The beauty industry attracted $438.8 million in venture capital through July 2024. Down from the $3.3 billion peak in 2021.
But money still flows. Just more selectively.
Major transactions included Elf Beauty's $1 billion acquisition of Hailey Bieber's Rhode, as well as L'Oréal's investments in a majority stake in Medik8.
Smart investors focus on profitability over growth. Sustainable brands over hype. Tech-enabled services over traditional models.
This guide lists 40+ active investors in beauty, hair salons, and spa businesses. From seed stage angels to billion-dollar private equity firms.
Before you pitch these beauty investors
You're pitching your beauty brand to 50 investors. Following up blindly.
But which ones actually read your deck? Who spent time on your financials? Who forwarded it to partners?
Stop guessing. Start knowing.
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List of beauty investors
1. True Beauty Ventures
Beauty-focused venture capital firm investing in next-generation brands.
Investment focus: Clean beauty, inclusive brands, tech-enabled beauty services
Investment range: $500K-$5M initial investment
Notable investments: Caliray, Youthforia
Contact: truebeautyventures.com
2. Unilever Ventures
Corporate venture arm of consumer goods giant Unilever.
Investment focus: Personal care, beauty tech, sustainable beauty
Investment range: $1M-$20M
Notable investments: OneSkin, RAS Luxury Oils, Indē Wild
Contact: unileverventures.com
3. L Catterton
Largest consumer-focused private equity firm globally.
Investment focus: Premium beauty brands, salon chains, spa concepts
Investment range: $50M-$500M+
Notable investments: Beauty Industry Group, ELEMIS, Bliss
Contact: lcatterton.com
4. VMG Partners
Consumer-focused growth equity firm.
Investment focus: Beauty, personal care, wellness brands
Investment range: $10M-$100M
Notable investments: Drunk Elephant, Briogeo, Halo Beauty
Contact: vmgpartners.com
5. Greycroft
Early-stage venture capital with strong beauty portfolio.
Investment focus: Digital beauty brands, beauty tech
Investment range: $1M-$15M
Notable investments: Madison Reed, Glamsquad, Mother Science
Contact: greycroft.com
6. Female Founders Fund
Investing in female-led companies across sectors.
Investment focus: Beauty brands with female founders
Investment range: $250K-$2M
Notable investments: Fur, Heyday, Mother Science
Contact: femalefoundersfund.com
7. Audax Private Equity
Middle-market PE firm with salon investments.
Investment focus: Salon chains, beauty service platforms
Investment range: $50M-$250M
Notable investments: Salon Lofts (210+ locations)
Contact: audaxprivateequity.com
8. Riata Capital Group
Dallas-based PE focused on consumer services.
Investment focus: Salon suites, beauty service platforms
Investment range: $25M-$150M
Notable investments: Salon Republic (2,500+ BCPs)
Contact: riatacapital.com
9. G9 Ventures
Early-stage fund backing diverse founders.
Investment focus: Inclusive beauty brands
Investment range: $500K-$3M
Notable investments: Crown Affair, Naza (textured hair salon)
Contact: g9ventures.com
10. Precursor Ventures
Seed-stage investor across consumer sectors.
Investment focus: Beauty tech, diverse-founded brands
Investment range: $250K-$1M
Notable investments: Lion Pose, Naza
Contact: precursorvc.com
11. 500 Global
Global accelerator and early-stage investor.
Investment focus: Beauty tech, D2C beauty
Investment range: $150K-$500K
Notable investments: Public Goods, Althea, Laka
Contact: 500.co
12. Concept Ventures (formerly Concept to Co)
Beauty and wellness specialist VC.
Investment focus: Skincare, haircare, personal care
Investment range: $1M-$10M
Notable investments: Hawthorne, skin+me
Contact: conceptventures.vc
13. Imaginary Ventures
Consumer-focused early stage fund.
Investment focus: Beauty brands, retail tech
Investment range: $1M-$5M
Notable investments: Daily Harvest, Glossier
Contact: imaginaryventures.com
14. Backstage Capital
Investing in underrepresented founders.
