Ruuby is thrilled to announce its expansion in the UK and into Switzerland following a successful fundraising round of over £2m, with £1.5m delivered through NPIF II – Praetura Equity Finance, which is managed by Praetura Ventures and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. This expansion marks a significant milestone in Ruuby’s mission to deliver top-tier beauty services across Europe.
Founded by Venetia Archer in 2016, Ruuby is a platform for on-demand beauty services. Since its inception, Ruuby has delivered nearly 500,000 services across multiple categories, including hair, nails, massage, waxing, IV drops, and cosmetic injectables. Venetia identified a gap in the market for at-home beauty service delivery. Her passion for beauty and technology led to the creation of Ruuby, which now boasts over 150,000 users and collaborates with over 3000 expert professionals.
The funding will strengthen Ruuby’s UK presence by helping it to double down on its growth, including hiring and expanding its operations in Manchester and Liverpool where it already works with a number of luxury hotels. Ruuby will also use part of the funding to bolster sales in France and Switzerland.
The recent fundraise comes on the heels of a 500% surge in sales post-Covid, demonstrating the robust demand for Ruuby’s services. The fundraise will also aid ambitions to double the availability of providers and software, as well as building out Ruuby’s B2B offering.
Ruuby is committed to empowering beauty professionals through its Ruuby Academy, providing opportunities for career development and commercial enhancement.
Venetia serves as an advisory board member to the British Beauty Council and actively invests in women in technology and beauty. Her leadership has propelled Ruuby to the forefront of the beauty industry, making it a trusted platform both professionals and clients.
Venetia said: “In a world where you can request food to your door in minutes, or a car to pick you up in seconds, it seemed natural that beauty services should follow. Our expansion plans in the UK and Europe is a testament to the demand for high-quality, on-the-go beauty services, and we are excited to bring Ruuby’s unique offerings to more people and businesses.”
Louise Chapman, NPIF II Fund Principal at Praetura Ventures, said: “Ruuby is fast becoming a household name in beauty, and we have welcomed the opportunity to support an ambitious, female-founded business as it scales in the North West in Manchester, Liverpool, and further afield across the UK and Europe. This is a significant moment for Venetia and the team, and we can’t wait to work with Ruuby while it capitalises on this unique opportunity within the beauty space.”
Simon Cunnington, Director at British Business Bank, said: “Ruuby is exactly the kind of business that the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II is looking to spur on further in its growth journey. Equity investment is powerful tool to expand a business, so we are excited to see this round enable the company to meet new business opportunities and help it expand to grow in the North West.”
Read next: Discover How Software Can Support Every Salon Business Structure
