4th May, National — CHOSEN, India’s first exposome based skincare brand, today announced that it has raised USD 5 million in a Series A funding round led by Fireside Ventures, with participation from BOLD, L’Oréal’s corporate venture capital fund and Alkemi Growth Capital. The round also saw participation from angel investor Avnish Anand, Co founder and Ex CEO of CaratLane, along with a cohort of practicing dermatologists Dr Chandan Asokan, Dr KC Nischal, Dr Punit Saraogi, Dr Nishita Ranka and Dr Mikki Singh, reinforcing the brand’s strong clinical foundation.
The funds will be deployed to strengthen its R&D capabilities, expand its pipeline of clinically validated, evidence based products, scale its Centre of Excellence, and invest in high impact talent across functions. CHOSEN develops science led skincare for melanin rich Indian skin, grounded in the science of the exposome and focused on four key domains of aging: pigmentation, skin texture, contour, and hair aging. Its portfolio spans both topical formulations and nutraceuticals, following a dermatologist developed, clinic-to-consumer model.
Dr Renita Rajan, Founder and CEO of CHOSEN, stated, “Indian dermatologists have contributed significantly to therapeutic dermatology, but personal care has been left behind, shaped largely by market trends borrowed from circumstances that aren’t ours. CHOSEN is dermatology stepping up to close that gap, built for the Indian exposome and the Indian genome. This round is a validation of the science led, dermatologist developed approach we’ve built CHOSEN around. It gives us the runway to deepen our R&D, bring more dermatologists into product development, and build the evidence base that holistic antiaging for Indian skin deserves.”
Sharing his perspective on the investment, Varun Varma, Principal, Fireside Ventures, remarked, “What drew us to CHOSEN is the rare combination of deep clinical rigor and a trust led go-to-market that few consumer brands have cracked. Dr Renita Rajan has built a brand that is recommended by doctors, repeatedly purchased by consumers, and backed by one of the richest clinical data platforms in Indian dermatology, all while growing capital efficiently. We are excited to back CHOSEN as it sets a new bar for evidence based skincare in India.”
On their decision to back CHOSEN, Samantha ETIENNE, Global General Manager, BOLD, L’Oréal’s corporate venture capital fund, said, “We were immediately convinced by CHOSEN’s unique model at the intersection of science and a deeply embedded dermatologist network, driven by the strong vision of its founder, Dr Renita Rajan. This foundation enables the brand to deliver highly targeted, credible products to Indian consumers. In the very dynamic Indian beauty market, we believe CHOSEN has the potential to contribute to shape the future of dermocosmetics in India”.
“Given its differentiated, dermatology first and R&D led positioning in a fast growing dermaceutical market, CHOSEN is well placed to address the unmet needs of skin of colour. Led by a highly credible KOL founder, the company combines deep clinical insight with strong product efficacy, reflecting in high repeat rates & protocol adoption. With a doctor led distribution flywheel and a capital efficient growth model, I see CHOSEN as a compelling platform for long term value creation,” said Alka Goel, Founding Partner, Alkemi Growth Capital.
Speaking of his decision to join the round, Avnish Anand, Co Founder & Ex CEO, CaratLane, noted, “I believe in backing founders who are deeply committed to building differentiated, product led businesses. CHOSEN reflects this ethos through its strong science led approach and focus on innovation in skincare. I look forward to supporting the brand as it continues to scale and build a high quality, differentiated offering for the Indian market.”
CHOSEN’s product portfolio is anchored by its flagship SAFESCREEN® NEXGEN sunscreen and the CHOSEN Sculpt protocol, a clinically validated topical contour system developed for Indian women, reflecting its focus on evidence based, dermatology led innovation. Dr Renita Rajan is also the author of Sunscreens for Skin of Colour and a recognised key opinion leader in dermatological beauty and laser technologies in India.
About CHOSEN
CHOSEN is India’s first exposome based skincare brand, founded in 2020 by cosmetic dermatologist Dr Renita Rajan. Built for melanin rich Indian skin and the climate it lives in, every CHOSEN formulation is developed against the four domains of aging that matter most for skin of colour: pigmentation, skin texture, contour and hair aging. CHOSEN spans topicals and nutraceuticals, and is developed and refined by a team of experienced dermatologists.
