education years.
What are your top three getaway destinations?
Share a quote that inspires you the most.
“If you cannot explain it simply, you do not understand it yourself well enough!”