Phases, Natural Skincare Brand for Teens and Tweens, Raises INR 3 Million Funding on Indian Angels OTT Show

In a recent funding development, Davangere, Karnataka's Phases, a natural skincare startup catering specifically to tweens and teens, has successfully raised ₹30 Lakhs in angel funding, with a 20 per cent equity dilution. Aparna Thyagarajan, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer of Shobitam, Inc., emerged as the angel investor contributing to this round. The funding was secured through participation in the innovative angel investment show 'Indian Angels,' currently available on the JioCinema OTT platform. Prior to this, Phases had been self-funded, primarily relying on the efforts of its co-founders.

Phases, conceptualized in 2021 by passionate mompreneur Sannjana Raghu Amberkar and her co-founder husband Raghu Amberkar, plans to utilize the recently acquired funds strategically. The focus areas include product development, optimizing customer experiences, enhancing marketing and brand visibility, and overall growth and expansion. These initiatives align with Phases' long-term vision of becoming a prominent player in the teens-and-tweens skincare market in India.

During the Indian Angels show, Sannjana presented a compelling narrative, emphasizing Phases' brand purpose and mission. The heartfelt story resonated with the angel investors, highlighting the startup's unique positioning, commitment to sustainability, and meticulous product formulation and packaging. Sannjana received investment offers from two angels—Ajinkya Firodia, Managing Director of Kinetic Engineering, and Aparna Thyagarajan, with the latter offering a more favorable deal. Sannjana promptly accepted Aparna Thyagrajan's offer, closing the deal.

Expressing her excitement about the fundraise, Sannjana Raghu Amberkar stated, "We are thrilled to announce our first angel funding raised from ‘Angel’ Aparna Thyagrajan via the Indian Angels show, marking a pivotal moment in Phases’ journey."

The capital infusion is expected to meet immediate business needs and expansion goals, with potential for strategic partnerships and enhanced market positioning. Aparna Thyagarajan's support is anticipated to bring valuable strategic guidance and industry insights, fostering sustainable growth for Phases.

Phases currently markets its products through its website and select e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Suspire. The product range addresses skincare needs for teens and tweens, focusing on gentle yet effective formulations suitable for developing skin. The products are plant-based, backed by science, toxic chemical-free, synthetic fragrance-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainable.

The brand actively involves its target audience during product development, ensuring products meet their specific needs. Clinical trials and testing certify the products as non-irritant and dermatologically tested, underlining the brand's commitment to quality, efficacy, and safety. Popular products include Splash (gel cleanser) and Poise (balancing, hydrating moisturizer). Phases plans to introduce additional products in the near future to address more skincare needs of teens and tweens.

Sannjana Raghu Amberkar concluded, "At Phases, our mission is to empower tweens and teens to embrace their unique journeys throughout their adolescence with confidence, authenticity, and healthy, glowing skin." The brand aims for robust revenue growth, profitability, strategic product launches, and expansion into new categories, all while remaining committed to providing safe and effective skincare solutions for the target demographic.