Written by At 19, Riya Sharma, a second-year B.Com. student in a government college in Lucknow, didn’t just dream of good grades, she dreamed of creating her own cosmetic brand. Ever since she was little, she loved mixing natural ingredients at home and trying out DIY skincare routines on friends and cousins. What began as a hobby turned into a passion when she realized how unsafe and unaffordable many market products were for girls like her.
But ambition doesn’t always come with access.
Her father worked as a security guard and her mother stitched blouses to help make ends meet. Starting a brand felt like a distant fantasy, she had the ideas, but no exposure, no mentors, no market understanding.
That’s when Riya discovered LEAP through a LinkedIn post shared by one of her seniors.
She joined out of curiosity. Within days, she was invited to an orientation and got connected with LEAP’s “Youth Business Bootcamp” – a free 8-week virtual program for aspiring young founders. There, she learned the basics of branding, digital marketing, and startup finance. But more importantly, she found her tribe.
Through LEAP, Riya was mentored by Natasha Mehra, an independent beauty consultant based in Mumbai. Natasha helped Riya understand market gaps, the power of clean beauty trends, and how to build a brand identity on a tight budget. Together, they worked on Riya’s vision, an all-natural, eco-friendly skincare line called “Mittika”, inspired by traditional Indian skincare rituals.
LEAP also helped Riya connect with design students who volunteered to create her logo and packaging concepts. A Delhi-based startup founder offered her access to a small lab space for early-stage product testing. Another mentor introduced her to grant opportunities and won a ₹50,000 seed grant under a women-led innovation scheme.
By the end of her second year, Riya had soft-launched Mittika on Instagram and WhatsApp, selling handmade rosewater, ubtan powders, and lip balms in sustainable packaging. She handled everything from procurement to packaging to delivery — while still balancing college.
Today, Mittika is a growing micro-brand with 400+ loyal customers, glowing reviews, and a waiting list for her upcoming neem-based face wash. Riya is preparing for a pre-incubator program now.
Riya often says:
“I didn’t just start a business. I found my voice. LEAP turned my notebook ideas into something real.”