High-Level Overview
Thirteen Lune is an e-commerce platform launched in 2020 that curates and sells beauty products from brands founded by Black, Brown, and diverse founders, serving consumers seeking inclusive, high-quality beauty for face, hair, body, and wellness.[1][2] It solves the problem of limited visibility and access for BIPOC-owned beauty brands by providing a dedicated discovery destination, debunking myths that these products only serve niche audiences, while offering brick-and-mortar and online distribution partnerships like JCPenney.[3] The company has raised $12M total funding, including $8M in its most recent round, grown to support over 150 brands (from an initial 13), and earned accolades like Beauty Inc's Newcomer of the Year in 2021.[1][3]
Origin Story
Thirteen Lune was founded in 2020 by Nyakio Grieco and Patrick Herning, who curated an initial lineup of 13 Black-owned beauty brands—hence the name—to spotlight BIPOC founders and provide them access to capital, attention, and distribution they often lacked.[1][3] Grieco, with her background in beauty entrepreneurship, and Herning aimed to create an inclusive platform featuring products for all skin tones and hair types, attracting early celebrity backing like Sean Combs, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Naomi Watts, who invested $1M just one month after launch in January 2021.[3] Pivotal early traction included rapid expansion, press recognition as a champion for diverse beauty, and partnerships that propelled growth despite industry challenges.[2][3]
Core Differentiators
- Curated Inclusivity Focus: Spotlights brands by Black, Brown, and diverse founders with luxurious, efficacious products for universal appeal, curating over 150 brands while prioritizing storytelling and community.[1][2][3]
- Distribution and Growth Support: Offers e-commerce via its site and JCPenney, brick-and-mortar access, venture connections (e.g., Fearless Fund), and data-driven marketing tools like Klaviyo to elevate emerging brands into top performers.[3]
- Founder-Centric Ecosystem: Provides PR, CRM strategies for authentic narratives, industry leader access (e.g., Grieco's network), and events, acting as a "masterclass in resilience" for indie brands per founders.[3][4]
- Post-Acquisition Momentum: Recently acquired by SNR Capital, enabling stronger digital infrastructure, personalized experiences, and potential incubator programs to scale minority-owned brands.[4]
Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Thirteen Lune rides the wave of inclusive beauty and e-commerce personalization, capitalizing on post-2020 demand for diverse representation amid broader shifts toward BIPOC entrepreneurship in consumer tech and retail.[2][3] Timing aligns with industry reckoning on equity, where platforms like it challenge giants like Sephora and Ulta by becoming the "Sephora for indie brands," fostering validation and retail partnerships for underrepresented sectors.[3][4] Market forces like rising consumer preference for authentic storytelling and data tools (e.g., Klaviyo for targeted CRM) favor its model, influencing the ecosystem by democratizing access to capital and shelves, inspiring investor boldness, and proving diverse brands deliver results-driven products.[3][4]
Quick Take & Future Outlook
Under SNR Capital, Thirteen Lune is poised to invest in scalable digital tools, personalized shopping, and incubators to amplify its 150+ brands, potentially solidifying financial stability while expanding reach.[4] Trends like AI-driven personalization and sustained inclusivity pushes will shape its path, evolving it from curator to full ecosystem builder—perhaps launching more JCPenney-like expansions or venture arms. This reinforces its opening mission: not just a shop, but a catalyst uniting beauty's universal power through diverse innovation.[2][4]