CHOSEN has raised $5 million in a Series A funding round led by Fireside Ventures, with participation from BOLD and Alkemi Growth Capital. This investment reflects growing investor interest in specialized skincare brands in India’s rapidly evolving beauty and wellness market.
Additionally, angel investor Avnish Anand and several practicing dermatologists joined the round, thereby strengthening the company’s clinical and strategic backing.
Founded in 2020 by cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Renita Rajan, CHOSEN develops skincare solutions specifically designed for melanin-rich Indian skin. The company positions itself as an evidence-based, dermatologist-led brand within India’s premium skincare and dermocosmetics segment.
“This round is a validation of the science-led, dermatologist-developed approach we’ve built CHOSEN around. It gives us the runway to deepen our R&D, bring more dermatologists into product development, and build the evidence base that holistic antiaging for Indian skin deserves,” founder and chief executive Dr. Renita Rajan said.
Moreover, the company plans to deploy the fresh capital to strengthen research and development, expand its pipeline of clinically validated products, scale its dermatologist-led center of excellence, and hire talent across key business functions.
Backing the startup, Fireside Ventures highlighted CHOSEN’s unique positioning in the market. “What drew us to CHOSEN is the rare combination of deep clinical rigor and a trust-led go-to-market that few consumer brands have cracked,” said Varun Varma, principal at Fireside Ventures.
Furthermore, strategic investor BOLD expressed confidence in CHOSEN’s long-term potential in India’s emerging dermocosmetics space. “In the very dynamic Indian beauty market, we believe CHOSEN has the potential to contribute to shaping the future of dermocosmetics in India,” said Samantha Etienne, global general manager at BOLD.
Similarly, Alkemi Growth Capital reinforced this outlook, emphasizing the startup’s differentiated approach. “Given its differentiated, dermatology-first, and R&D-led positioning in a fast-growing dermaceutical market, CHOSEN is well placed to address the unmet needs of skin of color,” said Alka Goel, founding partner at Alkemi Growth Capital.
Moreover, CHOSEN offers a diverse portfolio of topical skincare and nutraceutical products that target pigmentation, skin texture, contour, and hair aging. In addition, its flagship offerings include SAFESCREEN NEXGEN sunscreen and Sculpt, a clinically validated contour system specifically tailored for Indian women.
Importantly, this funding round aligns with a broader trend in India’s beauty and skincare sector, where investors increasingly back brands that focus on localized formulations and science-driven innovation rather than global, one-size-fits-all solutions.
As demand for personalized and clinically backed skincare solutions grows, the startup stands well-positioned to scale innovation, strengthen its R&D capabilities, and capture a larger share of the premium skincare market. Consequently, CHOSEN’s growth trajectory highlights the rising importance of science-based beauty brands in shaping the future of India’s skincare ecosystem.
