Seen, a hair care brand developed by a Harvard-trained dermatologist, has raised $9 million.
The Series A round included existing and new investors in the New York brand, which was launched in 2019 by Dr. Iris Rubin after four years of research.
Participants included Mitch Lares, co-founder of life sciences company Danaher Corporation, and Somerville SPV, led by investor Feroz Dewan.
Permanent capital investor Sater Glove Holdings and George Murconic, director of retailer Ulta Beauty, were also involved.
This round built on earlier funding from Harvard dermatologists and scientists, including Dr. Rox Anderson of Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital.
“This is another transformative milestone for the scene,” Rubin said.
“The majority of adults in the United States self-describe sensitive skin, and more than 100 million people in the United States suffer from acne, eczema, dry scalp, and hair loss, which are caused by irritants, allergens, and/or pores. This can be exacerbated by ingredients that clog hair products.
“Our mission is to help people look confident by providing salon-quality hair formulas that are clinically proven to be gentle on the skin.”
Greg Maged, co-founder of Seen, added: “Series A funding will enable us to focus on innovation, further expand our specialty sampling to 10,000 dermatology practices by 2025, and expand our retail footprint.
“We have experienced 100% compound annual growth since launch and consistently exceed Ulta’s brand sales forecasts.”
Mrkonic, an investor who currently serves on Ulta Beauty’s board of directors, said:
“Seen is applying dermatology to hair care, and this is exactly the type of category-defining innovation that excites Ulta.”
