Uncover, a Kenya skincare startup founded by three women – Sneha Mehta (CEO), Jade Oyateru (COO), and Catherine Lee (Advisor) – has secured $1.4 million in seed funding. The funding round was led by EQ2 Ventures and IgniteXL Ventures, with participation from Chui Ventures, Samata Capital, and Altree Capital.
The funding was raised with the aim of expanding to other countries like the United States, Ghana, and Uganda. This follows previous funding rounds, including $100,000 in pre-seed funding in 2021 led by Antler VC and $1 million in 2022 to scale operations.
Uncover has built a digital community of over 200,000 women across Kenya, Nigeria, and the diaspora, prioritizing overall wellness and not just skincare. The founders’ personal experiences with skincare and mental health inspired them to create the startup in Nairobi.
“Uncover was created to show that beauty products can be formulated with Africans in mind,” said Jade Oyateru, Co-Founder and COO. “We are a one-stop shop dedicated to advancing not only skincare but self-care.”
The company plans to use the funding to launch new products, expand into more markets, and increase its tech and data capabilities. Uncover, whose skincare products are produced by Korean manufacturers using African botanicals, was launched in Nigeria in January this year.
The startup’s revenue has grown 20-fold, with virtual consultations and engaging content contributing to its success. The global skincare market is projected to reach $83.19 billion in the next few years.