Hexafun’s Manali Sanghvi Shares How She Left Advertising to Build a Fun Lifestyle Brand Loved by India

In this exclusive virtual conversation with StartupTalky, Manali Sanghvi, Co-founder of Hexafun, shares her journey of turning a creative spark into a vibrant brand that brings fun into everyday essentials. Having worked in advertising with major brands and campaigns, she stepped away from the corporate world to build something more meaningful, Hexafun.

Manali opens up about her creative roots, the leap of faith required to quit her full-time job, and her experience pitching Hexafun on Shark Tank India, which brought the brand into the national spotlight. She discusses the lessons that shaped her entrepreneurial path, the fun-driven identity behind Hexafun, the strategic decisions that fuelled growth, and why adding joy to simple products matters.

Her story reflects perseverance, experimentation, and courage, a reminder that sometimes the boldest ideas come wrapped in simplicity.

Manali's Life in Advertising: From Big Brands to Global Insights

After a post-graduation in mass media, Manali began her career in advertising, a journey she calls rich and fortunate. She worked on major campaigns in India and Southeast Asia, learning how consumers think, what convinces them to buy, and how successful campaigns are built.

“I have multiple layers of learning… not just building the brand, but what really happens after.”

The people she met along the way remain her strongest professional support system. Many even helped when Hexafun was born.

When Creativity Meets Entrepreneurship: The Birth of Hexafun

Hexafun was originally her co-founder Harsh’s brainchild, a vision to turn “boring” essentials like handkerchiefs and socks into fun expressions of personality.

Because of her branding experience, Manali initially joined only as a consultant. Slowly, involvement grew into ownership and eventually into quitting her full-time job.

“We burned the midnight oil for really long… burnout was real.”

Finally, they made the bold leap, and it still remains one of her proudest risks.

The Fun Factor: What Makes Hexafun Stand Out

Hexafun’s identity is loud, quirky, playful, and proudly Indian.

How do they come up with these designs?

“There is a method to the madness… I do a lot of research.”

The brand’s 30-day handkerchief pack is one of their bestsellers and a favourite among customers.

Customer love, from feedback messages to reviews, is what keeps her going on the tough days.

Shark Tank India: A Milestone Full of Learnings

Hexafun’s pitch on Shark Tank India was the result of a long and emotionally demanding process. The team cleared multiple selection rounds, each step increasing both excitement and pressure.

Before facing the sharks, Manali and her co-founder went through a three-day bootcamp with mock interviews and on-camera preparation to help refine communication and presence.

“Thrilling… but at the same time we were very, very anxious. I would say that journey was very important for us in building Hexafun.”

While the televised version highlighted only parts of the pitch, Manali recalls there were several valuable pieces of advice and many moments that didn’t make it to air, yet the experience proved transformational.

After returning home, the founders processed the feedback with focus and intent.

“Even though there were negative comments… It’s not going to bog us down. We have to pick ourselves up and move on because we have a much larger goal in life.”

Her biggest reflection from the experience:

“Probably we went to Shark Tank a little earlier than we should have… and should focus more on product depth.”

On Funding & Growth: Celebrating for a Day, Then Back to Work

Hexafun secured seed funding in August 2025, a significant milestone. But Manali remains grounded.

“We celebrated for a day… and then we are back to planning, executing, strategising.”

Despite growing responsibilities, she ensures creativity remains the soul of the brand.

Her Advice for Women Entrepreneurs

Manali's guidance is simple yet heartfelt:

“Not having regrets is way more important than succeeding in something.”

She encourages women to give their ideas 200% effort, embrace the unknown, and trust their passion.

A Journey Filled with Joy, Courage & Creative Belief

Manali calls this journey:

“A mammoth task… but extremely fulfilling at the end of the day.”

With infectious passion and a fearless approach to creativity, she represents a new breed of Indian entrepreneurs, those turning everyday life into everyday joy.

Final Thoughts

This conversation highlights not just a brand story, but a story of self-belief, creative courage, and the guts to leave comfort behind.

👉 Stay tuned to StartupTalky for more inspiring founder journeys shaping India’s future business landscape.