As part of our ongoing effort to spotlight inspiring startup journeys from the community, this week we spoke to the founders of Pleasure X Sutra, Monaliesa Sarkar and Shreya Kurumpilai, to learn more about their journey, vision, and what lies ahead. Ahead, read more experts from our exclusive conversation with the founders of Pleasure X Sutra:
What sparked the idea for Pleasure X Sutra, especially given your distinct generational backgrounds?
Monaliesa Sarkar: (Smiles) It’s quite a story. What happens when a 50-year-old survivor of generational trauma and a 20-something empath meet at IIT Delhi? A healing movement is born! That’s essentially us.
Despite our age gap, we discovered a powerful shared experience: a deep sense of emotional isolation in our most formative years. We knew we had to build something to ensure others didn’t have to suffer in silence.
Shreya Kurumpilai: Exactly. We quickly realised we had a shared mission: to connect the dots between mental health and sexual wellness, and to create a safe, science-backed space where people can explore pleasure, identity, and emotional well-being—without shame.
Monaliesa, you mentioned a personal journey with trauma. Can you elaborate on how your experiences shaped this vision?
Monaliesa Sarkar: I grew up amidst emotional and sexual abuse, surviving one trauma after another in a society that taught me to stay silent. For years, I wore smiles, achieved things, built a career—but inside I was broken.
I constantly wondered, where do people like me go to feel safe? Years later, with decades of insight, I decided to turn that pain into purpose.
Monaliesa Sarkar
Shreya, your journey sounds different, yet equally impactful. What were your formative experiences that led you here?
Shreya Kurumpilai: My challenges were rooted in abandonment issues, anxiety, and body dysmorphia as a child. Even when I succeeded academically and professionally, I didn’t know how to acknowledge myself. I simply didn’t feel ‘enough.’
What truly brought Monaliesa and me together was this shared mission to make emotional and sexual health part of everyday wellness, not a hidden or shameful conversation.
Shreya Kurumpilai
So, what exactly is Pleasure X Sutra? Can you tell us about your offerings?
Monaliesa Sarkar: It’s more than just a wellness brand; it’s a movement. We offer a pleasure-positive digital platform designed to remove shame from conversations on desire, workshops, and immersive sessions focused on intimacy, sensuality, and self-connection.
Shreya Kurumpilai: We also curate products specifically for mental and sexual wellness, and we extend our reach to corporates through mental wellness and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs. Crucially, we have grassroots outreach programs for women’s health in rural India.
What’s next for Pleasure X Sutra? Any upcoming developments you can share?
Shreya Kurumpilai: We are currently launching a range of products for solo and couple exploration.
Our goal isn’t to create just another line of sexual wellness products; we want to deeply understand the user’s journey and build offerings that nurture both mental and sexual well-being.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
