Indian beauty tech startup Kult, a personalized skincare and product discovery platform, has announced the successful closure of a USD 20 million Series A funding round (approx. INR 170 crore).
The round was led by Dr. Payal Kanodia and Aishwarya Bansal of the M3M Family Office, with participation from Venture Catalysts.
Founded by Karishma Singh and Ruchika Pallavi, Kult uses artificial intelligence to deliver personalized skincare recommendations, helping users discover suitable products based on their unique skin needs.
The platform’s visual catalog features products displayed on diverse Indian skin tones, increasing user trust and driving informed decision-making. Backed by the expertise of over 300 global beauty professionals, Kult combines deep personalization with expert curation.
The newly raised funds will be used to:
- Expand product offerings, targeting the launch of over 700 premium beauty products
- Grow its team by over 200 employees, with key hires in sourcing, engineering, product development, and user experience
- Scale operations to process 10,000+ daily orders by the end of 2025
As part of the investment deal, both Dr. Kanodia and Bansal will join Kult’s board of directors, offering strategic leadership and operational guidance.
“Kult’s data-driven, customer-first, tech-led model signals the next evolution in the online beauty space—where deep personalization and human insight converge to deliver instant, precise solutions,” said Dr. Payal Kanodia. “The strong traction from repeat users in this early stage validates the timing and necessity of launching such a sharply focused, super-niche platform.”
According to co-founder Karishma Singh, Kult is on track to achieve a gross merchandise value (GMV) of INR 650–700 crore in the current fiscal year, while maintaining healthy profit margins above 35%.
Kult operates in a highly competitive Indian beauty market, facing strong players like Nykaa, Good Glamm Group, and Smytten. However, the startup sets itself apart through a hyper-personalized, AI-powered experience, and by emphasizing cultural and regional diversity in product discovery.
The Series A round ranks among the largest early-stage raises in India’s consumer tech space for 2025, alongside Atomicwork (USD 25 million) and Lucidity (USD 21 million), reinforcing growing investor confidence in AI-enabled, consumer-centric platforms.
India’s beauty and personal care market is projected to reach USD 30 billion by 2027, with online sales expected to contribute USD 10 billion, accounting for 33% of the total market. As digital commerce accelerates, Kult is strategically positioned at the intersection of beauty, technology, and consumer empowerment.
