Biography of Vikas Lachhwani: Co-founder and Director of mCaffeine-Entrepreneur
Story of Vikas Lachhwani: Innovating Personal Care
Vikas Lachhwani, the Co-founder and Director of mCaffeine,
is a visionary in the skincare industry. Over the past seven years, Vikas has
been instrumental in creating over 95 skincare products that harness the power
of caffeine to enhance beauty from within. His innovative approach has
redefined personal care, blending science and lifestyle to offer transformative
solutions.
A Journey Through Entrepreneurship
Before establishing mCaffeine, Vikas had a notable career in
operations and growth. He served as the Senior Vice-President at Zoomcar,
India's first self-drive car company, where he led its pan-India expansion.
Vikas also co-founded Trusanga, focusing on developing statistical intelligence
engines for learning and assessments, and worked at Mu Sigma Inc. USA, where he
developed business analytics solutions for major retailers.
Educational Background
Vikas's academic journey reflects his broad expertise. He
pursued a PhD in Marketing (ABD) at Lubar School of Business, UWM, focusing on
Information and Decision Science, Customer Choice Behavior, and Internet
Marketing. He also holds an MS in Transportation Engineering and an MUP in
Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Bachelor of
Architecture from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.
Early Career and Research Contributions
Early in his career, Vikas gained experience as a Research
Assistant at the Center for Urban Transportation Studies, where he led a
project on advanced travel information systems. His research, cited by the US
Federal Highway Administration, provided valuable insights for implementing
Intelligent Transportation Systems. Additionally, as a Project Assistant at the
Center for Advanced Spatial Information Research, he developed online GIS-based
transit planning systems, sponsored by federal and state transportation
departments.
Consulting Experience at Mu Sigma
Vikas also worked as a Consultant at Mu Sigma from July 2008
to December 2009. His role involved developing analytic frameworks for retail
strategies and brand positioning. His work in retail analytics and quantitative
evaluation was driven by a philosophy that blends decision science with
creativity, focusing on customer-centric strategies and online marketing.
Innovative Work at Trusanga
From January 2010 to May 2014, Vikas was the Founder and
Managing Director of Trusanga. This company was dedicated to HR development,
creating intelligent systems for evaluating abilities and personalities.
Trusanga’s innovative approach earned it the Edustar Award in 2013, recognizing
its contributions to HR development and management.
Biography of Vikas Lachhwani: Co-founder and Director of mCaffeine-Entrepreneur/ Success story of Vikas Lachhwani/mCaffeine story/Vikas Lachhwani story
Leadership at Zoomcar
Before mCaffeine, Vikas served as Senior Vice-President of
Operations and Growth at Zoomcar from May 2014 to October 2015. At Zoomcar, he
led the company's pan-India expansion. Zoomcar, India’s first membership-based
self-drive car rental service, focuses on urban mobility and sustainability,
offering hourly or daily vehicle rentals with a model that ensures convenience
for users by keeping vehicles close to their residences or workplaces.
Founding mCaffeine
In November 2015, Vikas Lachhwani, along with co-founder
Tarun Sharma, launched mCaffeine, India's first caffeine-infused personal care
brand. The brand emerged from extensive research showing caffeine's potential
as a superfood with significant benefits for skin and hair. mCaffeine's range,
featuring 20 products across Face Care, Hair Care, and Body Care, aligns with
millennial values of confidence and authenticity. The brand’s philosophy
emphasizes natural choices, cruelty-free practices, and celebrating inner
beauty over superficial trends.
A Growing Portfolio
Since its launch, mCaffeine has developed a diverse
portfolio of 20 products, categorized into Face Care, Hair Care, and Body Care.
The brand embraces a millennial ethos with core values: a clean label
emphasizing natural ingredients, cruelty-free practices (no animal testing),
and promoting confidence without selling insecurities or fairness products.
Innovation and Success
mCaffeine prides itself on its in-house research and
development team, along with partnerships with three third-party manufacturers.
In just four years, the brand has achieved significant success, selling over
2.8 million products and generating revenue of Rs. 100 crores.
A Thoughtful Approach to Lifestyle
Although Vikas is not driven by fleeting trends, he
approaches personal care with a deep understanding of the underlying
principles. He is known for his meticulous attention to detail, such as knowing
the specifics of the leather used in his sofa. His commitment to personal care
reflects a broader goal of empowering people to make informed decisions about
the products they use.
Challenging Social Norms
At mCaffeine, Vikas and his team are committed to addressing
and breaking social stigmas associated with personal care. Their initiative,
Burn the Shade Card, aims to raise awareness about the discrimination based on
skin color and combat the exploitation of such biases in marketing. Vikas
believes in using the brand to challenge outdated norms and foster a more
inclusive approach to beauty.
Building a New Paradigm
Vikas's vision for mCaffeine extends beyond product
innovation. He aims to spark meaningful conversations about personal care,
challenging taboos and encouraging a more open dialogue about issues like skin
color discrimination and menstrual health. Through mCaffeine, Vikas is creating
a platform for change and empowerment in the personal care industry.
Passion for Personal Care
Vikas's dedication to personal care stems from his belief in
addressing societal issues through innovative solutions. He sees personal care
as a universal concern that transcends social and cultural boundaries, aiming
to provide people with the knowledge and options they need to make informed choices
about their well-being.
A Focus on Fundamentals
Despite not following trends blindly, Vikas applies a
fundamental approach to personal care. His meticulous nature is evident in his
detailed knowledge of product elements, such as the leather used in his sofa.
This attention to detail informs his work at mCaffeine, ensuring that the
products and the brand's mission align with his commitment to quality and
transparency.
A timeline for Vikas Lachhwani's career and mCaffeine's
growth:
2008-2009: Works as a Consultant at Mu Sigma, focusing on
retail strategies and analytics.
2010-2014: Founding Managing Director of Trusanga, which
wins the Edustar Award in 2013.
May 2014-Oct 2015: Senior Vice-President of Operations and
Growth at Zoomcar.
Nov 2015: Co-founds mCaffeine, launching India's first
caffeine-infused personal care brand.
2016-2020: mCaffeine develops a portfolio of 20 products and
sells over 2.8 million units, achieving Rs. 100 crores in revenue.
2021: mCaffeine's focus on challenging social norms with
initiatives like Burn the Shade Card and fostering open dialogues about
personal care issues.
