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2024-07-16

Headquarters

San Francisco, CA

Employee Count

50+

Year Founded

2017

Amount raised

$17.5 million

Business model

Shop-in-Shop model within established beauty retailers

Early traction

Successful pilot with Ulta Beauty, 90%+ booking rates, and over 1800 sessions completed, 1230 salons on a waitlist for pre-orders

Setting the Scene
  • For decades, eyelash extensions have been manually applied, a method fraught with inefficiencies and risks.

    • The process is extremely inefficient as the application takes hours to complete.

    • There’s a high liability and hygienic risk involved with humans operating metal tools near the eyes. 

    • Eyelash artists often have reduced career longevity because the labor is extremely intensive.

  • This week’s company is transforming the beauty industry with robotic and AI-powered technology to apply eyelash extensions, making the process faster, safer, and more consistent.

In a Sentence

LUUM is a beauty services robotics company that applies eyelash extensions through an AI-powered machine.

  • Application: LUUM uses advanced robotics to apply eyelash extensions, significantly reducing the time and effort required compared to manual methods.

  • AI-Powered RoboticsLUUM’s technology leverages artificial intelligence to ensure precision and consistency, enhancing both the safety and quality of the traditional process.

Bulleted Version

Similar to how a self-driving car replaces manual human control, LUUM’s robotic lash technician takes the driver’s seat in eyelash application to enhance efficiency, safety, and user experience.
Due Diligence
What We Like
  • Market Opportunity: The U.S. eyelash extension and services industry is surprisingly large and poised for further growth, making LUUM's proposition a potential winner-take-all.

    • LUUM also has opportunities to expand their robotic technology into other segments of the beauty salon industry, which is valued at $155B.

  • Enhanced Safety Features: LUUM’s AI-powered robotic technology ensures maximum client safety with innovative features such as a feather-light wands with flexible ends that automatically disengage if it detects movement.

  • Intellectual Property: LUUM has built a strong competitive moat with 48 awarded patents across 25 countries, securing its innovative technology and providing a significant barrier to entry for potential competitors.

Potential Risks
  • Business Model: Although LUUM’s pilot was successful in providing robotic eyelash extension services directly to customers within a partnered beauty retailer setting, the shift to a shop-in-shop rental model remains untested in the market.

  • Consumer Hesitancy: Market adoption may be hindered by consumer reliance on trusted eyelash specialists and potential discomfort or unease with a machine-based application process, necessitating efforts for education.

  • Potential Technological Failures: As with any advanced technology, there is a risk of unforeseen technical issues or malfunctions, making upkeep and reliability critical to maintaining client trust and satisfaction.

Founder Profile
NH
Nathan Harding
CEO and CTO, previously co-founded Ekso Bionics (NASDAQ: EKSO).

RG
Rachel Gold
CMO, previously help lead strategy at Elephant, VCCP, and Adobe. 

KA
Kurt Amundson
VP Engineering, previously at Ekso Bionics and experienced in robotic-human interactivity.

LH
Lynn Heublein:
Served as Chairperson until recently. 

WhyLUUM

By bringing a faster, safer, and more consistent process to lashing through patented robotics and AI, LUUM is making a sleepy industry blink.

*Nothing in this content constitutes investment or legal advice. Conduct independent diligence and consult professional advisers before making investment decisions.*

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