“One of the Investors Once Asked Me This Brutal Question” Vineeta Singh X Diipa Khosla| SUGARQuoted

Why do Indian beauty brands struggle to scale globally?

In this powerful Season 1 episode of SUGAR Quoted, Vineeta Singh sits down with Diipa Khosla, global creator turned founder of Inde Wild, to unpack what it really takes to build an Indian beauty brand for the world.

From battling acne and self-doubt to becoming a globally recognised creator, and then making the leap to entrepreneurship, Diipa breaks down the realities no one prepares you for. The conversation goes beyond glossy success stories and dives into why most Indian brands fail internationally, the mistakes founders make when chasing scale too early, and the hard trade-offs creators face when they turn entrepreneurs.

Diipa opens up about walking away from lucrative influencer deals, being rejected by investors, fundraising during the pandemic, and why to her, building a brand that outlives its founder matters more than fame. Together, Vineeta and Diipa discuss what Indian consumers want versus global consumers, why education matters more than pricing, and how Ayurveda and science can coexist in modern beauty.

So if you’ve ever dreamed of building a global brand, wondered whether creators really make good founders, or questioned why Indian brands struggle outside India, this episode will change how you see the beauty business.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

•⁠ ⁠How Diipa transitioned from being an influencer to a full-time founder
•⁠ ⁠Why most Indian beauty brands fail to scale globally
•⁠ ⁠The biggest mistakes founders make when expanding too fast
•⁠ ⁠Why fame is temporary, but building value creates freedom
•⁠ ⁠How investor rejection shaped Inde Wild’s strategy
•⁠ ⁠India vs US beauty consumers and what brands get wrong
•⁠ ⁠Why education matters more than price in premium beauty
•⁠ ⁠How Ayurveda and science can work together authentically

From creators to companies, the sugarquoted conversations are getting deeper. Whose story should we decode next on Sugarquoted? Tell us in the comments 💄

CHAPTERS

00:00 Coming up

01:09 Introduction

02:44 Is Diipa always a style icon, and how her fashion sense evolved?

3:24 Why was she bullied in school? A look at her childhood and early years

04:34 Diipa’s struggles with acne, insecurities, and personal stories around skin issues

12:50 How was Diipa’s early influencer journey in 2015?

15:39 Influencers versus entrepreneurs: how Diipa’s creator journey truly began

19:58 Choosing between money and fame and how Diipa prioritize brands as a creator

24:59 Her experience of Cannes and Venice, and what she sometimes misses as a full-time influencer

27:24 Dreams and ambitions behind indē wild and how Diipa shifted focus from personal branding to building, and the brutal questions investors asked

32:39 Dua’s journey and how she is gradually stepping into the influencer space

34:54 How Diipa addresses investor concerns about divorce as a cofounder with her husband

39:47 Early hustles, failures, and real stories from investor interactions

46:12 Vision boards, the indē wild story, and the Unilever Ventures association

50:16 Key differences between American and Indian consumers in the beauty category

57:22The inspiring story behind Chumpy hair oil and how it became popular

58:27 Why rural India is still an untapped opportunity for Inde Wild

01:00:35 Inde Wild’s best-selling products and the right way to do Chumpy hair oiling

01:04:45 Trademarking Ayurvedistry: blending ayurveda with science

01:10:46 Common skincare mistakes Diipa made growing up

01:12:39 The original name indē wild almost had before the final decision

01:15:18 Game segment: ‘would you rather’ and ‘finish the sentence’

01:21:49 What was on her annual vision board that didn’t come to fruition?

01:24:35 What advice does Diipa have for young dreamers seeking inspiration?

01:26:11 Closing thoughts

💬 Join the Conversation

Tell us in the comments ↓
Do you think Indian beauty brands can truly win globally?
Should more creators become founders or stay creators?
We’re reading every comment.

🎧 FOLLOW THE PODCAST
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugarquoted...

#DiipaKhosla #SUGARQuoted #VineetaSingh #IndianBeautyBrands
#CreatorToFounder #GlobalBeauty #BeautyPodcast
#IndianFounders #StartupStories #WomenInBusiness
#InfluencerToEntrepreneur #AyurvedaAndScience
#PremiumBeauty #BeautyIndustryIndia #FounderJourney
#UnfilteredConversations #BuildingGlobalBrands