In a highly competitive category, Starface raised $2 million in a seed round led by BBG Ventures to invest in product innovation, and team and Canadian and European expansion.

WHO: Launched in September 2019, Starface was founded by former beauty editor Julie Schott and entrepreneur Brian Bordainick. The brand launched with one hero product, a hydrocolloid acne patch in the shape of a star and a mission to foster acne positivity.

WHY: The capital will be used to grow its team, invest in product innovation, and branch into Canadian and European markets this year.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “We see quite a few skincare and cosmetics businesses, almost all of which have a conventional lens on the category,” Andrew Mitchell, founder and general partner of Brand Foundry Ventures, told Vogue Business. “Starface addressed how traditional positioning has stigmatized an experience that’s just part of being human.”

DETAILS:

• Starface raised $2 million in a seed round led by BBG Ventures with participation by Brand Foundry Ventures, Amity Supply, Able Partners and BVC,
• according to Pitchbook.
• The brand had a pre-seed raise of $1 million from investors that included Bobbi Brown.
• The company has seen sales grow roughly 50% month-over-month since launching.
• Starface has grown its social following to a combined 66,000 across Instagram and TikTok since launch.
• The brand’s average engagement rate on Instagram, at 1.95%, is nearly 1.5x higher than the industry benchmark of 0.87%, according to Thomas Rankin, CEO and co-founder of Dash Hudson.
• The brand has six new products slated to launch this year and plans to roll out two limited-edition takes on the original hydro-stars.