In an exclusive interview with Indian Startup Times, veteran journalist Shaili Chopra explained why she moved from 22 years in media to entrepreneurship focused on women’s health. Her conviction was straightforward: midlife and menopause are among the most underserved, stigmatised and commercially ignored phases of a woman’s life in India, and they deserve products, services and storytelling designed specifically for this stage. That belief led her to found Gytree, a platform addressing midlife and menopause needs through nutrition, health coaching and AI-enabled support, and SheThePeople, a community that now counts over six million women. Gytree, which combines life-stage-specific products with guidance and education, says it has served around 65,000 customers so far.

From journalism to women’s health entrepreneurship

Shaili’s career in journalism gave her deep exposure to business, policy and consumer stories. But the turning point towards entrepreneurship came from a more personal realisation: there was almost no serious conversation in India around midlife and menopause, despite these being critical phases for women’s health, careers and financial security. “I wanted to create a platform focused on women’s health, particularly midlife and menopause,” Shaili said. That led to the creation of Gytree and SheThePeople, built around the idea that women in this age group need high-quality nutrition, credible guidance and stories that acknowledge their experiences instead of ignoring or trivialising them. Gytree now builds the key parts of the ecosystem for women in perimenopause- from daily nutrition blends to beat fatigue symptoms to sharply focussed products like MenoShot for 4 pm Energy Crashes. A vaginal probiotic is a best seller because it solves a problem no one else wants to. 

The story behind the name Gytree

The name Gytree is rooted in Indian culture and connected to women’s health. For Shaili, it was important to choose a name that felt familiar, meaningful and aligned with the brand’s purpose, rather than something purely trendy or borrowed from global wellness vocabulary. Gytree is intended to signal a brand that is Indian in its context, serious about health and focused on a specific life stage, instead of a generic “women’s wellness” label that could apply to any age group or concern.

The gap: midlife and menopause as an ignored category

According to Shaili, the biggest gap in the market is not a lack of health or wellness products, but a lack of products and conversations designed for menopause and midlife. In India, menopause is still surrounded by stigma, silence and misinformation. Many women do not even use the word “menopause”, and symptoms such as fatigue, mood changes, weight gain and sleep issues are often dismissed as personal weaknesses rather than recognised as health concerns.Gytree was built to address this by:

• Creating awareness around midlife and menopause
• Offering guidance through health coaches who understand this life stage
• Providing access to nutrition products formulated specifically for menopausal needs

For Chopra, this is not just a health issue. It is also an economic one. When women in their 40s and 50s struggle with unmanaged symptoms, it affects their ability to participate fully in the workforce, care for families and plan for their own financial futures.

Building trust in a stigmatised category

One of the early challenges for Gytree was building awareness and creating a trustworthy brand in a category where consumers are used to vague claims, miracle cures and repackaged generic products. Shaili emphasised that her own credibility as a journalist and founder helped open the conversation, but the brand had to stand on its own over time. Consumer feedback, repeat purchases and visible results became more important than the founder’s name. Both SheThePeople and Gytree have now developed into independent brands with their own consumer advocacy, rather than relying solely on Shaili’s personal brand. For her, that was a deliberate goal: to build institutions that outlast the founder and are trusted for what they deliver, not just who started them.

Product development: designed for menopause, not repackaged

A core principle for Gytree is that menopause needs specific formulations, not generic “women’s health” products with new packaging. The brand focuses on creating products that address symptoms and nutritional gaps associated with midlife and menopause, rather than simply adapting existing supplements or wellness products. Initial investment and resources were directed primarily towards:

• Product development targeted at the specific needs of women undergoing menopause
• Building a credible health and coaching layer around the products
• Creating content and community programs that normalise conversations around midlife

Gytree’s products and services are available pan-India, though the brand is currently focused on the Indian market rather than international expansion.

The Sisterhood Economy: awareness, guidance, nutrition

Shaili frames Gytree’s work within a larger idea she calls the “Sisterhood Economy”. In her view, businesses have a strong incentive to invest in women’s health because it directly impacts economic growth and progress. Holistic health solutions beyond medical treatments are essential to enable women’s participation in the workforce and their ability to contribute fully at home and in society. She outlines three key elements of this economy:

• Awareness: normalising conversations around midlife, menopause and women’s health
• Guidance: access to health coaches and credible information tailored to this life stage
• Access: life-stage-specific nutrition products that actually address menopausal needs

For her, this is not just a social good agenda. It is a growth agenda for the economy.

Long-term vision: India’s leading midlife and menopause brand

Shaili’s long-term vision is for Gytree to become India’s first large-scale brand focused on midlife and menopause. Within the next two to five years, she wants Gytree to be recognised as the leading brand in this category, trusted by women, doctors and employers alike. Success, for her, is not measured only in revenue or customer count. It is also measured in:

• How many women feel seen and supported in midlife
• How many employers start investing in menopause as part of women’s health and retention strategies
• How much the conversation around menopause shifts from stigma to normalcy

“I envision Gytree becoming India’s leading brand for midlife and menopause within two years,” she said. “But more than that, I hope Gytree significantly impacts women’s health and economic empowerment in India.”

Why Gytree matters?

For Indian women, midlife and menopause remain poorly understood and underserved. Most health and wellness brands focus on younger demographics, while medical systems often treat menopause as a narrow clinical issue rather than a broader life-stage transition affecting work, family and identity. Gytree’s approach combining awareness, coaching and life-stage-specific nutrition aims to turn menopause from a taboo into a manageable, supported phase of life. Shaili Chopra made clear that she sees this not just as a business opportunity, but as a necessary step towards a more inclusive and productive economy.

Interview By: Sejal Thakur