Ahana Banerjee is a British-Indian entrepreneur and physicist. She is known for founding Clear, which is her groundbreaking skincare app that uses technology to help personalise skincare routines. Her journey from a physics student to a tech innovator highlights the combination of scientific inquiry and entrepreneurial spirit needed to make impactful contributions in STEAM and business.
Education
Ahana’s educational journey is diverse and international. She attended The Catholic High School in Chester, UK, for 3 years before moving to The American Embassy School in New Delhi, India, for another 3 years! She then pursued an International Baccalaureate Diploma at UWC South East Asia from 2015 to 2017, focusing on subjects such as Higher Level Mathematics and Physics. This academic journey led her to Imperial College London, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in 2021.
Career
During her time at Imperial College, Ahana co-founded Clear. Clear is a social commerce app designed to help users track and share their skincare routines with others. The idea for Clear stemmed from Ahana’s struggles with cystic acne and her desire for a data-driven approach to skincare. The app uses selfie analysis data to provide cosmetic brands with insights into product efficacy. This helps with bridging the gap between consumers and skincare companies, ultimately making skincare more effective for everyone!
Ahana and Clear have hit many milestones since 2021, including:
- Y Combinator Alumna: Clear was selected for Y Combinator’s Winter 2021 cohort. This helped provide Clear with mentorship and funding to help it grow further.
- Forbes 30 Under 30: In 2023, Ahana was recognised in Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’ Europe list in the Technology category due to her innovative contributions to the tech industry.
- Industry Recognition: Clear won the L’Oréal Beauty ‘Tech for Good’ Challenge and was featured among the “Best New Apps” in the US App Store in 2023.
Ahana: Inspiration
Ahana Banerjee’s journey shows us the power of combining scientific knowledge with entrepreneurial vision. Her transition from physics to tech entrepreneurship demonstrates that a strong foundation in STEAM can lead you to many different career opportunities which use your skills effectively. So, inspired by Ahana, we should all embrace the beauty that comes when we combine different approaches, fields, and knowledge to make something beautiful.
