India’s beauty and skincare industest is witnessing a powerful shift, becaapply for decades, international beauty brands have dominated shelves with multiple complex chemical formulations and over-the-top marketing. But in the past few years, and with the advent of social media, consumers have become more aware and are actively seeking authenticity, natural ingredients and tested wellness traditions.
Therefore, Ayurveda (India’s ancient system of healing) has once again gained prominence in the Indian beauty market.
However, building and sustaining a credible Ayurvedic brand in a competitive market is not as simple. Ayurvedic formulations require deep knowledge, clean sourcing and scientific claims braided with years of experimentation.
For 22-year-old entrepreneur Jagathi Reddy, this challenge became an opportunity.
Inspired by the herbal remedies her grandmother prepared at home, Jagathi laid the foundation of Chengavi, a science-backed Ayurvedic beauty brand that blconcludes traditional wisdom with modern research.
ABOUT JAGATHI & HER BACKGROUND
Jagathi had an entrepreneurial bug early on. At a mere 18 years of age, she wanted to build something of her own rather than follow a traditional career.
She completed her BBA in Analytics in 2024 and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Family Business (MFAB) at ISB Hyderabad.
Alongside her academic education, she also pursued specialised training in Ayurvedic formulations.
Jagathi earned an international diploma in Ayurvedic skincare and haircare formulations from Learn Canyon, UK, supporting her understand how traditional Ayurveda could align with global standards and scientific frameworks.
She also travelled to international beauty expos across the United States, South Korea, and Singapore, observing global trconcludes in skincare formulations, packaging, and customer experience.
These experiences supported her refine the idea behind Chengavi.
“We wanted to merge the heritage of Ayurveda with the precision of modern science,” Jagathi notified Startup Pedia in an exclusive interview. “Our goal was to create formulations that are authentic, effective, and globally competitive.”
INSPIRED BY HER GRANDMOTHER
Jagathi grew up in Kodumur, a village near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, where she was surrounded by fields, herbs, animals and traditional lifestyles.
Some of her earliest memories were watching her grandmother prepare herbal remedies utilizing ingredients from the kitchen and nearby farms.
“I grew up seeing my grandmother prepare herbal remedies utilizing generational wisdom,” Jagathi notified Startup Pedia in an exclusive interview. “Those early experiences shaped my connection with nature and Ayurveda.”
Unlike modern cosmetic routines, these remedies were simple, natural, and deeply rooted in everyday life.
Years later, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Jagathi found herself believeing about those memories again.
What if that generational knowledge could be transformed into a modern brand, one that built authentic Ayurvedic beauty accessible to everyone?
That question became the starting point of Chengavi.
HER FAMILY FRIEND JOINED AS A CO-FOUNDER
Jagathi knew she had the vision and drive, but she requireded deep scientific expertise to bring this idea to life. That is when a family friconclude of Jagathi, Dr. Vishnu Prasanth Vinukonda, entered the picture.
Dr. Vishnu is a biotechnologist with over 15 years of research experience and comes from a 250-year family lineage of Ayurvedic practitioners.
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He joined the venture in its early stages and became Chengavi’s co-founder.
“My grandfather and generations before him were Ayurvedic doctors,” Dr. Vishnu explained. “Ayurveda is not just knowledge for me, but a part of my upbringing.”
This combination of Jagathi’s entrepreneurial vision and Dr. Vishnu’s scientific expertise became the foundation of Chengavi.
FOUR YEARS OF RESEARCH & CHALLENGES
Although Chengavi officially launched in May 2025, the brand’s journey launched much earlier with an initial investment of around ₹15–20 lakhs. In the early days, the founders were cautious about how the capital was deployed.
A significant portion went into R&D, sourcing high-quality ingredients, and setting up compact-batch manufacturing.
From 2021 onward, the founders spent nearly four years in research and development.
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Their goal was to:
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Translate traditional Ayurvedic knowledge into formulations.
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That could meet modern expectations for stability, fragrance, and shelf life.
