Building a Brand for the Modern Woman: The Story of Pinq Polka
From a simple idea to a brand that resonates with thousands, Pinq Polka is redefining comfort for women. Read more about the founders and their story here.
"We didn’t start Pinq Polka to build a ₹1,00,000 crore brand. We started it to solve a problem."
— Mandeep, Co-founder & Chief Strategist
Where it all began
The year was 2017. Manveen, with over 9 years of experience across the automobile and legal sectors, found herself in a familiar situation, returning from another international trip with basic essentials she couldn’t easily find back home in India. Sanitary pads topped that list.
“Back then, high-quality pads were rare in India,” she recalls. “As a user, you’d experience rashes, infections, and discomfort. That’s when it hit me- if I’m going through this today, what about my daughter tomorrow?”
What started as a small initiative to source and sample sanitary pads soon grew into a movement. Manveen personally ordered pads of various sizes and types, distributed them within her circle, and collected feedback.
The response was loud and clear- Indian women loved the quality she offered, something they couldn’t easily find in local brands.
That’s where the spark for Ping Polka began. The name itself came from her daughter’s suggestion- Pink. But since that wasn’t available for registration, they tweaked it to Pinq (where Q stands for Queen), and Polka came in as a fun, vibrant brand layer inspired by their packaging covered in polka dots.
Why Pinq Polka looks different- Because it had to
Breaking into a traditionally taboo category like menstrual hygiene in India required more than a good product. It needed smart Go-To-Market (GTM) thinking and bold design.
“Our packaging speaks for us,” says Mandeep. “When the market is crowded, we decided to differentiate through visual storytelling.”
Pinq Polka’s vibrant colours, playful illustrations, and non-apologetic branding made their products stand out, especially to the younger generation. The result? Customers picked them up out of curiosity and came back because of the quality. “The first buy happens because of the look. The second buy is because of the feel.”
One thing that truly sets Pinq Polka apart? Listening. The team doesn’t stop at the order confirmation. In fact, it’s often where their work begins.
“We call our customers,” says Manveen. “We ask them what problem they’re trying to solve. Then we guide them toward the right product. ”
When asked about the role of AI in these calls, Mandeep puts it in perspective:
“Gen AI is great, but it can’t replace the human touch. I spend hours on calls with customers. That connection matters. AI can help us be smarter, faster, but not more human.”
This personal approach also uncovered unexpected challenges. Many women didn’t know how to properly use some of our products, not because they weren’t intelligent, but because the category was new.
To tackle this, they’re working on building a community-first approach that supports education, brand advocacy, and peer-driven discovery.
The Corporate Strategist who helped pivot the Brand
“I’ve always worked in corporates,” says Mandeep. “But after 7 years, I felt it was time to apply everything I’d learned to something of my own.”
His entry into Pinq Polka marked a significant turning point. He helped shift the brand’s focus away from the overcrowded, hyper-competitive menstrual hygiene category (what he calls a red ocean) and toward an underserved, emerging need- lifestyle hygiene products tailored for modern women. This pivot helped the brand grow by over 850% in a short span.
Milestones that matter and a few that Sparkle
Today, Pinq Polka has served over 4 lakh customers, a number that still surprises the co-founders.
“We get so many messages from women saying how our products made a real difference,” says Manveen. “That’s what keeps us going.”
And yes, some milestones call for celebration. The team opened their first bottle of sparkling wine at ₹10 crore in revenue, and the second after their appearance on Shark Tank India. The next big milestone? ₹100 crore in revenue.
And the path includes launching aspirational products that further elevate the everyday routines of Indian women.
As for bad days?
“There’s always a crate of beer ready,” Mandeep jokes. “We drink, we unwind, and we bounce back stronger.”
Final word to Founders
“There will be bad days. Step back, like a lion does before it pounces. Then come back swinging. Stay crazy. That crazy energy? It’s what makes the impossible possible.”
That energy of not giving up, of choosing to build when it’s easier to quit, of solving a problem no one else wants to talk about is what defines founders.
When founders are building something from scratch, the lines between life and work blur. The hustle gets real. And sometimes, the clock feels like both a friend and a reminder of everything you haven’t done yet.
But Mandeep offers a mindset shift that’s refreshingly honest:
“Until you reach a place where you don’t need to look at your wallet before buying something, don’t look at your watch.”
It’s about knowing that in the early stages, especially, your time is your biggest investment, and the return isn’t always instant. This knowledge shows up in small wins, late-night breakthroughs, and customer feedback that gives you chills.
And that’s what makes their journey so relatable:
You don’t need to start with the biggest TAM or VC interest. You need empathy, insight, and the guts to keep going.
At Razorpay Rize, we meet founders every day who are driven by ambition, but it’s the ones like Mandeep and Manveen who remind us what true founder grit looks like. They didn’t build Pinq Polka because the market was hot or trending; they built it because it was needed.
Because they saw a real gap, felt the pain themselves, and decided to do something about it. They built trust in a space where conversations are often awkward or ignored.
We’re proud to have Mandeep and Manveen in the Rize community because stories like theirs are what Rize was built for.
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