MassChallenge

Founded in 2021, Sóliome is a biotechnology company based in San Francisco, California. It specializes in developing protein-based sunscreens that are safe and effective, using molecules naturally produced by the human body to protect against harmful UV rays.

KerlyGirl is a B2C startup offering an e-commerce site selling hair masks, curl creams, and serums. Its products are specifically catered to people with Type 3 and 4 hair — the very tightest coils — and are all plant-based and COSMOS-certified organic.

Kura Skin is a skincare matchmaking platform. We use data and our proprietary matchmaking algorithm to help our customers cut through the clutter and find what works for a fraction of the cost and none of the hassle.

Hue Beauty is a beauty technology and sampling platform designed to assist beauty shoppers in identifying makeup products that complement their unique skin tones. The platform integrates with beauty brands' e-commerce websites, utilizing photo technology and a community of beauty advisors to facilitate accurate shade matching. Additionally, Hue Beauty offers customized try-at-home shade sampling kits, enhancing the shopping experience. The company also develops shoppable video technology, allowing online beauty brands to incorporate user-generated videos into their marketing strategies. This approach fosters customer trust and engagement by providing authentic content. Moreover, Hue Beauty employs an artificial intelligence-powered recommendation engine to analyze shoppers' skin tones, types, and beauty preferences, enabling clients to generate genuine reviews in various formats.

Founded in Italy in 2016 by Silvia Scaglione and Maurizio Aiello, React4life is a biotech company dedicated to advancing biomedical research. The company specializes in the development of MIVO®, an innovative organ-on-a-chip technology that enhances the reliability and predictability of various applications such as pharmaceutical drug testing, personalized medicine, immuno-oncology therapies, cosmetics, dermatology, and nutraceuticals.

Naturbeads Ltd., established in 2018 and headquartered in Malmesbury, UK, specializes in manufacturing biodegradable cellulose microparticles. These products aim to replace conventional plastic microbeads used in cosmetics, toiletries, and other industries. The company's mission is to mitigate microplastic pollution by offering a sustainable alternative developed through innovative research at the University of Bath.

Ouli is a skincare manufacturing company s[ecializes in regenerating axolotl salamander and synthetic biology to extract.

Renzoe Box is a beauty platform that streamlines personal makeup collection through its hardware and software. It offers a compact storage system designed to accommodate various makeup products, enabling users to create their own palette and carry all essentials in one easy-to-manage box.

Rayito de Luna is a Mexican company that develops beauty and personal care products for women and men. It is an eco-friendly 100% natural personal care brand, that practices fair trade and supports the development of local independent producers.

HanaBi wants to offer these customers a ready-to-go solution to penetrate the in-wash fabric solid scent booster market, and to their consumers better product to fulfill their long-lasting fragrance expectations.

MIBIOMICS mission is to develop innovative, safe, and effective microbiome-based solutions to treat currently incurable skin diseases.

Upwell’s is a cosmetic industry provides patented algae wax with safe ingredients.

Infinite Roots is a technology-driven company specializing in sustainable health and wellness products. They harness natural ingredients through fermentation technology to create organic, ethically sourced products like herbal supplements, skincare, and wellness solutions. The company's commitment lies in promoting holistic well-being while maintaining eco-friendly practices and ethical standards.

MIBIOMICS mission is to develop innovative, safe, and effective microbiome-based solutions to treat currently incurable skin diseases.

Abeja Reyna is a company specializing in the online production and marketing of honey-based beauty care products. Their offerings are free from parabens and leverage the moisturizing, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties of honey for organic, sustainable skincare.

Bellezacheck is the 'Tripadvisor' of beauty product and that provides consumer reviews&ratings on website.

Founded in 2016, ZeoVation specializes in manufacturing nanozeolites and hierarchical zeolites. These materials enhance consumer products such as skincare lotions, sunscreens, laundry detergents, water softeners, and filtration systems by improving efficiency.

Aisling Organics is an innovative company specializing in high-performance organic makeup and natural skincare products. Founded by Krysta Lewis, the company emerged from her personal health struggles linked to conventional cosmetics, which prompted her to seek safer alternatives. Aisling offers a diverse range of products, including concealer, liquid foundation, eyeshadow, lip gloss, and mascara, all formulated from crushed plants and herbs. The company’s mission is to provide consumers with skin-friendly options that do not compromise on efficacy or longevity, allowing individuals to prioritize both health and beauty. Aisling's products are available through its e-commerce platform, catering to a growing demand for clean cosmetics.

