– Skincare startup Uncover has secured $1.4 million in its Seed II funding round to support its expansion across Africa, with key contributions from EQ2 Ventures, IgniteXL Ventures, and other investors.

– The African beauty market, identified as the fastest-growing globally, is expanding at twice the rate of the global average, presenting significant opportunities for Uncover’s data-driven, tech-focused skincare solutions.

– Uncover, founded in Kenya, has already extended its reach to Nigeria, Uganda, and Ghana, with plans to enter the Democratic Republic of Congo, aiming to address the underserved beauty market and leverage its technology for further growth.

Skincare startup Uncover has successfully closed a $1.4 million Seed II funding round, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion across Africa.

Co-Founder and CEO Sneha Mehta highlighted the company’s pioneering approach: “The industry has represented only a few skin tones in testing and we are one of the first brands testing on women in Africa.

“Our data-driven products combined with a tech platform-focused personalization have fueled the company’s growth. What’s exciting is that we are starting in Africa but seeing global demand and opportunity for our solution,” explained Sneha Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO of Uncover.”

The funding round, led by Dubai-based EQ2 Ventures and global fund IgniteXL Ventures, also saw participation from Chui Ventures, Samata Capital, and Altree Capital. Notably, a substantial secondary transaction was included to meet investor demand.

EQ2 Ventures, known for investing in innovative B2B and B2C tech businesses across the Middle East and Africa, and IgniteXL Ventures, which fuels innovation at the intersection of health, technology, and consumer experiences, played key roles. Chui Ventures supports exceptional early-stage African startups.

Founded in Kenya three years ago, Uncover has since expanded into Nigeria, Uganda, and recently Ghana, with plans to enter the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The African beauty market, according to McKinsey’s 2023 global beauty report, is growing twice as fast as the global average.

The report also notes Africa’s projected rise as home to the largest youth population in the next 15 years, despite being underserved in both products and knowledge. Uncover aims to address this gap by leveraging data and technology to disrupt the beauty market.

Patrick Thiriet of EQ2 Ventures remarked, “We are incredibly impressed with Uncover’s use of data and technology to understand their core customer’s needs. By adopting a data-centric approach, Uncover has built one of Africa’s most engaged, loyal digital communities. “