K-beauty brand AXIS-Y raises $130M from MBK Partners at $320M valuation
What's the deal? AXIS-YDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the global vegan skincare brand, has secured a KRW 172 billion (≈$130 million) growth investment from MBK PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → at a valuation of about KRW 430 billion. MBK will take a 40% stake in Asia Master Trade Co.Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the company behind the brand. The deal is expected to close in September 2026.
Who stays in charge? The founder retains a 60% stake, remains the largest shareholder, and continues to lead management and strategy. This is a minority investment in a founder-controlled business, not an exit or transfer of control.
What does AXIS-Y do? Launched in 2019, the brand builds skincare around vegan and cruelty-free standards, a climate-inspired approach, and input from its global community. It has gathered insights from consumers and creators across 68 countries through surveys, voting, and product testing.
Why it matters: The company is present in roughly 100 countries and earns more than 90% of revenue outside Korea. Its Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum has passed 20 million units in cumulative global sales, its clearest proof of international demand.
A reversed playbook: AXIS-Y expanded internationally first — across the US, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the CIS region — before building recognition at home. It entered Korea's Olive YoungDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in 2025, about six years after launch, where key products later reached No. 1 in online rankings.
The signal: The round ranks in roughly the top 20% of funding rounds by size, a sign of appetite for K-beauty names that scale globally rather than chase domestic trends. By taking growth capital while keeping control, AXIS-Y is betting it can extend a profitable, community-built model into its next stage.
Image credit: Axis-y