Impact Everything is a company focused on community assistance by offering a diverse range of products, including clothing, accessories, home goods, and bath and body items. Through its online platform, the company provides customers with the opportunity to make a positive impact with every purchase they make. By selecting from a wide assortment of merchandise, consumers can directly contribute to addressing various societal challenges. Impact Everything prioritizes accessibility, offering multiple contact methods including mail, phone, and a physical address for customer inquiries.

Yaupon Teahouse is an e-commerce website for skin care products, tea, bath, and body products. Their leaves were used for ceremonies, traditional medicine, and caffeinated tea. It develops teas and wellness products by pairing yaupon with other medicinal herbs and botanical plants. It also has a store to serve the local market.

Rapid Graft, established in 2018 and based in Zurich, Switzerland, specializes in developing innovative medical devices for precise skin graft harvesting. Their flagship product is a novel dermatome designed to efficiently obtain small split-skin grafts, aiming to enhance chronic wound treatment and facilitate future tissue engineering needs. The company's device enables surgeons to perform skin grafting procedures more effectively, minimizing the risk of infection, scarring, and requiring fewer specialized interventions or operating room resources.

SoaPen is a cosmetics firm established in 2016 by Amanat Anand and Shubham Issar, specializing in handmade soap products designed specifically for children. The company produces roll-on soap bottles that aim to encourage good hygiene habits among kids through engaging and playful designs. SoaPen's soaps are formulated to be non-irritating, non-toxic, and free from harmful ingredients such as SLS, parabens, and phthalates, as well as any animal by-products. By offering a fun way for children to wash their hands, SoaPen promotes personal hygiene in an enjoyable manner.

KUSHAE offers feminine personal care items. They provide a wide range of goods, including spray, body wash, lotions, and more. They also provide free shipping on orders of $60 or more.

Canomiks offers a genomics, bioinformatics, and AI-driven platform that empowers companies in functional food, dietary supplements, and skincare sectors to create safe and effective products. Its long-term goal is to make 'food as medicine' a reality.

GuestBox offers a platform for hospitality businesses to enhance their guests' stay by providing curated amenity assortments. Their service includes high-end toiletries, skincare products, and snacks, delivered in customizable boxes, eliminating the need for individual procurement and assembly.

Droplette Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Boston, Massachusetts, specializes in innovative skincare technology through its needle-free device designed for the transdermal delivery of active ingredients. This patent-pending system allows for the administration of drugs significantly larger than those achievable with traditional methods, ensuring deep penetration into the skin over large areas. The painless, contact-free device generates no disposables, offering a portable solution for delivering antibiotics to treat serious skin ulcers and infections, thereby minimizing the risks of secondary complications and antibiotic resistance. Additionally, the company is exploring future applications for localized delivery of chemotherapeutics for skin cancer and anti-aging treatments, aiming to enhance skincare routines while avoiding harmful chemicals.

SunZee is an innovative company focused on revolutionizing sun protection through its unique sunscreen delivery system. The company has developed a patent-pending capsule that allows users to extract a measured amount of sunscreen directly onto their fingertips with a simple one-handed motion. This system is integrated into a fashionable wristband, making sun protection both accessible and convenient for users, particularly children. By addressing the evolving needs of consumers and enhancing awareness of sun damage, SunZee aims to transform how individuals engage with sunscreen, promoting better habits for sun safety in everyday life.

Orchid Green has developed the natural compound AAPE1, which is an anti-aging antioxidant for skin. AAPE1 is chemically stable, resistant under high and low temperatures, and keeps its effectiveness over time. AAPE is water soluble and inhibits wrinkle formation.

Kreyol Essence is an agribusiness that specializes in providing affordable luxury beauty products sourced from organic commodities in Haiti. Known for its commitment to being "natural with a purpose," the company focuses on empowering women by addressing various skin flaws while simultaneously creating employment opportunities for 400 local women and farmers. Kreyol Essence aims to enhance environmental, agricultural, and economic conditions in Haiti, positioning itself as a model for addressing complex social issues through sustainable business practices. By offering quality beauty products, the company not only promotes personal wellness but also supports local artisans and cultivates a positive impact on the community.

BeautyLynk, Inc. is a beauty booking platform that offers on-location and web-based services for hair and makeup. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the company caters primarily to women, as well as men and children aged 17 and older. BeautyLynk connects users with professional hair stylists and makeup artists who provide services at homes, offices, hotels, and other locations, making beauty services more accessible and convenient. With operations in Atlanta, Boston, and Washington, D.C., the platform allows customers to book appointments easily, saving them time and enhancing their grooming experience.

