“We're democratising access to precise skincare analysis”: Generative AI startup Haut.AI raises €2m to expand

Estonian-based beauty and skincare intelligence tools startup Haut.AI has raised €2m in seed funding from the biotech and longevity venture capital firm LongeVC, and the venture capitalist arm of Brazilian beauty conglomerate Grupo Boticário.

The business said the funding will support expansion and scaling of its no-code skincare e-commerce personalisation software.

Its research and development is set to focus on multimodal generative artificial intelligence for skin analysis.

CEO and co-founder of Haut.AI Anastasia Georgievskaya said the business is not just enhancing skincare commerce with generative AI, but is redefining it.

 “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 providing personalised skincare recommendations,” s​he continued.

“We're democratising access to precise skincare analysis, ensuring our partners can serve everyone, regardless of age, gender, or geography. We envision a world where skincare isn't about guessing; it's about brands understanding the uniqueness of their customers’ shopping online and delivering a data-driven experience that benefits both brands by increasing sales and customers who get better value for money.” ​

The future of skin wellness​

A managing partner of LongeVC, Garri Zmudze, believed that Haut.AI’s tech is going to underpin the next generation of skin health.

“As they advance, anticipate game-changing solutions that tackle real skin challenges,” ​he stated.

“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 from 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.”​

Over a billion data points​

Haut.AI ‘s scientifically backed technology offers easy-to-integrate software that retailers, brands and clinics can use to offer precise digital skin analysis and personalised product recommendations, both in bricks-and-mortar stores and online.

It already partners with big businesses like German multinational Beiersdorf and US retailer Ulta Beauty.

The company works with top skincare R&D teams based in Germany and Switzerland. Its internal scientists have published research papers in skincare AI and developed a software solution that is currently used by over one hundred skincare R&D centres and sellers across the globe.

Haut.AI also has one of the world's most expansive balanced skin imaging datasets, with over 150 biomarkers, 3+ million images, and over a billion data points – which include synthetic data – to ensure unparalleled skin diversity.

The company was an early adopter of generative AI. It has been using multiple forms, including Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), since 2016, before generative systems gained widespread attention.

This allowed the company to become an expert in high-quality synthetic data generation for training and experimentation.

In May 2023, it launched SkinGPT, a virtual skincare try-on that enables image-to-image simulation of any skin condition using clinical claims. Haut.AI also uses GenerativeAI to check its system for biases as a part of its ethical AI commitment.

SkinGPT enables the first-ever skincare virtual try-on with photorealistic simulations and scientific backing. Haut.AI uses cutting-edge AI to create synthetic images and apply skin conditions to input image data. This empowers users to realistically simulate how their skin will change over time when using certain skincare products.