Led by Long Journey Ventures, the New Round Signifies a Pivotal Moment for the Incoming CEO to Transform the Beauty Industry

November 19, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

OAKLAND, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–LUUM, Inc., the world’s first A.I. and robotics powered lash extension service, announced that the company has closed its Series A round bringing total capital raised to $30M and named Jo Lawson as its new Chief Executive Officer. Co-Founder Nathan Harding has transitioned back to the role of CTO and remains a board member and an integral member of the executive team.

“I’m excited to hand off the reins to Jo and get back to engineering”Post this

Lawson previously served as President of LUUM since 2023 and helped lead the company’s expansion by driving significant growth and value through brand-first collaborations with Nordstrom and Ulta Beauty, securing accolades from customers and awards such as TIME Best Inventions and BeautyMatter NEXT, as well as raising the company’s largest round of funding to date. Prior to joining LUUM, Lawson spent more than 15 years shaping brand strategies and product development across renowned global brands such as Apple, PayPal and Movado. Lawson has led marketing, communications and product teams across consumer electronics, retail and luxury industries. Her unique blend of leadership lends a distinctive perspective and approach to her vision for LUUM. In her new role, Lawson will drive business and brand strategy, support a best-in-class design and innovation team, and continue to oversee LUUM’s meteoric trajectory in a rapidly growing industry. Lawson also serves as a board director at Rebalance Health.

“Leading the talented team at LUUM comes at a pivotal moment in the industry when technology and beauty are converging like never before. As LUUM heralds the new era of Beauty Experience Automation, we’re enhancing experiences while also setting new standards in precision and client care. I’m committed to collaborating with the team and Board to bring forth leading-edge approaches that prioritize quality, innovation and artistry,” said Jo Lawson, CEO, LUUM.

“I’m excited to hand off the reins to Jo and get back to engineering,” said Harding. “Jo is perfect for LUUM’s next phase of growth. Her dedication to the client experience and pushing the boundaries of technology ensures better solutions for our clients, lash artists and partners. She’s exactly who we need to transform salon services and improve the world of beauty through technology in service of humans.”

Along with Co-Founder Harding and CFO Tai Hsia, Lawson spearheaded LUUM’s successful Series A round, raising funds to propel next-generation product design advances for the lash extension industry and Beauty Experience Automation category at-large. The round was led by Long Journey Ventures, Artifact Capital, and Boardman Bay Capital Management, and supported by key previous investors such as Ulta Beauty. The new capital is earmarked to expand LUUM’s market reach and fund LUUM’s next generation product launch. LUUM is securing additional strategic retail partners to roll out their technology at scale beginning June 2025.

About LUUM, Inc.:

Founded in 2017, LUUM is revolutionizing the multi-billion-dollar eyelash extension industry through cutting-edge robotics and A.I., pioneering a new category known as Beauty Experience Automation. LUUM’s advanced technology, supported by a robust global patent portfolio and notable beauty and venture capital investors, is redefining beauty services worldwide.

In Fall 2023 and in Fall 2024, LUUM launched collaborations with Ulta Beauty and Nordstrom respectively, piloting their innovative eyelash extension service in San Jose store locations. These partnerships have elevated the beauty service experience and established a new benchmark in the industry, demonstrating how technology can meet the rising demand for cutting-edge and convenient beauty solutions, drive new and more frequent customer traffic, and increase share of wallet to retailers looking for “addictive” location-based services. Lash artists are also excited to embrace LUUM technology and its ability to empower a sustainable career with benefits never experienced in the industry. LUUM’s Beauty Experience Automation works hand-in-hand with beauty professionals and is the future of beauty services. As LUUM continues to expand its presence, they remain committed to showcasing how these advancements can enhance customer experiences and redefine beauty services in select retail environments.

For more information, visit www.luumlash.com.

Contacts

DKC, luum@dkcnews.com

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