THE FOUNDERS
Who We Are
Tom Dawes
Founder & Strategic Partner
Tom Dawes is an entrepreneur, investor and strategic adviser with more than two decades of experience building businesses across the UK, India and international markets.
Throughout his career, Tom has worked alongside founders, investors and management teams to launch ventures, raise capital, develop growth strategies and create long-term value across sectors including consumer products, real estate, logistics, shipping and technology-enabled businesses. His experience has included oversight of strategic investments, financing arrangements and growth initiatives, including involvement in transactions and funding decisions exceeding US$50 million.
Tom was involved in the growth of BBLUNT, one of India's best-known consumer and lifestyle businesses, helping support its expansion and the development of its products division prior to its acquisition by Honasa Consumer Ltd, the parent company of Mamaearth for US$18 million.
Having worked across the UK, India, Europe, Africa and the Americas, Tom has advised and supported founders, investors and leadership teams through periods of growth, transformation and value creation. Today he is Founder and Strategic Partner at Idea Factory, where he works with ambitious businesses to identify opportunities, sharpen their proposition and build platforms for long-term growth.
His work sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, culture, capital and value creation.
Malini Agarwal
Founder & Strategic Partner
Malini Agarwal is an entrepreneur, media founder and cultural strategist who has played a pioneering role in shaping India’s digital content and creator economy.
Widely known as MissMalini, she founded one of India’s earliest and most influential digital lifestyle platforms, building a business that transformed the way brands, celebrities and audiences connect online. What began as a personal blog evolved into a multi-platform media, talent and community business that helped define influencer marketing and digital storytelling in India.
Over the course of her career, Malini has built and scaled content, talent management and community-led businesses, working at the intersection of media, entertainment, culture and commerce.
Through MissMalini, she created a platform that reached millions of consumers while partnering with leading brands, creators, artists and global businesses navigating the rapidly changing digital landscape.
In 2021, MissMalini Entertainment became part of the Good Glamm Group, one of India’s most significant content-to-commerce platforms, with Malini joining as a shareholder and co-founder within the group’s creator ecosystem.
Having spent more than two decades building brands, communities and cultural relevance at scale, Malini brings a unique understanding of audience behaviour, storytelling, influence and modern consumer engagement. Her work has consistently focused on identifying emerging trends, building meaningful connections and creating platforms that shape conversations and drive long-term value.
Today, as Founder and Strategic Partner at Idea Factory, she works alongside founders, brands and investors to help businesses sharpen their narrative, build cultural relevance and unlock new opportunities for growth.
Her work sits at the intersection of media, culture, entrepreneurship and value creation.
