Back to Directory

Published

Industry
Beauty and Personal Care
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 Robotics: LUUM’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.*

Explore other features

SF

2026-10-28

Talp

Talp is an AI-powered customer simulation platform that helps businesses predict how customers might respond to pricing changes, product launches, and marketing campaigns before making those decisions.

Business model

Annual B2B contracts

Read More: Talp

NYC

2026-10-13

Snag

Snag is a socially-native marketplace for apartments that helps renters discover, verify, and pay for flexible rentals.

Business model

Fees taken on rent processed through the marketplace

Read More: Snag

NYC

2026-09-29

Ophelia

Ophelia is the discovery, authentication, and transaction layer that lets AI agents securely act on your behalf without relying on web browsers.

Business model

Usage-based API pricing tied to confirmed outcomes

Read More: Ophelia