Company News, Financial News

Unilever Ventures Invests in Microbiome Haircare Company Straand

Australian start-up will use $2 million pre-seed investment to expand into US and other markets.

Author Image

By: Christine Esposito

Editor-in-Chief

Straand, an Australian-based natural hair care start-up that emphasizes scalp care, has inked a $2 million pre-seed investment deal with Unilever Ventures.  The company, which was founded in 2022 and is based in Melbourne, will use the funds to expand into the US, UK, Europe and China, according to reports shared on Straand's LinkedIn page.

“Dandruff and broader scalp concerns are a significant and much maligned condition globally. There has been limited innovation in the scalp health category for many years and it is ripe for disruption,” Rachel Harris, Partner at Unilever Ventures, said in a article posted by Forbes in Australia. “Straand stood out with its microbiome-focused formulations, bold branding, youthful appeal and affordable positioning. We are excited to support Jeremy and the team on bringing Straand to market.”

Straand’s core ingredients include Defenscalp, a rosebay extract designed to gently affect the scalp ecosystem and improve the appearance of hair, where there is less flaking of scalp and reduced sebum production. Defenscalp naturally regulates the malassezia species proliferation while preserving the scalp microbiota to maintain a flake free non-oily looking scalp and hair, according to Straand.

Keep Up With Our Content. Subscribe To Happi Newsletters