Japan-based male skincare brand Bulk Homme has raised ¥1.5bn ($14.3m) from investors including retailer Marui Group, insurance firm Nippon Life and financial services firm Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial Group.
Nippon Life and Tokyo Kiraboshi participated through corporate venture capital subsidiaries Nissay Capital and Kiraboshi Capital, and the round included incubator operator Dream Incubator’s Dimension Fund and debt financing supplied by Japan Finance Corporation.
Bulk Homme was formed in 2013 by fashion product supplier Tsumo JP before being spun off four years later. It sells shampoo, face wash and body wash for men both online and at more than 1,000 retailers and hair salons across Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, France and the UK.
The funding will be used to ramp up the company’s domestic marketing, logistics and customer service activities in addition to expansion in Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States.
Nissay Capital had previously invested $4.4m in the company in December 2018, following $2.6m from nine angel investors and debt financing from an undisclosed financial institution, both provided the year before.
