[Exclusive Interview] This Startup Treats Hair Fall Using Ayurveda, Food Science With 93% Success Rate

Recently we interacted with Saloni Anand, co-founder of Traya which is a holistic hair care brand causing ripples all across India.

Here are the highlights of the interview..

1.   Can you give us an overview of Traya as a company? How and why did you start this?

Traya is a new-age health tech startup that provides free online diagnosis and doctor-prescribed treatment plans based on individual hair and health concerns. We built Traya in May of 2019 as a result of a personal experience. Altaf was facing hair fall ( Male Pattern Baldness or Androgenic Alopecia) which was accelerated due to an uncontrollable thyroid, stress, and a poor lifestyle. During this journey, we realized that the current hair fall treatment market is broken – no commercial shampoo, oil or serum actually works because hair loss needs the right diagnosis and a doctor-prescribed treatment. Allopathy alone cannot fix the internal reasons that trigger hair fall. We mixed this with other sciences like Ayurveda and food science which was a game-changer. The biggest takeaway was that like any other chronic disease, hair loss does not have a single product solution, it needs a holistic treatment that involves working on internal health. On realizing that a combination of these 3 sciences can bring about a preventive approach, we set out to help friends and families facing similar issues. 

2.  There is an increase in the number of couple-preneurs entering the startup scenario in India? Why do you think that is? Any suggestions you’d have for couples planning to start something of their own?

I think couples going into business together have always been there even during conservational or traditional settings, it is just now that we have started defining these roles and giving them specific terms. But definitely, a lot of couple-preneurs are entering this space primarily because now in the new normal, women have been given much more recognition and equal opportunities thereby allowing them to take more ownership of their roles as founders. Even investors prefer opening up to startups rather than stock markets considering the risks involved. They choose the companies based on market and scale potential, founders’ background, and the long-term vision for the startup. So go for it, never underestimate yourself. Constantly learn and improve. Never copy and don’t be afraid to try out new things.

3.  What is the scope of Digitized Health Solutions in India?

Firstly merging healthcare with technology has bridged a huge gap between medical professionals and consumers. The penetration of data has opened opportunities of dealing with many ground-level issues including the lack of doctors and medical facilities with the help of technology-driven tools. The scope is definitely huge and delivers improved outcomes. Apart from the pandemic being the major factor, logistics and the internet has allowed us to target tier 2 and tier 3 cities of India. 

4.  How does Traya set itself apart in the clutter of health & wellness brands that are currently there in the industry?

Unlike other health and wellness brands, Traya is not a product-oriented company but a solution-oriented company where the goal is to treat hair fall from the root cause and take into account every individual’s underlying health conditions. We bring about a holistic approach to tackle something as stubborn as hair fall and a unique 3 science approach to manage it. Most importantly, we are doctor prescribed not just doctor backed. Every individual gets a customized plan from a team of doctors – a dermatologist, an ayurvedic practitioner, and a nutritionist. So, the customer receives a prescription along with every kit. Traya’s secret lies in the power of our online diagnosis and the confidence we have in our treatment so much so that we are the first to offer a 5-month money-back guarantee on our complete hair fall treatment. We also provide a hair coach for every customer who acts as an ideal companion throughout the hair growth journey and helps them stay on track during the process. 

5.  As a country, India has for years been very dependent on the “physical” aspect especially when it comes to healthcare. Have there been any challenges in this regard seeing as you’re an online solution and is this uptick wholly due to the pandemic?

In the midst of a pandemic, being a completely digital service was the ideal thing to do to make the entire process hassle-free, quicker, and easily accessible to all. The biggest challenge would have been to switch the notion of people from a physical clinic to an entire treatment curated by an online diagnosis. On the bright side, we were able to cater to people facing hair fall issues anywhere in the world and provide a hair coach to every customer who guides them whilst also motivating them to stay on track with monthly updates.