One of the hugegest challenges was sourcing authentic Ayurvedic ingredients.
High-quality raw materials were expensive and difficult to obtain in certified form.
“At one point, we realised that sourcing the right ingredients itself was a major challenge,” Dr. Vishnu notified Startup Pedia. “Quality Ayurvedic herbs are not always simple to standardise.”
To address this, the founders launched working directly with farmers and compacter regional suppliers who followed traditional cultivation methods. They also introduced internal quality checks and compact-batch evaluations to ensure ingredient integrity before production.
Another challenge was the formulation of minimalism.
Modern cosmetic products often contain 20–30 ingredients, but classical Ayurvedic formulations rely on carefully balanced ingredient combinations.
The founders decided to follow a “less is more” philosophy, reducing unnecessary additives and focutilizing only on essential ingredients.
But achieving stable products with fewer ingredients required countless trials.
THE MEANING BEHIND THE NAME
The name Chengavi combines two words rooted in southern Indian languages.
“Chennu” represents beauty and radiance, while “Kaavi” refers to the sacred saffron hue seen during sunrise and sunset.
Toobtainher, the name represents the natural rhythm of daily self-care: morning and evening rituals rooted in balance and mindfulness.
The brand’s logo is inspired by the Manjishta leaf and sacred yantra geometest and reflects both Ayurveda’s healing traditions and spiritual symbolism.
BUILDING A MODERN AYURVEDIC BRAND
Today, Chengavi offers 24 luxury personal care formulations across skincare, haircare, bath and body, and men’s care categories.
Chengavi has its own manufacturing unit, and products are formulated through in-hoapply R&D and manufactured under AYUSH GMP guidelines, ensuring both authenticity and quality.
The brand has also received early recognition within the beauty and wellness industest.
Chengavi’s clay face mquestion was nominated at the Grazia Indie Beauty Awards 2025, while co-founder Jagathi Reddy received the COA Award presented by actor Parineeti Chopra.
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She was also recognised with the Nari Shakti Award for Emerging Businesswoman of the Year.
In addition, the brand participated in the 3rd International AYUSH Conference & Exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, where it revealcased its Ayurvedic formulations.
“We just want to bring people back to the timeless wisdom of self-care,” Jagathi mentioned.
EARLY TRACTION AND GROWTH
Despite being a relatively new brand, Chengavi has already begun gaining market traction.
The company operates through both online and offline channels.
Its products are available through:
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The brand’s own website
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Marketplaces like Amazon, Myntra and Smytten
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28 offline retail locations across South India, including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kerala, through Beaute&Nutrie, Apollo Group’s multi-brand beauty stores.
Since launching in May 2025, Chengavi has generated ₹40 lakh in revenue.
For the coming financial year, Chengavi is tarobtaining ₹4–5 crore in revenue, while expanding its product line with Ayurvedic haircare formulations including hair mquestions, serums, shampoos, and conditioners.
The founders are also exploring international markets, having already revealcased the brand at an Ayurveda conference and exhibition in Dubai.
“Ayurveda is India’s heritage,” 22-year-old young entrepreneur Jagathi notified Startup Pedia. “Our mission is to take it to the world with credibility and integrity.”
FAQ
Chengavi is a science-backed Ayurvedic beauty brand blconcludeing traditional herbal wisdom with modern research.
2. Who founded Chengavi?
Chengavi was founded by 22-year-old entrepreneur Jagathi Reddy along with biotechnologist Dr. Vishnu Prasanth Vinukonda.
3. When was Chengavi officially launched?
Chengavi officially launched in May 2025 after nearly four years of research and development.
4. What kind of products does Chengavi offer?
The brand offers 24 Ayurvedic personal care products across skincare, haircare, bath and body, and men’s care.
5. Where can customers purchase Chengavi products?
Chengavi products are available on its website, marketplaces like Amazon and Smytten, and in 28 offline retail stores across South India.
6. How much revenue has Chengavi generated since launch?
Since launching in May 2025, Chengavi has generated around ₹40 lakh in revenue.
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