Entrepreneur Stories
Liliane Bettencourt And What To Learn From The Woman Behind L’Oréal
Liliane Bettencourt, the heiress to L’Oréal, was, when she died, the richest woman in the world and the 14th richest person in the rest of the world. While fashion and cosmetics were the center of Liliane’s world, there was a lot more to her than just looking chic and pretty. Everything about Liliane’s life has been under public scrutiny and everything she did, helped her push L’Oréal to an unforeseen and unprecedented level. While the rest of the world remembers for her very public and ugly feud with her daughter, we would like to remember her for the way she built the Company up!
1. Her dedication to business
Picture credits: theguardian.com
From companies like Sun Pharma, to Foxconn and to L’Oréal, all major family run businesses have one thing in common: dedication to the business. With Liliane Bettencourt, the addiction and the conviction to the business was so strong, it was almost infectious. In fact, she said exactly that in a statement shortly before her death, “My life is L’Oréal. I have always been involved in the development of the company, and I will protect it to the end.” At another time, during the early days of Liliane’s role as a CEO Of L’Oréal, someone suggested using Isabella Rossellini as the brand ambassador. The moment Liliane heard the news, her response was. “But, ambassador of L’Oréal, it’s me!” Sticking true to her dedication to the Company, Liliane always thought of her business first, then anything else.
2. Family and stability always go hand in hand
Picture credits; livemint.com
Despite having a very public war with her daughter, over property and money, among other disagreements, Liliane always believed that family comes first. Further, one of her other concerns came from the fact, she wanted the control of the business within the family. In fact, when Nestlé bought a majority stake from L’Oreal, Liliane ensured that at least 30 % of the shares were within the Company and not sold. This helped make sure, no matter what, as long as Liliane was alive, one third of the control was going to be in the family! If family and stability was not the center of Liliane’s growth strategy, then L’Oreal wouldn’t be what it is even after her death!
3. Keep expanding and growing
Picture credits: lovealusa.com
When L’Oréal started, it was a small cosmetics chain where most of the products were sold domestically. With every product sold and every sale made, the profits L’Oréal earned through the years, propelled it to the top! Growing from having almost nothing, to earning € 26 billion as revenue in 2016, L’Oréal grew exponentially. Further, the shares which Bettencourt sold back to Nestlé before she died, increased the value of L’Oréal by at least a 100 times, making the Company one of the richest ones in the world!
Liliane Bettencourt led an eventful life. With a journey full of ups and downs, she made sure, no matter what she did, her business was always her focal point. A journey rooted deep in family and values, Liliane Bettencourt’s life stopped short at the ripe old of 94. A woman who fought tooth and nail to make a mark, she most certainly has left a strong legacy behind.
A decade ago, the success of a startup was measured largely by its ability to raise capital. Today, a different metric is gaining importance: the ability to generate meaningful exits for investors. Large stake sales by early backers are becoming increasingly common, not because growth opportunities have disappeared, but because India’s startup ecosystem is entering a more mature phase where capital is expected to complete its full cycle from investment to returns.
This evolution is particularly significant for consumer brands that have successfully blended technology, retail, and strong brand-building. Companies that were once viewed as high-risk startup bets are now attracting institutional investors capable of absorbing large transactions. Such developments indicate that these businesses are no longer being valued solely on future potential; they are increasingly being assessed on operational performance, market leadership, and long-term profitability. In many ways, investor exits are becoming a validation of a company’s ability to create lasting enterprise value.
The broader implication extends beyond a single company or investor. Successful exits encourage more global capital to enter India’s startup ecosystem because they demonstrate that liquidity opportunities exist at scale. As more venture-backed companies approach public listings, secondary transactions, or strategic investments, the focus of founders and investors alike may shift from chasing headline valuations to building durable businesses. The next chapter of India’s startup journey will likely be defined not just by the creation of unicorns, but by the creation of companies capable of delivering sustained returns to all stakeholders.
Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air with M5 chip, starting at $999 for 13-inch and $1,299 for 15-inch models. The MacBook Air M5 boasts a 2nm M5 chip with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 50 TOPS Neural Engine for seamless AI tasks like real-time translation and 8K editing. Up to 22 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 5, and Wi-Fi 7 make it the ultimate ultraportable, now 10% thinner at 0.44 inches with fanless cooling.
Key MacBook Air M5 features include Liquid Retina XDR display (500 nits, nano-texture option), 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker Spatial Audio. Colors like new Sky Blue join Midnight and Starlight. Pre-orders are live today, with macOS Sequoia 15.4 enhancing Apple Intelligence and iPhone Continuity for students, pros, and remote workers.
Why buy MacBook Air M5 now? It outpaces Snapdragon X Elite rivals with ecosystem magic and future-proof performance, eyeing top 2026 laptop sales. CEO Tim Cook calls it “more capable than ever.” Visit apple.com for M5 MacBook deals and specs.
Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama platform Vertical TV in a deal valued under INR 40 Cr. This move strengthens Zupee Studio, its short-video arm launched in September 2025, by integrating Vertical TV’s expertise in bite-sized dramas like romance and thrillers.
Facing challenges from India’s 2025 real-money gaming ban, Zupee valued at $1 Bn after raising $120 Mn has pivoted to non-gaming content, including recent layoffs of 40% of its workforce. The acquisition builds on its November 2025 purchase of Australian AI firm Nucanon for interactive storytelling, targeting its 200 Mn+ users with engaging, mobile-first formats.
This deal underscores the rising microdrama trend in India, helping Zupee diversify amid regulatory pressures and compete in the short-video space dominated by quick, shareable content for on-the-go audiences.
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