Frustrated by rash-causing cheap nipple covers, this founder built a nipple cover brand promising 100% comfort & zero redness or swelling

If you’re someone who is even remotely active, nipple chafing is something you’d have gone through.

It is when friction caused by clothes, sweat, and movement causes an irritation in the nipples. The result? Let’s not even get there.

It’s a red, painful, and messy situation.

For Alka Kalkani, using disposable nipple covers came as a solution. But that turned out to be even more painful.

The entrepreneur, after this lived experience of painful adhesive reactions, decided to flip the picture and build Nipposh – a premium, luxurious, and ultra-safe nipple cover brand that promises seamless comfort to both men and women.

Startup Pedia sat down with the entrepreneur to understand the intricacies of Nipposh and how it is a league apart in the Indian industry of self-care and intimate grooming.

Below is an excerpt from the same conversation.

1- Before we get into Nipposh, tell us a bit about your early career. How has it been?

I was born and brought up in Bahrain. I completed my undergraduate degree at Narsee Monjee College, Mumbai.I pursued an MSc in Operations, Projects & Supply Chain Management from Manchester Business School. Then I entered the FMCG and e-commerce realm to smooth supply chains in Bahrain and India. I also engaged in procurement, warehouse operations, and brand strategy. All of this helped me build Nipposh into a customer-centric brand.

2- Why nipple covers? How did it all start?

It all started in 2022. I was using disposable nipple covers. To my horror, I experienced skin peeling after taking them off one day. Then, painful rashes and swelling followed. I immediately wondered why there was no one building a sensitive, skin-safe nipple cover brand. That was my cue to take the lead and build Nipposh.

3- So, what were the first steps that you took to build Nipposh?

First, I invested Rs 15 lakh from my own savings. Then I went neck deep into research, consulted hundreds of dermatologists, and had real conversations with people facing the same issues. Eventually, functions like product research and development, clinical testing, legalities and permits, and packaging and branding followed.

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4- During the course of your research, what was the exact gap that you noticed in the intimate-care market?

I found that existing options relied on harsh adhesives. Brands simply weren’t testing for skin irritation, and the result was contact dermatitis. Customers suffered from skin redness, rashes, and swelling. On the other hand, the products that were sensitive and safe were too costly to be used every day and were disposable too. You have to understand that the category of nipple covers is anyway a very delicate one. People hardly talk about problems like chafing, and when they finally take the initiative to solve it with a nipple cover, they experience even bigger problems like skin tearing.

From the get-go, I wanted Nipposh to address all these gaps.

5- Hard agree on the delicate part. I was even wondering if a lot of people wouldn’t even know nipple covers exist.

Not really. Millennials and Gen Z make up at least 52% of the Indian population, and they keep looking for interventions in the self-care and intimate-care space. Yes, more awareness is needed for sure.

6- Right, that makes sense. Alka, tell us a little about the early challenges you had to face in your startup journey.

The entire process of research and development was tedious. It still is, and we keep it extremely stringent. Our team of product developers was constantly making permutations and combinations of materials to make nipple covers that guarantee zero nipple trauma. Even procuring these ingredients was a hassle because of import and customs regulations. But we sailed through. Then, we conducted multiple safety trials.

7- And, what does Nipposh mean?

Nipposh is a portmanteau. ‘Nip’ for nipples and ‘posh’ for refined, premium - representing premium nipple skincare.

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8- What would you say is the USP of Nipposh?

There are many – safety, premiumness, reusability, and delivery.

All nipple covers at Nipposh are skin-irritation tested under BIS IS 4011. These covers will never cause erythema or oedema. Our nipple covers promise absolutely no redness or swelling, ensuring maximum safety and comfort. This is for both men and women.

Then, we have built a body-heat-activated non-adhesive technology, which means a nipple cover attaches and also comes off easily. These covers are reusable, and one can use one nipple cover for an entire year. That’s the kind of affordable reusability that we are offering. We also have silicone-based anti-chafing covers for all our fitness freaks – be it runners, joggers, or marathon participants. And, we cater to all serviceable pin codes in India. We’re available on Amazon, our own website, and will soon be available on Blinkit.

9- So, no oil is needed to remove the covers after a long day?

That’s right. They are time-saving, sensitive, and absolutely functional.

10- What is your current target audience?

Definitely millennials and Gen Z, both genders. Our ideal customer is someone who takes self-care and wellness seriously and is comfort-driven. They know exactly what they deserve and know where to find it.

11 - Would love to know exactly which products are designed for men and women. Also, did customer feedback shape any product line?

Okay, so the Crème, Caramel, and Pearl nipple covers are for women. They can even go braless if they want to, with these nipple covers on. They have a supreme matte finish and are waterproof. We claim a reusability of over 300 times. So if someone wants to wear a backless dress, swimsuit, or bodysuit where a typical bra might not be feasible, Nipposh has got their nipples covered.

For men, we have the Aqua Man, which is an anti‑chafing sports nipple cover. Perfect for long runs, gym sessions, and any fitness activity.

As for your customer feedback question, yes. Owing to the reusability we are offering, our customers wanted a hygienic solution to clean the covers. So we made Poshwash, which is India’s first nipple cover cleanser. Keeps your Nipposh covers clean and anti-bacterial, while not stripping away their functionality.

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12- How does Nipposh’s growth trajectory look? What drives the most growth?

Organic word-of-mouth and repeat customers drive the most growth. We’ve grown humbly and sustainably. In FY24, we saw moderate growth as the brand began building awareness and trust. Then, in FY25, we saw a jump of 30% compared to last year. All owing to organic traction, customer word-of-mouth, and repeat usage. For FY26, we are projecting a growth of approximately 40% as more people discover the brand and new channels open up.

13- Absolutely loved speaking to you, Alka. Before we wrap up, what is the long-term vision of Nipposh?

Likewise.

The ultimate vision is to become India’s most trusted skin‑safe nipple cover brand for both men and women, expanding into global markets and skinwear innovations. Every living day, we are working towards making this statement more tangible than yesterday. With Nipposh, we want more and more people to feel truly comfortable and unbothered in their daily lives. Life’s tough; nipple covers shouldn’t make it tougher (smiles). We are the seamless, ultra-comfortable solution you have been looking for.

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