Mohit Yadav is a trailblazing Indian businessman, chartered accountant, and co-founder of Minimalist, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) skincare company that revolutionized the country’s beauty industry. Mohit, one of the newest judges and investors on Shark Tank India Season 5, is well-known for his audacious risk-taking, financial savvy, and science-forward product mindset.

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Mohit Yadav is an investor and entrepreneur who has worked in corporate finance, several businesses, and creating a personal care brand that is unique. His success story serves as a model for perseverance, creativity, and long-term planning today.

Mohit Yadav grew up in India with a strong academic foundation.

He pursued commerce and later qualified as a Gold Medalist Chartered Accountant (CA), securing All India Rank 26 from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India — a prestigious achievement that set the stage for his professional career.

There aren’t much public details in the mainstream media about Mohit Yadav’s family life. His career accomplishments and entrepreneurial spirit are the main features of his public persona.

Mohit began his career in corporate finance after earning his CA certification. He gained extensive experience in financial strategy and international markets while working at Deloitte and then as an Assistant Vice President at Credit Suisse.

Mohit’s first ventures into entrepreneurship were challenging:

• Scopial Fashion / MangoStreet – An online T-shirt and kids’ apparel brand launched with his brother, which did not scale and was eventually sold.
• Free Will – A customized haircare startup that struggled to expand despite promising ideas.

These early setbacks taught Mohit crucial lessons about product-market fit, customer insights, and the realities of entrepreneurship.

The pivotal moment occurred in October 2020 when Mohit and his brother Rahul Yadav, a chemical engineer, joined forces to form Minimalist. Three pillars served as the foundation for the brand:

• Ingredient transparency — clear, science-backed formulations
• Consumer education — demystifying skincare chemistry
• Results over hype — avoiding celebrity endorsements and marketing fluff

Initially, Minimalist used serums that addressed fundamental skin issues. Its initial products sold out in a matter of days after opening, and its Instagram following grew quickly. The brand made a substantial amount of money in just eight months.

By emphasizing efficacy, openness, and simplicity, the science-driven beauty and personal care brand Minimalist upended the Indian skincare market. It promoted a new era of ingredient literacy-focused direct-to-consumer beauty firms.

One of India’s historic D2C brand exits occurred in 2025 when Mohit and his brother sold a 90% share in Minimalist to Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) for ₹2,955 crore (≈ $350 million).

*exact annual figures before acquisition varied by source.

Although there isn’t much information about specific accolades in public sources, Mohit is well known for:

• Gold Medal in CA exams (AIR 26) — academic excellence
• Leading Minimalist to one of India’s largest D2C exits
• Becoming a judge on Shark Tank India — mainstream business leadership

Resilience and reinvention are hallmarks of Mohit Yadav’s entrepreneurial experience. His journey from corporate finance to two early startup exits and the development of a multicrore international beauty business illustrates the value of flexibility, learning from mistakes, and dedication to long-term goals. His guidance as a mentor and investor continues to have an impact on India’s startup scene.

Mohit became one of the new Sharks on the panel of Shark Tank India Season 5 in 2025, sharing his knowledge in D2C brands, product strategy, and ingredient-focused consumer goods with aspiring business owners across the country. His presence was emphasized for bringing transparent brand building and science-based strategy to the discussion.

The tale of Mohit Yadav is an example of bravery in the face of uncertainty. When financiers rejected him, he mortgaged his house to finance Minimalist, and in the end, he created a brand valued at thousands of crores. His experience teaches entrepreneurs important lessons:

• Fail early and learn fast
• Back your vision when data supports it
• Build with substance, not just style

Mohit’s accomplishment serves as a reminder to founders and innovators that, although the path to influence is rarely straightforward, it is always worthwhile to pursue with tenacity.