Success Editor Team
Richa Kar, the trailblazing founder of Zivame, is once again redefining the entrepreneurial landscape in India. After revolutionizing the intimate wear market by breaking taboos and building one of India’s most successful direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, she is now focused on mentoring the next generation of women-led startups. In 2025, Richa is using her vast experience to promote inclusive design and scalable D2C strategies, particularly for women entrepreneurs building purpose-driven brands.
With Zivame, Richa Kar didn’t just build a business — she sparked a movement. She changed how Indian women discover, shop, and talk about intimate wear. Her customer-first approach, combined with data-backed product innovation and digital distribution, set the standard for D2C brands in India. Today, she brings the same disruptive thinking to her role as a startup advisor and mentor, focusing on body-positive entrepreneurship.
Championing Inclusive Design for Women-Led Brands
In 2025, Richa Kar is emphasizing inclusive design — a product and brand development approach that considers the diverse body types, needs, and identities of consumers, especially women. Drawing from her Zivame journey, she understands that inclusivity is not a trend but a business imperative. Through workshops, accelerator programs, and one-on-one coaching, she guides founders to design products that reflect real-world diversity and promote self-confidence among users.
Richa believes that when women build for women, the results are more empathetic, effective, and empowering. Her mentorship encourages founders to move beyond one-size-fits-all models, challenging them to develop offerings that celebrate body diversity, skin tones, lifestyles, and accessibility needs.
D2C Scaling Strategies for the New Age
Alongside inclusive design, Richa Kar is helping early-stage startups scale their D2C (direct-to-consumer) operations. She provides insights on everything from supply chain optimization and digital marketing to customer retention and brand storytelling. Her experience in building Zivame from a digital-first brand into a nationwide name gives her a unique vantage point. She often highlights the importance of community engagement, content commerce, and omnichannel strategy as key drivers of sustainable D2C growth in 2025.
Her current advisory portfolio includes multiple women-led startups in sectors like wellness, fashion, and personal care. By fostering a supportive ecosystem and sharing playbooks for scaling ethically and effectively, Richa is helping women founders compete on a level playing field.
Building a Body-Positive Business Ecosystem
Richa’s current mission goes beyond just profit and performance. She’s a vocal advocate for body positivity in business, urging brands to embrace authenticity and representation in their messaging. Whether it’s through inclusive product ranges or mindful marketing, she emphasizes that businesses today must prioritize mental well-being, customer trust, and social impact.
As a visionary leader and mentor in 2025, Richa Kar is empowering a new wave of female entrepreneurs to build brands that are not only successful but also inclusive, resilient, and transformative. Her legacy, once defined by Zivame, is now expanding through every founder she mentors and every inclusive brand she helps shape.
