ZitSticka, a tech-meets-skincare brand known for its approach to clearing zits, announced today that it has received a $5 million Series A investment led by BFG Partners, a consumer-driven venture capital firm that specializes in accelerating growth for innovative CPG brands. Also participating in the round are Interplay Ventures, Silas Ventures, and Propeller Industries.
In February 2019, ZitSticka launched its hero the Killa, a penetrative patch featuring microdart technology to effectively resolve newfound, upcoming and early-stage zits. Founded by brothers-in-law Robbie Miller and Daniel Kaplan the brand launched online as a direct-to-consumer business where they experienced rapid growth and widespread brand awareness.
They quickly expanded into luxury retailers, Net-a-Porter and Barney’s, as well as specialty retailers of the category, Goop, Cult Beauty and Violet Grey. The ZitSticka Killa will enter select Ulta stores in the U.S. in 2020, and is carried by 192 Boots doors across the U.K.
“We have a range of innovative products that we’ll be launching over the next 12-18 months within the same category,” said Miller. “Each product serves a unique stage or type of acne, with each harnessing a different kind of technology or delivery system to maximize its efficacy.”
“We’re thrilled to work with value-add investors, such as BFG Partners, who bring years of expertise in the CPG space,” said Kaplan. “The capital will also go towards scaling the team to keep up with the demands of growth.”
“We feel lucky to be partnering with the extremely passionate and knowledgeable team at ZitSticka as they continue to build their business and introduce complementary acne care products,” said Ben Fenton, partner at BFG Partners. “In less than a year, they have built a brand with a following typically seen in brands three to four times their size and age, and they have done it with one product. We especially love how the brand is working to de-stigmatize acne and increase transparency that normalizes acne, rather than pretending it doesn’t exist, glossing over it or blurring it out.”
