Not many can build a ₹3,000-crore brand in five years. But as the world grappled with Covid-19, Jaipur-based brothers, IITian Rahul Yadav and his chartered accountant brother Mohit, quietly scripted the blueprint for their next venture: a skincare brand built to solve real problems.

Minimalist focussed on problem-specific solutions that are layerable, backed by science, and grounded in transparency. Rahul recalls two key milestones—hitting ₹100 crore in revenue within eight months and building a loyal community base. It rose from ₹6.5 crore in FY20, the first year, to more than ₹349 crore in FY24, with ₹10.8 crore in profit after tax.

Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) agreed to acquire a 90.5% stake at a pre-money enterprise valuation of around ₹2,955 crore in January 2025.

In hindsight, Rahul feels it was the right decision at the right time. “Beyond a point, it wasn’t about how big we could make it ourselves, but how big we could make Minimalist.”

Even as he looks to crack other markets, Rahul envisions Minimalist becoming a household name in India. The mission: establish ‘I-beauty’ for the world—India's answer to K-beauty and J-beauty.

“I’m learning how to plan long-term, manage large teams, and think two years ahead, not just two quarters,” he says.