DirectTIPS successfully completed its Series A funding of $1.5 million for Tippy, a disruptive digital tipping system for the beauty industry. Funding was led by Douglas Von Allmen, founder of Beauty Alliance, and joined by Lehigh Valley Angel Investors’ Group and private investor Michael Caron.

WHO: DirectTIPS is the parent company of Tippy, a digital tipping system for industry professionals by industry professionals. Tippy’s disruptive technology offers a suite of tools reducing salon owners’ processing fees and improving service providers’ tips, helping them to meet and exceed financial goals. Tippy is headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and launches in August 2018.

WHY: Funding will be used to accelerate product innovation and market expansion.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: DirectTIPS CEO/President David Tashjian explains, “The funding was the successful culmination of building a disruptive platform to benefit salon professionals, and attracting industry leaders such as Pat Parenty, Douglas Von Allmen, and Michael Sampson. Their respective investment and involvement was Tippy’s true product validation. We’re excited to have their guidance as we launch this summer.”

DETAILS:

• DirectTIPS successfully completed its Series A funding of $1.5 million for Tippy.
• Funding was led by Douglas Von Allmen, founder of Beauty Alliance, the largest privately owned professional beauty products distributor in the country at the time of its acquisition by L’Oréal in 2007. Mr. Von Allmen is the primary investor in BehindTheChair.com, the largest community of salon professionals in the world.
• The round was joined by Lehigh Valley Angel Investors’ Group and private investor Michael Caron.
• Joining the Board is Michael Sampson, an innovator in prestige beauty who specializes in building a global footprint focusing on channel diversification, product development, digital strategy, and consumer engagement. Mr. Sampson is currently CEO of Kate Somerville Skincare LLC.