How Padmini Janaki Left a High-Paying Job to Build a Rs 126 Crore Startup for Women’s Health

Padmini Janaki, Co-founder of Mind and Mom, left her high-paying job with an annual salary of around Rs 75 lakh to embark on a journey of empowering women through healthcare.

The idea for her startup stemmed from an experience in the US, where she encountered a lack of awareness about pregnancies among young women. This realisation drove her to address the gap in women’s health knowledge, especially around pregnancy and infertility, and eventually led her to start Mind and Mom.

Padmini Janaki's Mind and Mom focuses on healthy pregnancies and fertility treatment (Photos: Special Arrangement)

Initially, her focus was on healthy pregnancies, but her venture gradually evolved to include infertility treatments. Now, with a hybrid model combining technology and in-person clinics, Padmini aims to provide women with essential support and guidance through a holistic approach that goes beyond traditional infertility treatment clinics run by doctors.

P C Vinoj Kumar, Editor, The Weekend Leader, in conversation with Padmini Janaki

Watch the Full Interview on our YouTube Channel

Vinoj Kumar: Hi Padmini, welcome to The Weekend Leader Inspiration Show. It's a pleasure having you with us today.

Padmini Janaki: Thank you, Vinoj. I am happy to be here.

Vinoj Kumar: You have been in the field of infertility treatment for three years now. I would like to begin by asking, how do you define infertility? What is the definition of infertility?

Padmini Janaki: I think Google would show many definitions, but according to science and doctors, infertility is when you’ve been trying to conceive for a year without success. After that, it’s advisable to see a doctor—assuming you are actively trying to have a child (meaning having unprotected intercourse with the intention of getting pregnant.)

Vinoj Kumar: How did the idea of Mind and Mom come about? How did it all start?

Padmini Janaki: The idea for Mind and Mom began when I was in the U.S., working for another company. I encountered many teenage pregnant girls, which isn’t common in India. In St. Louis, where I was conducting user research, I met these young girls who were very open about their situations—some were only 14 or 15 and expecting babies. As a South Indian mother, I was shocked and even a bit angry at first. But putting aside my cultural views, I realised how unaware many young women are about their own health. That was a starting point for me.

Padmini interviewed many women for her book 'Myths and Millennials'

After returning to India, I worked on my book called Myths and Millennials, where I interviewed many women. Through those conversations, I learned how much their lives, especially in their 20s and 30s, revolved around pregnancy, infertility, and the choices surrounding motherhood. This inspired me to do something in that space, though I didn’t have a solid vision at the time.

Later, I watched an interview with CK Kumaravel (Co-Founder, Naturals Salon chain), who shared an analogy that struck me: if you want to go to Delhi from your home, you can’t see Delhi from there. You might see the main road, then the airport, then the flight, and eventually, you reach Delhi. That analogy changed the way I viewed life and entrepreneurship. It gave me the courage to leave a well-paying job and take a chance on this journey, and there’s been no looking back since.

Vinoj Kumar: Moving on, you now own a chain of clinics. How did Mind and Mom evolve from focusing on healthy pregnancies to treating infertility?

Padmini Janaki: It’s been a journey. Initially, I focused on creating a community of women, understanding their needs, and talking about their careers. I realised my key interest was in supporting women, but I didn’t know in what capacity.

Over time, I understood that empowering women starts with health. Many women don’t pay enough attention to their bodies, hormonal health, or even irregular periods. I felt that focusing on women’s health could truly empower them, and I became deeply connected to that idea. Despite the challenges in entrepreneurship, a strong vision keeps you going, and I felt that connection in women’s health.

Vinoj Kumar: Can you trace your journey from starting with an app to running clinics that treat infertility?

The journey that began with an app now operates on a hybrid model with full-fledged infertility treatment

Padmini Janaki: We began with an app that saw good traction, with many users and some revenue. Initially, I made it a point to talk to our users. Through those conversations, I realised that while our app was popular, it was a ‘good-to-have’ product rather than something essential. I wanted to solve a real problem.

The infertility market is largely dominated by doctors, gynaecologists, and embryologists. I wanted to bring in the patient’s perspective and become the voice of patients in this industry. That’s what led me to start clinics. Although running clinics is operationally heavy, I believe combining tech with a brick-and-mortar approach—a hybrid model—can genuinely address the needs of women by directly listening to them. - TWL Bureau