BeautyMatter NEXT50 brand Dune Suncare lands investment from the venture arm of the outdoor retailer REI.WHO: ​As avid, lifelong sunscreen users, Dune Suncare founders Emily Doyle and Mei Kwok were frustrated by the lack of innovation, accessibility, and inclusivity in the suncare market and were determined to fill a void in a critical space by bringing the highest-quality innovations to market. Doyle and Kwok self-funded the launch of three clear gel suncare SKUs with clinically proven skincare benefits that provide skin-tone-inclusive sun protection in 2020. The brand is currently sold at Ulta Beauty, Bluemercury and Dermstore.Path Ahead Ventures is the venture arm of Seattle-based specialty outdoor retailer REI. The $30 million fund invests in early-stage companies led by women and people of color.WHY: For REI, the investment aligns with their commitment to inclusivity and supporting brands making the outdoors more welcoming for everyone. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Mei Kwok, Dune Suncare co-founder, said of the REI investment, “This partnership means more than just capital. When Emily Doyle and I met the Path Ahead Ventures team and LPs during diligence, we felt truly seen. We built Dune to be skin-tone-inclusive from day one—a clear-gel sunscreen that works for every shade—and to have a partner who not only understands that mission but champions it is incredibly meaningful. As founders, especially as women and founders of color, you don’t always get rooms that hold space for your story. REI did. And that moment of recognition and alignment is something I’ll never forget.”DETAILS:REI has invested in Dune Suncare through its Path Ahead Ventures fund.