PARIS – Haut.AI, a generative AI startup in the beauty space, has raised 2 million euros in its first external fundraising round.
The seed funding comes from LongeVC, a biotech and longevity venture capital firm, and the VC branch of Grupo Boticário shareholders.
The funds will support the Estonian-based SaaS company specializing in artificial intelligence for skin, hair and wellness analytics to expand and scale its skin care e-commerce personalization software. It will also go toward Haut.AI’s multimodal generative AI for skin analysis.
The company works with skin care R&D teams in Germany and Switzerland. Haut.AI’s scientists have published research papers on skin care AI and developed a software solution that’s used by more than 100 skin care R&D centers and sellers around the globe. The company’s partners include Beiersdorf and Ulta Beauty.
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Haut.AI said it has among the world’s most expansive, balanced skin-imaging datasets, including over 150 biomarkers, more than 3 million images and over a billion data points – including synthetic data – to ensure skin diversity. That contributes to the company developing AI skin care intelligence that is said to be unbiased and equitable.
Haut.AI uses numerous generative AI forms, including Generative Adversarial Networks, or GANS, since 2016. That has enabled the company to become an expert in high-quality synthetic data generation for training and experimenting, it said.
In May, Haut.AI unveiled SkinGPT, a virtual skin care try-on. That allows for image-to-image simulation of all skin conditions using clinical claims. The company uses generative AI to check its system for biases.
With SkinGPT, Haut.AI developed a photorealistic simulation of skin conditions for a face. From a photo it is possible to project how one’s face would look if it – for instance – gains 5 percent improvement in hyperpigmentation.
For people who do not yet have any skin deterioration or issues, viewing through a simulation what those would look like could be a big motivator for using skin care routines properly. The idea is to focus on care.
Earlier in 2023, Haut.AI joined the Pegasus Program, a Microsoft program for startups.
“At Haut.AI, we’re not just enhancing skin care commerce with generative AI – we’re redefining it,” Anastasia Georgievskaya, cofounder and chief executive officer of the company, said in a statement. “Using cutting-edge AI, we’ve transformed the simple act of taking a selfie into a high-touchpoint experience for online businesses that combines a powerful diagnostic tool followed by a curated product discovery journey.
“Our commitment goes beyond proving personalized skin care recommendations,” she continued. “We’re democratizing access to precise skin care analysis, ensuring our partners can serve everyone, regardless of age, gender or geography. We envision a world where skin care isn’t about guessing; it’s about brands understanding the uniqueness of their customers shopping line and delivering a data-driven experience that benefits both brands by increasing sales and customers who get better value for money.”
“Haut.AI’s cutting-edge tech will underpin the next generation of skin health, from early detection to diagnostics to personalized care,” said Garri Zmudze, a managing partner at LongeVC. “As they advance, anticipate game-changing solutions that tackle real skin challenges. Anastasia and her team are pioneering the use of artificial intelligence for the health of our skin and bringing it to more customers worldwide through their major retailer and brand partnerships.”
Paulo Braga, director of corporate ventures at Grupo Boticário’s shareholders’ VC arm, said: “In Haut.AI, we see not just a startup but the future of skin wellness. Anastasia and her team have a compelling vision and the technology to back it. The way people buy cosmetics online today is similar to the experience of buying electronics or books but the customer journey is far from being equal.”
