Uncover, a community-built skincare brand based in Kenya, has raised $1 million to expand its operations in Kenya and expand to Nigeria. It will also use the funding to launch more products, invest in its tech and data to produce efficiently and effectively produce, reach and market to its audience.
Participants in this fund raise include FirstCheck Africa, Samata Capital, Future Africa, IgniteXL. Others include angel investors such as ex-SokoWatch COO, Kwenhui Tawah, and ex-L’Oreal executive and current WPP Scangroup CEO, Patricia Ithau.
Launched in 2020 by CEO, Sneha Mehta, Jade Oyateru (COO) and Catherine Lee (Advisor), the skincare startup has raised a total of $1.225 million since inception. The startup was launched at Antler’s Nairobi incubator which provided it with $100.000. The company uses plants from African and manufactures its products in South Korea.
Uncover recently launched a new Uncover Skincare product range: Aloe Invisible Sunscreen, Green Tea Revitalising Cleanser, Rooibos Glow Toner and Argan Hydrating Moisturiser.
The skincare startup stated that it worked closely with a community of over 50,000 women in Kenya to test these skincare products, receive feedback and adapt its formula accordingly to make sure it meets all your skincare needs
According to Mehta, “Our production happens in Korea (one of the world’s biggest beauty markets) , where we are leveraging the best technology, labs, and scientists in the world who understand stability testing, safe ingredients, and formulations. We are able to deliver because women in our community have graciously provided information and tried our products, to help us formulate specifically for this market.”
Uncover sells its products through its online platform, on marketplaces, and in the stores of partner brands. Mehta says the startup’s revenue has grown 20-fold since its launch, propped by the growing demand for its products, and the community it continues to build.
Apart from product sales, Uncover offers virtual consultations through an in-house esthetician, and produces skin-tertainment content to reach more users, and recently introduced a skin quiz for personalized recommendations
“I have experienced the lack of safety in products firsthand, the lack of information and the feeling of being stuck. This is part of the reason why we are building these tools for people to get personalized information, and advice including diet tips.”
