When it comes to skincare for children and teenagers, the market has long been underserved. Enter Tikitoro, a Chennai-based startup founded by Prasanna Vasanadu, which is redefining skincare for young skin. With a strong focus on safe, high-quality, and pediatrician-approved products, Tikitoro is bridging a critical gap, offering specialized skincare and haircare solutions tailored to growing children and teens.
Tikitoro’s journey began in December 2021, but its roots trace back to a deeply personal experience. Prasanna, a full-time homemaker for 14 years, underwent infertility treatment to have her son, an experience that heightened her awareness of hormonal health and toxin exposure. Determined to protect her child from similar challenges, she poured her passion into developing clean and effective personal care products designed specifically for young skin. Her expertise is backed by an engineering degree, an MBA in marketing from Symbiosis Pune, and certification as a parent educator, making her uniquely equipped to create formulations that cater to children’s delicate skin while addressing common concerns faced by teenagers.
Tikitoro’s products are divided into two categories—Tikitoro Kids (Ages 4–10), which offers gentle and nurturing skincare, and Tikitoro Teens (Ages 11–16), designed to tackle concerns like acne, oily skin, and dryness without harmful chemicals. With a product lineup of 20 SKUs, including shampoos, face washes, and moisturizers, the brand has quickly gained traction in the market. Despite currently being 20% EBITDA negative, Prasanna is confident that Tikitoro will become profitable by next year. So far, the company has been entirely self-funded, with Prasanna investing ₹14 crore of her personal savings, holding an inventory worth ₹6 crore, and planning to inject another ₹5–6 crore as needed.
When Tikitoro made its appearance on Shark Tank India, Prasanna pitched for ₹25 lakh in exchange for 0.5% equity, valuing her company at ₹50 crore. While her vision and dedication impressed the sharks, some had reservations. Peyush Bansal, Kunal Shah, and Anupam Mittal opted out, citing concerns over the brand’s financials. Vinita Singh initially misstated her offer, saying ₹25 crore for 3% equity, but quickly corrected it to ₹25 lakh for 3% equity. Meanwhile, Namita Thapar made a structured offer of ₹25 lakh for 1% equity, along with a 5% royalty until the company reaches profitability.
After careful consideration, Prasanna accepted Namita’s offer, valuing her expertise in the healthcare industry. Her journey is a testament to how passion, resilience, and a deep personal connection to a cause can drive innovation. With the right mentorship and financial backing, Tikitoro is well on its way to becoming a leading name in children’s and teen skincare, setting new standards in the industry and offering parents a trustworthy, science-backed alternative for their kids’ skincare needs.
