Karen Saldanha

I started Dabble because I couldn’t find safe, creative play tools for my child. Most products were unsafe, over-designed, and filled with instructions. Drawing on my background in expressive arts therapy, brand building, and motherhood, I set out to create what didn’t exist safe, sensory-first tools that let children explore freely, without screens or supervision. So I built what I couldn’t find. From scratch, with no product design background just persistence, endless experiments, and a belief in possibilities. Two years later, our efforts were recognised with the Elevate Award & Grant for Innovation and a deal on Shark Tank India. Today, Dabble is India’s first clean-label creative play brand for early childhood 6 months to 6 years trusted by over 100,000 parents. Our crayons, paints, and PlayArt kits are taste-safe, toxin-free, and designed for messy, independent, screen-free play. My journey has been shaped by over 15 years in branding, sales, and leadership coaching, and a deep grounding in Expressive Arts Therapy and Waldorf Early Education. This blend of corporate clarity, child psychology, and motherly instinct is what powers Dabble’s vision. Beyond products, we are building a movement. A community of like-minded parents, educators, and innovators who believe in raising kids creatively giving them the freedom to explore, make mistakes, and express without limits. I believe entrepreneurship is about more than building businesses. It’s about reshaping childhoods, changing family circumstances, and inspiring communities for generations to come.