Investment focus: Diverse-founded beauty brands
Investment range: $100K-$250K
Notable investments: Multiple beauty startups
Contact: backstagecapital.com
15. Tiger Global Management
Late-stage growth investor.
Investment focus: Scaled beauty brands
Investment range: $10M-$100M+
Notable investments: Ever/Body, YatsenGlobal
Contact: tigerglobal.com
16. Gauge Capital
Australian PE firm expanding globally.
Investment focus: Beauty brands with platform potential
Investment range: $10M-$50M
Notable investments: Loving Tan, Performance Beauty Group
Contact: gaugecapital.com.au
17. Silas Capital
Consumer-focused growth equity.
Investment focus: Beauty and personal care
Investment range: $5M-$25M
Notable investments: Multiple beauty brands
Contact: silascapital.com
18. Felix Capital
Creative capital for digital lifestyle brands.
Investment focus: Digital-first beauty brands
Investment range: €1M-€20M
Notable investments: Goop, Farfetch
Contact: felixcap.com
19. Willow Growth Partners
Beauty and wellness specialist.
Investment focus: Clean beauty, wellness brands
Investment range: $2M-$15M
Notable investments: Youthforia, multiple brands
Contact: willowgrowth.com
20. West Lane Capital
Lower middle-market PE firm.
Investment focus: Beauty services, salon platforms
Investment range: $10M-$50M
Notable investments: Body Spa Group, Blue Cross Nail Care
Contact: westlanecapital.com
21. Insight Partners
Software and consumer tech investor.
Investment focus: Beauty tech platforms
Investment range: $10M-$100M+
Notable investments: Wonderskin ($50M)
Contact: insightpartners.com
22. Peterson Partners
Growth equity for consumer brands.
Investment focus: Omnichannel beauty brands
Investment range: $5M-$25M
Notable investments: Gloss Ventures/Sacheu ($15M)
Contact: petersonpartners.com
23. General Atlantic
Global growth equity firm.
Investment focus: Premium beauty brands
Investment range: $50M-$500M+
Notable investments: Kayali fragrance
Contact: generalatlantic.com
24. Samos Investments
European growth investor.
Investment focus: European beauty brands
Investment range: €5M-€50M
Notable investments: Jude, VIEVE, multiple brands
Contact: samosinvestments.com
25. Bain Capital
Global private equity leader.
Investment focus: Beauty brand roll-ups
Investment range: $100M-$1B+
Notable investments: Virgin Active, multiple beauty assets
Contact: baincapital.com
26. Esas Private Equity
Turkish PE expanding internationally.
Investment focus: Beauty manufacturing and brands
Investment range: $20M-$100M
Notable investments: Multiple beauty assets
Contact: esasholding.com
27. Firelight Capital Partners
Consumer brand specialist.
Investment focus: Beauty tools and accessories
Investment range: $10M-$25M
Notable investments: Fromm International
Contact: firelightcapital.com
28. Adamantem Capital
Australian mid-market PE.
Investment focus: Professional beauty brands
Investment range: A$20M-A$100M
Notable investments: NAK Hair
Contact: adamantemcapital.com
29. Sherpa Capital
Iberian mid-market PE.
Investment focus: Spanish/Portuguese beauty brands
Investment range: €20M-€100M
Notable investments: Anian
Contact: sherpa-capital.com
30. Church & Dwight Ventures
Corporate venture arm.
Investment focus: Personal care innovation
Investment range: $5M-$50M
Notable investments: Touchland
Contact: churchdwight.com
31. Miroma Ventures
Beauty and media focused fund.
Investment focus: Consumer beauty brands
Investment range: $1M-$10M
Notable investments: Multiple beauty brands
Contact: miromaventures.com
32. Mark Cuban
Celebrity investor via Shark Tank.
