In a recent episode of the Morning Brew YouTube channel and podcast, host Alex Lieberman interviewed entrepreneur and successful businesswoman Miki Agrawal. Miki Agrawal is the self-described disruptor who founded Thinx, the “period-proof underwear,” and TUSHY, the mass-market bidet attachment. Miki Agrawal founded Thinx in 2013 with her sister and another investor. TUSHY was founded two years later with co-founder Justin Allen.
Miki Agrawal On Start-Ups
Miki Agrawal is not new to the business start-up world. Her first foray into entrepreneurship began with a gluten-free farm-to-table pizza restaurant, called “Wild” in 2006, borne out of her own struggle to find viable options after discovering that her body was intolerant of most processed foods. What is not new is that Miki is and has always been willing to go against the grain. The one thing that all of her business enterprises have in common is that they challenge societal norms and change how people talk about taboo subjects. And that’s just how Miki Agrawal likes it.
On Feeling Shame
Lieberman: Miki, what have you felt most shameful about in your own life?
Miki Agrawal: For me, being the first generation of immigrant parents, I was taught that if I didn’t achieve, I was to be shamed. But it wasn’t on purpose. It served as a form of motivation. My sister and I were always reminded that we had to really push ourselves to achieve. I felt ashamed if I didn’t succeed. We knew that it was on us to push ourselves.
Lieberman: How did you come up with the idea for Thinx?
Miki Agrawal: I was 24 years old and I was so busy riding my bike back and forth to the restaurant. I remember thinking how hectic life was for me at that time, but I just didn’t want to stop, because again, I had to achieve. Anyway, I would forget to change my tampon and I would bleed into my underwear. I realized that in any situation as a woman, if you’re a dancer on stage, if you’re sitting in traffic, or whatever, that is a true interruption. Tampons and pads were invented in the early 30s and early 40s and 50s and they leaked and they just weren’t great solutions and so it kind of sort of sparked the idea for starting Thinx.
Welcome TUSHY
Lieberman: How did you come up with the idea for Hello TUSHY?
Miki Agrawal: I somehow ended up with an extreme hyperthyroid issue, which had a side effect of pooping up to ten times a day. The pain of wiping led to a super raw chapped butt and I had to jump in the shower every time I went to the bathroom. That’s when it really hit me that everyone should have access to a bidet, without having to buy a brand new fixture for the bathroom.
Miki Agrawal’s willingness to disrupt accepted ways of thinking has benefited both her and society. Both of her companies are now valued at over a hundred million dollars. Hopefully, Miki Agrawal will continue innovating so that the rest of the world can benefit from her ideas.
