Beauty Product Marketplace Purplle.com Raises Fresh Fund

Mumbai-based Manash Lifestyle Pvt. Ltd, which operates beauty products and services marketplace Purplle.com, has secured Rs 3.44 crore ($537,000) in a fresh funding round from a clutch of investors.

Purplle had last raised an undisclosed sum from JSW Ventures and existing investors stage investor Blume Ventures and early-to-growth-stage VC firm IvyCap Ventures in July last year. In January 2015, it secured its Series A funding round from IvyCap Ventures. The company had raised its seed funding from Blume Ventures, Mumbai Angels and Chennai Angels in August 2013.

Startup was founded by IIT Delhi alumnus Taneja and IIT Kharagpur and IIM Ahmedabad alumnus Dash in 2012. Six-year-old company retails products for skin care, make-up, haircare, body care and beauty appliances from more than 600 Indian and international brands.

While the platform caters primarily to women, it also offers beauty products for men in categories like haircare, skincare, fragrance, beard and shaving care. Purplle also offers a virtual assistant to help users make purchasing decisions.

In October this year, the firm strengthened its top deck by appointing Pooja Acharya, a former executive at Japanese personal care company Shiseido, as its chief beauty officer. In her new role, Acharya will introduce Purplle’s products into the brick and mortar retail format, help the firm foray into new beauty segments and introduce exclusive international brands in India.