Aparna Singh’s career path from a small town upbringing to becoming a co-founder of beauty tech startup has been defined by steady career growth and a smart decision to step away from the comfort of corporate life.
Born and brought up at Meerut, Aparna had a middle class childhood. Her father is a government official and her mother is a lawyer. Education was always a priority at home. She did well in academics and also remained active in cultural events and in sports during her school days. Those early years helped build discipline and confidence.
After the school, she shifted from her hometown to Noida to pursue B.Tech in Computer Science from Amity University. Like many other engineering graduates, she joined the IT field and started her career as a Software Engineer at HCL Technologies. Over the years, she worked for various companies in Delhi Ncr and got exposure in the processes such as product development, client requirement, and team coordination.
The tech industry, particularly in core positions, is very much a male-dominated field. Aparna says the early years were not always easy. She had to always prove her ability and deal with high pressure situations. Instead of backing away, she used these experiences to hone her technological and decision making abilities. Her corporate journey eventually led her to Cashify where she worked as a Product Manager. That role gave her a better understanding of how products are built, how they are scaled and positioned in the market.
During her earlier professional years, she met Gaurav Tandon who later became her co-founder. The two shared similar long-term goals – to build something of their own instead of remaining in corporate situations through life. Over the years they kept in touch and discussed startup ideas in earnest.
The turning point was when they gave a close look at the beauty services market. Despite the rapid growth in salons, spas and freelance beauty businesses, many were still managing their appointments, billing and customer records manually or using scattered tools. There was a definite lacuna for a simple, all-in-one digital solution.
After months of research and planning, Aparna and Gaurav decided to take the risk. In early 2023, they left their stable, well-paying jobs and started TapGro as a bootstrapped company.
The change from a fixed salary structure to the uncertainty of a startup was a major change. Aparna’s routine of a day changed from having defined office hours to being a problem-solver 24/7. From managing product development to branding sessions to sales strategy, she now manages several verticals within the company. In the early stage of the startup, she plays active role in technology, design, operations and marketing.
TapGro is a B2B SaaS platform for the beauty industry. The app is designed to help business owners manage bookings, payments, customer data and other operational needs in one place. Aparna’s focus has been on to keep the interface very simple so that even the small salon owners can use it without any technical difficulty.
In the immediate phase, the company is focusing on signing up users after the app is launched. Marketing campaigns, partnerships and direct outreach are part of the growth strategy. Aparna is also emphasising that user feedback will drive the updates and improvements that will happen in the future.
In the long term, the founders want to make TapGro a consistent business management app for beauty professionals throughout India. The goal is not fast expansion at any cost but constant growth based on usability and trust.
Outside of her work obligations, Aparna enjoys travelling and trying different cuisines. She is also trained in classical singing and has a great interest in music and public speaking.
<p>The post Meerut Girl Builds Beauty Tech Startup After Quitting Years in Corporate Job first appeared on Hello Entrepreneurs.</p>
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