Loading organizations...
Inkbox, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, designs and sells semi-permanent temporary tattoos that last up to two weeks, mimicking the appearance of permanent ink. Its proprietary formula sinks into the skin, and offerings expanded to include an artist marketplace for custom designs. The company grew to over 150 employees, reporting $27 million in net sales in 2021 and selling 450,000 tattoos by 2018. It attracted investment from firms like Maveron, Founders Fund, and Golden Ventures, raising $17 million in 2018. Acquired by BIC for $65 million in 2022, the company's operations were recently shut down by BIC, prompting its founders to bid for reacquisition. Inkbox was founded in 2015 by Braden Handley and Tyler Handley. Its business model centers on direct-to-consumer sales of temporary tattoos, scaled through e-commerce, Kickstarter campaigns, and viral marketing, previously venture-funded, acquired by BIC.
Inkbox has raised $24.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Inkbox has raised $24.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Inkbox has raised $24.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $13.0M Debt / Series A in July 2018.
Inkbox is a Toronto-based technology-enabled consumer brand specializing in semi-permanent tattoos that last 5-10 days, fading naturally as skin regenerates, along with tools like the Freehand Tattoo Marker for custom designs.[1][2] It serves young adults seeking bold, commitment-free self-expression through a direct-to-consumer model, solving the problem of permanent tattoos by offering temporary, high-quality alternatives with over 10,000 designs and collaborations with artists like Travis Barker, BTS, and Post Malone.[1][2] Founded in 2015, Inkbox raised $14.28M before being acquired by BIC in January 2022, now shipping tens of thousands of tattoos weekly as part of BIC's Skin Creative portfolio, with a reported revenue of $7M and around 102 employees.[1][2]
Inkbox was founded in 2015 in downtown Toronto, Canada, emerging from a vision to make tattoo artistry accessible without lifelong commitment.[1][2] The founders leveraged technology for custom tattoo software and ink formulations, quickly gaining traction through a growing catalog of designs and partnerships with influencers and artists.[1] Key early moments include launching Freehand Tattoo Markers and high-profile collaborations, such as the Travis Barker collection symbolizing love and loyalty, which helped build a community around temporary body art.[1] By 2022, this momentum led to its acquisition by BIC, marking a pivotal shift to scale under a global stationery giant while maintaining its creative Toronto headquarters and permanent tattoo studio, Inside Out.[1][2]
Inkbox rides the wave of personalization and self-expression tech in consumer beauty, blending ink chemistry with software for on-demand body art amid rising demand for non-permanent modifications post-pandemic.[1][2] Timing aligns with social media's amplification of individuality—think TikTok-driven tattoo trends—while market forces like e-commerce growth and sustainability (fading inks reduce regret) favor its model.[1] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering "skin merch" for artists, expanding into Web3 NFTs, and normalizing tech-infused body art, challenging traditional tattooing and inspiring hybrid physical-digital creativity in the $100B+ global beauty/tech space.[1][2]
Inkbox's BIC backing positions it for global expansion, potentially integrating temporary tattoos into stationery and beauty lines while deepening Web3 ties for artist royalties via NFTs.[1][2] Trends like AR try-on tools, AI design generation, and Gen Z's preference for experiential merch will propel growth, evolving its influence from niche D2C brand to mainstream body art innovator. As self-expression tech matures, Inkbox exemplifies how clever chemistry and software unlock bold individuality without permanence—reinforcing its role as the ultimate low-risk canvas for personal stories.[1][2]
Inkbox has raised $24.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Inkbox's investors include Anarghya Vardhana, Cassius, Flight Ventures, Founders Fund, Golden Ventures, KDWC Ventures, Novel TMT Ventures, Silicon Valley Bank, Audrey Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Blisce, Catapult Capital.
