Unilever Leads Clayco's $4.1 Million Round as India Beauty Market Reaches 1.52 Trillion Rupees
Updated
Updated · WWD · May 13
Unilever Leads Clayco's $4.1 Million Round as India Beauty Market Reaches 1.52 Trillion Rupees
1 articles · Updated · WWD · May 13
April brought Unilever-led funding of $4.1 million for Mumbai skin-care brand Clayco, extending a push that included a $2 million investment in 2024.
That deal fits a broader India strategy: Unilever has also backed Secret Alchemist, SkinInspired and Inde Wild, while Hindustan Unilever moved to acquire premium beauty brand Minimalist.
India's appeal is scale and digital reach — 1.45 billion people, 900 million under 35 and 950 million smartphone users — helping beauty and personal care sales rise to 1.52 trillion rupees in 2024 from 1.03 trillion in 2020.
Rivals are accelerating too: Estée Lauder agreed to buy the rest of Forest Essentials, and L'Oréal is reportedly in talks for a majority stake in Innovist after BOLD fund investments in Deconstruct and Arata.
Retail and category trends reinforce the opportunity, with Nykaa guiding for high-20% revenue growth, Sephora planning three more India stores, and quick-commerce beauty sales riding a sector projected at $35 billion-$40 billion by 2027 or 2028.
How is India's quick commerce boom forcing global beauty brands to rethink their entire sales strategy?
What is the secret for 'I-beauty' to become the next global phenomenon after K-beauty's success?
As giants acquire Indian brands, can they preserve the local authenticity that made them successful?
Clayco Raises $4.1M Series A to Fuel 14x Growth and Expansion in India’s $40B Beauty Market
Overview
In May 2026, Clayco secured $4.1 million in Series A funding, led by Unilever Ventures with participation from ICMG Global Ventures II and Twenty-Nine Capital Partners Ventures. This follows Unilever Ventures’ earlier $2 million investment soon after Clayco’s launch in March 2024. Clayco stands out by focusing on global beauty rituals, especially Japanese traditions, and its Matcha Clay Mask is a key product, free from harmful chemicals. The new funding will help Clayco expand its product range and strengthen its presence in India’s fast-growing beauty market, building on its unique brand positioning and rapid growth.