Many of us struggle with skin problems and often feel lost when it comes to finding solutions. We might long for access to top-tier skincare specialists like the ones who work with celebrities like Meghan Markle. However, they are usually located far away, making it difficult to seek their expertise.
Even for those who can afford the expensive consultation fees, getting an appointment with renowned skincare experts can be nearly impossible, often requiring a wait of up to six months. Moreover, even with the pandemic behind us, many clinics are overbooked, leaving individuals with unmet skincare needs feeling frustrated.
Recognizing these needs, Charmaine Chow decided to launch GetHarley, a beauty tech startup and a digital online platform that offers personalized skincare services led by experienced clinicians. The startup also connects consumers with world-class clinicians and medical-grade skincare products.“The journey to GetHarley really started with me as a disgruntled customer,” Chow said with a laugh.
Unlike other available services, GetHarley provides a simplified way to access exclusive clinic-only skincare brands and, most importantly, connects users with highly sought-after skincare professionals who typically have long waiting lists. And the best part is, all of this is available at an affordable cost of just £30. Since its inception two years ago, the demand for GetHarley has skyrocketed and the startup has received rave reviews from customers.
To further expand its services globally, GetHarley announced today it has raised $52 million in funding led by Index Ventures (backers of Farfetch, Figma, and Discord), supported by additional investment from Headline Venture (Bumble, Groupon), Visionaries Club (Personio, Miro) and Village Global (Multiverse, Pave).
Other angel investors include high-profile executives such as Andrew Robb (ex-COO of Farfetch), Sian Keane (current Chief People Officer of Farfetch), John Veichmanis (COO of Carwow), Vincenzo Iozzo (ex-CrowdStrike and cybersecurity expert) and James Vincent (Founder of FNDR and brand strategist for Apple and Airbnb).
Before founding, GetHarley founder and CEO Charmaine Chow has been deeply immersed in the beauty and healthcare world in her past role as an analyst, investor, and consumer herself – takes a fundamentally different approach to skin health.
GetHarley matches customers with its one thousand-plus (and constantly growing) network of clinicians to offer skin consultations hosted on the GetHarley platform. Patients can share their concerns and goals, speak to a clinician and be recommended and sent a bespoke skincare routine of the best medical-grade products. This seamless experience improves the quality of service that clinicians can provide, and also helps to open up the sector to consumers who would otherwise get overwhelmed or do not know where to start.
“The skincare industry is overflowing with false claims, celebrity marketing, and thousands upon thousands of choices about how to care for your skin,” says Charmaine Chow, CEO and Founder of GetHarley. “You end up wasting huge amounts of time, money, and energy trying to figure out what works for you. I should know – I looked everywhere for solutions for my challenging skin. And while consumers are being pulled in multiple directions, clinicians are time-poor and overstretched and you can never quite get hold of them. GetHarley solves all this, giving experts a one-stop platform, and helping global consumers get access to the best advice in a crowded marketplace.”
Furthermore, GetHarley goes beyond just skincare services by providing personalized product recommendations, top-notch virtual skin consultations, and round-the-clock patient concierge assistance, all delivered by the industry’s leading clinicians. These offerings enable clinicians to deliver exceptional, personalized care to their patients.
On the consumer side, GetHarley bridges the gap, granting access to world-renowned skincare expertise and products, extending their reach to millions of individuals who may not have the means or ability to visit a clinician’s office in person. This brings expertise and products directly into the homes of people seeking skincare solutions.
Since its launch, GetHarley has assembled a global team of 70 that, with the support of recent funding, is set to double in the next 12 months as it continues to expand globally. It has seen triple-digit annual growth since its launch and is used by over 100,000 patients today.
“GetHarley is a quality champion and partner for both the clinics and the consumer,” says Danny Rimer, Board Member and Partner of Index Ventures. “People are now incredibly savvy about what they’re buying – especially at a time of economic scarcity when they want their money to be channeled into meaningful purchases. They rightly want brands and experiences that are transparent, authentic, and can deliver a tailored service. GetHarley meets all these criteria and more, and we’re incredibly excited to partner with them.”
