Appbrew, the Japan-based operator of beauty-focused social media platform Lips, has received ¥550m ($5.2m) in a funding round backed by digital media company Gree and news curation app developer Gunosy.
Venture capital firm Anri also participated in the round together with unnamed angel investors. The company had previously raised $680,000 in an October 2017 round backed by Anri, Skyland Ventures and various angel investors.
Lips has created a social app that allows users to search for cosmetics and beauty products, and write reviews or post photos. The platform was launched in January 2017 and had been downloaded more than 550,000 times by the following month, according to The Bridge.
Appbrew will put the capital towards recruitment and marketing costs as it considers broadening the target audience for its platform.