A Conversation with Danielle Cohen-Shohet, Founder and CEO of GlossGenius
As a freelance makeup artist while studying at Princeton, Danielle Cohen-Shohet witnessed firsthand the challenges small business owners in the beauty and wellness industry face. She decided to teach herself how to code and launched GlossGenius in 2016 as a solution to these problems.
A Platform Born Out of Necessity
GlossGenius is a tech platform designed to help spa, studio, and salon owners manage their operations more efficiently. The company has seen significant growth since its inception, with over 40,000 customers across the beauty and wellness space today. These businesses collectively generate about $2 billion in annualized transaction volume on the platform.
A Goal to be a ‘Business-in-a-Box’ for Beauty Professionals
Cohen-Shohet’s vision is for GlossGenius to become a vertical software solution that encompasses all aspects of running a beauty business, much like Toast has done for the restaurant industry. This goal aligns with her mission of empowering small businesses, particularly those owned by women and underrepresented minorities.
A Significant Milestone in Funding
In November 2021, GlossGenius closed a $16.4 million round of funding. Recently, the company secured another significant investment – $25 million led by Imaginary Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from Left Lane Capital. This latest round brings GlossGenius’s total funding to $44.2 million since its launch.
A ‘Triple-Digit’ Revenue Growth
Since the last fundraise, GlossGenius has seen triple-digit year-over-year revenue growth. The new investment values the company at ‘hundreds of millions’ of dollars, a testament to its impressive progress and potential for continued growth.
Empowering Small Businesses
GlossGenius’s platform offers a range of features that cater specifically to the needs of small businesses in the beauty industry. These include appointment scheduling, payment processing, customer management, and inventory tracking. By streamlining these processes, GlossGenius enables owners to focus on what matters most – delivering exceptional service to their clients.
A Conversation with Danielle Cohen-Shohet
We had a chance to speak with Danielle Cohen-Shohet about GlossGenius’s journey, her vision for the company, and its significance in the beauty industry. Here’s an excerpt from our conversation:
Q: What inspired you to create GlossGenius?
Danielle Cohen-Shohet: As a freelance makeup artist, I saw firsthand how difficult it was for small business owners in the beauty industry to manage their operations efficiently. I wanted to create a solution that would make their lives easier and help them grow.
Q: How does GlossGenius differentiate itself from other software solutions?
Danielle Cohen-Shohet: Our platform is specifically designed for beauty businesses, taking into account the unique needs of this industry. We offer features such as appointment scheduling, payment processing, customer management, and inventory tracking, all tailored to help business owners run their operations more efficiently.
A Bright Future Ahead
With its latest funding round and continued growth, GlossGenius is well-positioned to make an even greater impact on the beauty industry. As Cohen-Shohet’s vision comes closer to fruition, we can expect to see significant advancements in the platform’s capabilities and a stronger presence for small businesses within this space.