Asaya, an Indian beauty brand focused on serving melanin-rich skin, raised $1.5 million (Rs 12 crore) in a seed funding round.WHO: Founded in 2023 by Neeraj Biyani, Mandeep Bhatia, and Eeti Sharma, Asaya is a skincare brand specializing in products for melanin-rich skin. The range currently consists of 11 SKUs that are dermatologist-tested and certified by Made Safe Australia and Toxic Free Australia. Products are sold through the brand's website and online retail platforms like Nykaa, Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra, among others.WHY: The capital will be used to diversify its product portfolio and melanin-centric research, and enhance its market reach.IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Commenting on the funding, Neeraj Biyani, co-founder of Asaya, said, “Our products have received an overwhelmingly positive response, indicating strong product-market fit for many items in our lineup. This funding will help us go from 20,000 to over 250,000 consumers in the next 12 months.”He added, “We plan to significantly enhance our communication efforts and service capabilities to provide faster and more informed service to our rapidly growing customer base.”Sanil Sachar, Founding Partner of Huddle Ventures, shared, “Consumers today are extremely aware of what works for them and increasingly vocal about their preferences. The truth is that there are not enough products developed with the specific skincare needs of the melanin-rich population in mind. Asaya is bridging the gap in the skincare space in India with robust products, and conversations that will move the needle.”DETAILS:Asaya raised $1.