Pumpkin Coach

About Pumpkin Coach

Pumpkin Coach, operating under Shanghai Cangdou Internet Technology Co., Ltd., launched in early 2015 as an online-to-offline (O2O) platform focused on the beauty and hairdressing industry. The company was founded by Lu Xin, who serves as the CEO. His professional background includes 13 years of experience in internet products, marketing, and operations, having held positions as the chief traffic officer at Dianping.com and as a product expert at Alibaba.

The business initially centered on an O2O model, connecting consumers with hairdressers. Its core service allows users to find and book appointments with vetted hairstylists online, aiming to provide a high-quality experience without waiting times or pressure to purchase salon memberships. The platform has expanded its physical presence, operating 101 directly-managed stores across several cities including Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanjing, serving a user base of nearly 1.5 million. The company has secured significant funding across multiple rounds, including a $3 million Angel round in April 2015, a $10 million Series A in January 2016, and a Series B round of ¥100 million in November 2017 from investors such as IDG Capital and Sequoia Capital China (Haina Asia Venture Capital Fund).

In addition to its consumer-facing booking service, Pumpkin Coach developed "Pumpkin Coach Manager," a SaaS management tool for salon professionals. This application integrates with the main platform, enabling stylists to manage their schedules, accept bookings, and oversee their client base. This dual approach serves both the end consumer seeking hairstyling services and the beauty professionals managing their business operations. The company generates revenue through the services provided at its directly-owned salons and potentially through its SaaS offering for stylists.