Science-backed hair loss brand Revela raised its first funding in a $6.5 million seed round led by Maki VC.
WHO: Launched in early 2022, Revela was founded by a team of Asian-American scientists from Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Caltech, and Columbia on the belief that new, more effective ingredients have yet to be discovered and that the next generation of beauty and wellness products are just waiting to be developed. Products are created using a scientific process that includes using proprietary biosensors and assays to probe biological models; this data is then used to train AI models to predict new, safe synthetic compounds that enhance human health. These compounds are then validated in sophisticated biological models (e.g., organoids, ex vivo) to ensure that they are safe and efficacious.
The brand launched direct-to-consumer with one product, the $98 Hair Revival Serum ($78 with a subscription). The serum contains a hero ingredient called ProCelinyl, a molecule composed of components from natural ingredients commonly found in mushrooms and mustard plants. In a clinical study, the brand found that 97% of women saw improvements in their hair in six weeks.
WHY: The funding will be used to develop innovative products and invest in marketing.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: "At Revela, we begin our process by challenging the status quo to see where you can improve. Using AI, we lead the discovery of completely new ingredients to offer products with real, targeted results. Our technology allows us to scan the library of 3 billion molecules and create a shortlist of ingredients with the highest potential of being the perfect solution with no trial and error involved," says Evan Zhao, co-founder Revela and a synthetic biologist and chemical engineer.
Zhao continued, "Our investors are a phenomenal mix of consumer goods experts and biotechnology experts who believe that consumers deserve more effective, innovative products. We believe they can help us usher in a new era of biotechnology-backed consumer wellness and provide us with the guidance we need to scale a consumer brand."
David Gilboa, co-founder and Co-CEO of Warby Parker and one of the managers of Good Friends VC, said, "Revela's discovery and technology-first approach is set to disrupt the consumer wellness space and bring in a new wave of better products."
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