Uncover, Africa’s emerging beauty brand has successfully closed a $1.4m Seed II funding round.
The round was led by EQ2 Ventures and IgniteXL Ventures, with participation from Chui Ventures, Samata Capital and Altree Capital. As part of the round.
Founded in Kenya three years ago, Uncover, is a data-driven women’s skincare brand. The firm leverages leading K-Beauty technology and innovation, infused with the healing powers of African botanicals like Baobab, Argan and Rooibos to create safe, nourishing solutions for women.
Uncover has operations in Kenya and has expanded to Nigeria, Uganda, and recently Ghana – with plans to set up shop in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Sneha Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO of Uncover said, “Uncover is much more than a skincare brand. We are a movement to prioritize women of color who have been side-lined by the beauty industry for generations. The industry has represented only a few skin tones in testing and we are one of the first brands testing on women in Africa. Our data-driven products combined with a tech platform-focused personalization have fueled the company’s growth. What’s exciting is that we are starting in Africa but seeing global demand and opportunity for our solution.”
The round brings together global and local investors to support the Uncover team in their plans to further build their tech platform, launch new products, expand to new markets and continue to leverage data to build the leading skincare brand made with melanin-rich skin in mind. Uncover says it has seen demand for their products not only from Africa but also from diaspora populations globally and is actively working on partnerships in key diaspora markets in North America.
Jade Oyateru, Co-Founder and COO of Uncover said, “We are delighted to partner with a remarkable group of investors who share our vision for the future of women’s skincare and wellness, both on the continent and beyond. They bring a wealth of experience in this industry. This funding will empower us to unlock our next stage of growth, expand our product portfolio, enhance our technology, and reach even more consumers seeking personalized skincare solutions.”
Uncover engages a digital community of 200,000+ women across Kenya, Nigeria, and the diaspora, and has grown its revenue 10x in the last 24 months since their last funding round. The growth was underpinned by their successful expansion to Nigeria, the launch of new data-driven products made specifically with melanin-rich skin women in mind, and investments in their tech platform.
The company says the cross-pollination between online and offline are critical to scaling within the African beauty market. Uncover leverages an omnichannel approach: Online, building a strong consumer tech platform driven by data to ensure optimal product discovery, customer education and personalized offering. Offline, the company has also built partnerships with top retailers to drive visibility, trust, and availability.
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