Henkel Ventures backs UK biotech beauty brand Ruka

What's the deal? Henkel Ventures, the investment arm of the German consumer goods conglomerate, has co-led a funding round for RukaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a UK-based biotech beauty brand that makes alternatives to hair extensions. Founded in 2020, Ruka has carved out a niche with its focus on textured hair extensions and education-led community building.

Why now? The investment reflects growing corporate interest in biotech-driven beauty brands, particularly those serving underrepresented segments of the haircare market. Ruka's community-first approach and focus on textured hair position it at the intersection of two powerful trends: inclusive beauty and biotechnology.

The signal: Henkel Ventures' co-lead of this round underscores how major consumer goods conglomerates are moving beyond traditional M&A playbooks, using venture arms to secure early positions in emerging beauty categories. With Ruka still in its early growth stage according to Dealroom, the bet suggests corporate investors are willing to back community-driven, biotech-enabled brands well before they scale — particularly in textured haircare, a segment where incumbent offerings have long lagged consumer demand.

Read more: businessoffashion.com