Uncover, a Kenyan data-driven skincare brand, has successfully closed a $1.4 million seed II funding round to accelerate the growth of its innovative tech platform, introduce new products, and expand its market presence. This round, co-led by EQ2 Ventures and IgniteXL Ventures, saw participation from notable investors such as Chui Ventures, Samata Capital, and Altree Capital. Driving Personalization Through Data Founded in 2021 by Sneha Mehta (CEO), Jade Oyateru (COO), and Catherine Lee, Uncover has distinguished itself in the beauty industry by focusing on the unique skin care needs of
The founder of Canvas Beauty, Stormi Steele, says she has become the first creator to reach $1 million in sales from a live session on TikTok. Canvas Beauty Steele launched Canvas Beauty in 2018 and sold more than one million units in its first year before going viral on Facebook in 2019 with her Canvas Beauty’s hair blossom serum, according to AfroTech. Canvas Beauty then did $20 million in business in 2020, but by 2022, she was virtually broke even and almost losing the business. However, she bounced back in
Richualist founder Dawn Myers has secured investment from business figures Mark Cuban and Emma Grede on Shark Tank for her hair tool for textured hair. The washday styling tool Myers’ product, The Mint, is designed to detangle, condition, and style curly to coily hair types (classified as 3A to 4C). The hair tool includes six attachments and is designed to simplify and enhance styling. The technology used heats liquid hair products to optimize their effectiveness, addressing the often complicated and time-consuming nature of managing highly textured hair. “You simply load your pod; think
Zuri, a Pan-African beauty startup, has achieved its first institutional tech investment from Launch Africa Ventures. Zuri’s Journey So Far Founded in 2016 by Gisela Van Houcke, Zuri has evolved from Van Houcke selling products from her car to a tech-driven powerhouse. The startup distributes beauty products such as hair extensions and cosmetics while aiming to empower Black women entrepreneurs and customers. Zuri offers a wide range of culturally relevant beauty products distributed through a hybrid model of physical salons, e-commerce, and social channels. The company has also developed a software platform
Beauty-tech company Myavana has announced a new retail partnership with retailer Ulta Beauty, along with investments from Prisma Ventures and BrainTrustFund. Myavana is the brainchild of computer scientist Candace Mitchell Harris. Harris founded the company in 2012 with the aim of revolutionizing personal and professional textured hair care through data-driven science and technology. With a deep understanding of the unique hair challenges of women of color and women with textured hair faces, Myavana introduced a suite of innovative textured hair care science and technology products. Read: Myavana Taps AI To Personalize WOC’s Hair Solutions Elevating
Black-owned beauty-tech company Myavana is using AI to provide personalized insights and hair regimens that work for women of color. Myavana is the brainchild of computer scientist Candace Mitchell Harris. Her natural hair journey led her to seek data-driven, intelligent hair care solutions everywhere, from the lab to the Metaverse. The Science of Hair Data reveals that Black consumers drive the global hair-care market, spending nine times more on hair-care products than other racial groups. Black women, in particular, spend about $1.7 billion annually on hair-care products. While studying computer
Toye Onikoyi, Kelechi Agwunobi, Etebom Samuel, and Larry Adigun are the brains behind The Muse Mirror – also known as the mirror of the future – a one-of-kind virtual mirror that aims to shake up the beauty industry. Who is Toye Onikoyi? Rhode Island entrepreneur, Toye Onikoyi, is an experienced software engineer with an impressive tech portfolio that spans many years. After graduating from The University of Rhode Island in 2016, Onikoyi spent the first few years of his career working his way up from a Research Engineer to a Software
Black-owned digital app, ShearShare, has raised $2.3M in a seed funding round led by Fearless Fund. The round also included Level Up Ventures, New York Ventures, Gaingels, Chloe Capital, Portfolia, Pipline Angels, Bacon Family Trust, and ACV Auctions co-founder Jack Greco. The additional funding brings ShearShare’s total funding amount to $6.2M. Known to many as the “HairBnB,” ShearShare has created an easily accessible mobile app that provides licensed beauty and barbering professionals with flexible and affordable spaces to rent. In addition, entrepreneurs can use these spaces with no-term leases or commission fees.
Founder of Beauty Concepts, Cydnie Lunsford, has filed a lawsuit against Kim Kardashian after alleging that the business owner stole the name of her salon service named SKKN+. Black-owned beauty business, SKNN+ was founded by Cyndie Lunsford almost four years ago and offers women a wide range of aesthetic body products. The brand provides a hands-on transformative experience to all clients and helps them embrace new and healthier skincare habits. In 2018, Lunsford trademarked the name of her business just two days before Kim Kardashian made it to the trademark