Investment focus: Innovative beauty concepts
Investment range: $100K-$1M
Notable investments: Youthforia ($400K)
Contact: Through Shark Tank applications
33. Angel Investors Network
Active beauty angel investors include:
- Charlotte Tilbury (investing in haircare)
- Naval Ravikant (beauty tech)
- Various beauty industry executives
Investment range: $25K-$500K
Focus: Early stage, founder connections
34. Crowdfunding Platforms
For smaller raises:
- Kickstarter: Product launches
- Indiegogo: Beauty devices
- Republic: Equity crowdfunding
- WeFunder: Community rounds
35. Beauty Accelerators
Sephora Accelerate
- 6-month program
- Mentorship + potential investment
- Focus: BIPOC-owned brands
Ulta Beauty SPARKED
- Retail partnership program
- Marketing support
- Path to distribution
Estée Lauder Companies' New Incubation Ventures
- Internal incubator
- Potential acquisition path
36. Strategic Buyers
Companies acquiring beauty brands:
- L'Oréal: Active acquirer
- Estée Lauder Companies: Premium brands
- Unilever: Mass and premium
- P&G: Innovation focus
- Shiseido: Asian and global brands
37. Debt Financing Options
For salons and spas:
- Fundbox: Working capital
- Kabbage: Business loans
- Square Capital: Based on payment processing
- PayPal Working Capital: Quick access
38. Regional Beauty Investors
Asia-focused:
- Sequoia Capital China
- GGV Capital
- DSG Consumer Partners
Europe-focused:
- Index Ventures
- Balderton Capital
- Accel Europe
39. Specialized Salon/Spa Investors
Franchise-focused:
- Fransmart
- iFranchise Group
- Franchise FastLane
Real estate + salon:
- Regis Corporation
- Ratner Companies
40. Government Grants
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
- For beauty tech innovation
- Up to $1.5M non-dilutive
State-level grants:
- California: Innovation grants
- New York: Minority/women-owned
- Texas: Small business funds
What beauty investors want now
Metrics
Strong unit economics matter more than growth.
- LTV:CAC ratio above 3:1
- Gross margins above 60%
- Path to profitability within 18 months
- Repeat purchase rate above 40%
Positioning
There's an increasing emphasis on backing female-led and diverse founding teams in the beauty industry.
Key trends investors track:
- AI-powered personalization
- Sustainable packaging
- Inclusive product lines
- Omnichannel distribution
- Social commerce integration
Team
Industry experience plus tech capability.
Strong teams have:
- Beauty industry veterans
- Digital marketing expertise
- Operations experience
- Clear vision for scale
Getting investment ready
For Product Brands
Wait until you hit $1M annual revenue. That's the minimum.
You need hero products that customers buy repeatedly. Show retention data, not just first purchases. Have your manufacturing locked down - investors hate supply chain surprises.
Most brands pitch too early. Build the fundamentals first.
For Salons/Spas
Private equity won't look at single locations. You need multiple profitable units proving the model works.
Show them unit economics that make sense. Each location profitable within 12 months. Management team running operations without you. Systems documented and scalable.
They're buying a business, not a job.
For Beauty Tech
VCs want technology that's hard to copy. Patents help but aren't enough.
The best model sells through businesses to reach consumers. Pure D2C is tough. Show recurring revenue - subscriptions, SaaS fees, repeat usage. Build network effects where more users make the product better.
Tech without beauty expertise rarely works. Beauty without tech differentiation gets ignored.
Process
Timeline
Seed rounds: 3-6 months Series A: 4-8 months PE deals: 6-12 months
Documents Needed
- Pitch deck (10-15 slides)
- Financial model
- Cap table
- Customer metrics
- Product roadmap
Due Diligence Focus
Investors dig deep on:
- Customer acquisition costs
- Inventory management
- Regulatory compliance
- IP ownership
- Team background checks
Start pitching beauty investors with Ellty
You've got the list. You know what investors want. Now make every pitch count.
With Ellty, you'll see:
- Which investors spent 10+ minutes on your deck
- Who returned multiple times
- When partners share internally
- Exactly which slides matter most
Stop sending PDFs into the void. Start tracking what works.