MesenFlow Technologies specializes in innovative bio-imaging technology aimed at enhancing drug and cosmetic development. The company’s platform addresses critical challenges in modern drug development, including species cross-reactivity and the ethical concerns of animal testing. By utilizing proprietary protocols on primary human cells, MesenFlow enables early definition of a drug's mechanism of action and its relevance to human biology. This approach not only accelerates the pharmaceutical testing process but also extends to the cosmetics and nutraceutical sectors, allowing for the assessment of product safety and efficacy at an early stage. MesenFlow's technology is particularly beneficial for organizations requiring animal-free testing solutions, ensuring compliance with regulatory demands while prioritizing human biological impact.

They are changing the story of the smallholder farmer starting with Moringa, known worldwide as “the miracle tree” for its highly nutritional leaves. They take the forgotten part --the seeds-- and process them into an oil with unmatched cosmetic benefits for hair and skin care and a press meal for animal feed and water purification. They manage the entire supply chain- training, micro-credit, miniaturized value-added processing, and marketing to a global audience.

Droplette Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Boston, Massachusetts, specializes in innovative skincare technology through its needle-free device designed for the transdermal delivery of active ingredients. This patent-pending system allows for the administration of drugs significantly larger than those achievable with traditional methods, ensuring deep penetration into the skin over large areas. The painless, contact-free device generates no disposables, offering a portable solution for delivering antibiotics to treat serious skin ulcers and infections, thereby minimizing the risks of secondary complications and antibiotic resistance. Additionally, the company is exploring future applications for localized delivery of chemotherapeutics for skin cancer and anti-aging treatments, aiming to enhance skincare routines while avoiding harmful chemicals.

Keraderm Corp. is a biotechnology company specializing in innovative therapies for skin and nail disorders, focusing on non-surgical treatments. The company has developed proprietary phototherapy treatments that leverage the healing power of light, which have shown promising results in pilot clinical trials. Additionally, Keraderm offers skin remodeling and reconstruction solutions using skin-cell-coated sheets, cultured from a small sample of the patient's healthy skin. This method provides a painless alternative to traditional skin grafts, which are often painful and carry surgical risks. By utilizing cultures of keratinocytes and autologous fibroblasts on acellular collagen sheets, Keraderm aims to facilitate effective healing for patients suffering from skin injuries due to burns, accidents, or chronic conditions, all while significantly reducing treatment costs and recovery time.

Pixtr Ltd. is a mobile photo editing application company founded in 2012 and based in Haifa, Israel. The application transforms photography by providing users with professional-quality editing tools designed for anyone, regardless of their photography expertise. Pixtr focuses on enhancing key elements in photos, particularly people, to ensure they always appear at their best. Its features include removing skin blemishes, correcting red-eye, and improving the natural look of selfies, even in group settings. By making advanced image improvement accessible to all, Pixtr aims to set a new standard in photography, positioning itself as a go-to solution for enhancing photographs across various platforms.

Eyedoll Chatter is an application that offers scented eyeshadows, face shimmers, and lip glosses.

Keraderm Corp. is a biotechnology company specializing in innovative therapies for skin and nail disorders, focusing on non-surgical treatments. The company has developed proprietary phototherapy treatments that leverage the healing power of light, which have shown promising results in pilot clinical trials. Additionally, Keraderm offers skin remodeling and reconstruction solutions using skin-cell-coated sheets, cultured from a small sample of the patient's healthy skin. This method provides a painless alternative to traditional skin grafts, which are often painful and carry surgical risks. By utilizing cultures of keratinocytes and autologous fibroblasts on acellular collagen sheets, Keraderm aims to facilitate effective healing for patients suffering from skin injuries due to burns, accidents, or chronic conditions, all while significantly reducing treatment costs and recovery time.

Sproxil, Inc. is an information technology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that specializes in product protection and consumer engagement solutions. Founded in 2008, the company provides a range of services including Sproxil Champion, a consumer rewards system that allows brands to offer rewards; Sproxil Defender, a product verification solution enabling consumers to authenticate products via mobile devices; and Sproxil Informer, a track and trace system for monitoring supply chains. Sproxil's solutions cater to various sectors, including beauty and personal care, fast-moving consumer goods, electronics, automotive, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and agribusiness. The company utilizes mobile technology to enhance brand protection, combat counterfeiting, and foster consumer loyalty while ensuring the integrity of supply chains.