New Investment: Zuri
What they do:
Zuri is an integrated beauty platform founded in 2016 that distributes beauty products (hair extensions, products, cosmetics) and aims to empower black women entrepreneurs and customers.
Zuri offers a wide range of culturally relevant beauty products distributed through a hybrid model of physical salons (owned or managed by franchisee), e-commerce, and social channels. The company has developed a proprietary software platform to deliver personalized experiences through the e-commerce app and physical stores.
Why we invested:
Zuri’s hybrid model offers an omnichannel experience to leverage the opportunity presented by the vastly underserved market of black and African women’s beauty. With a seasoned industry veteran at the helm, Zuri demonstrates strong potential for growth, showcasing a proven product-market fit and capital-efficient operations. This investment not only taps into the vast African beauty market but also provides diversification within our portfolio, bolstering our position in high-potential sectors while mitigating risk.
When we Invested:
The Investment in Zuri was completed in Q4/2023
The Founder:
Gisèla Van Houcke is the Founder & CEO of Zuri. She is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and was educated in the UK where she qualified and worked as a lawyer before starting Zuri in 2016.
Active in:
Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC
