From an Idea to a Fast-Growing Beauty-Tech Brand: GUSEC Incubated Startup Protouch Raises ₹18 Crore
India’s startup ecosystem is witnessing a new wave of consumer brands that are not just selling products, but building experiences around technology, convenience, and lifestyle. Among these emerging brands, Protouch has quickly made its mark in the beauty-tech space.
Founded by Tanisha Lakhani and incubated at GUSEC, Protouch has recently raised nearly ₹18 crore ($2 million) in its Pre-Series A funding round led by GVFL, with participation from Enrission India Capital and Anicut Capital. The round values the company at approximately $10 million post-money.
For the GUSEC ecosystem, this is not just another funding announcement. It is a reflection of how young founders from India are building globally relevant consumer brands by understanding modern consumer behaviour and combining it with strong product innovation.
Building Beauty-Tech for Indian Consumers
Founded in 2022 by Tanisha Lakhani, Protouch entered the market with a clear understanding of one major gap in India’s beauty and personal care industry — consumers wanted professional-quality beauty solutions that were accessible, technology-driven, and designed specifically for Indian hair and skin types.
At a time when the market was largely divided between low-quality mass products and extremely expensive international brands, Protouch positioned itself in the middle — premium yet accessible.
The company focused on creating technology-led beauty and personal care devices across haircare, skincare, and grooming categories. What made the brand stand out was its focus on innovation tailored for Indian consumers instead of simply replicating global products.
Its growing portfolio includes:
- India’s first automatic hair multi-styler powered by Coanda Airflow Technology
- Clinically tested LED-based beauty devices
- Advanced grooming and trimmer solutions
- Haircare and skincare technology products designed for Indian conditions
In a category traditionally dominated by global players, Protouch began building a strong identity as an Indian beauty-tech brand focused on innovation and usability.
The Vision Behind the Brand
Behind Protouch is founder Tanisha Lakhani, who has been focused on simplifying beauty and self-care through technology and functionality.
Instead of building another beauty product company, the vision was to create smart beauty appliances that could bring salon-like experiences into consumers’ homes.
That approach connected strongly with a younger audience increasingly looking for convenience-driven personal care solutions.
Over the last few years, the beauty-tech and self-care segment in India has grown rapidly, especially among digitally connected consumers who are comfortable purchasing personal care devices online. Protouch managed to position itself right at the centre of this shift.
And the growth numbers reflect that momentum.
Rapid Growth in a Short Time
In just around 30 months, Protouch reportedly achieved nearly 15X revenue growth while remaining profitable — something that is still relatively uncommon among early-stage consumer startups.
The company has already served more than 2 lakh customers across India and has also expanded into Middle Eastern markets.
Its products are currently sold through its own direct-to-consumer channels as well as major online marketplaces including Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra.
This rapid scale has been driven by:
- Growing demand for at-home beauty solutions
- Technology-driven product innovation
- Strong digital-first brand building
- Increasing awareness around self-care and grooming
- Consumer preference for premium yet affordable beauty appliances
The company’s ability to combine design, technology, and accessibility has helped it stand apart in an increasingly competitive category.
The ₹18 Crore Fundraise
The recently announced Pre-Series A round marks a significant milestone in Protouch’s journey. The round was led by GVFL, with participation from Enrission India Capital and Anicut Capital.
According to the company, the fresh capital will primarily be used for:
- Expanding the product portfolio
- Strengthening research and development
- Scaling online and offline retail presence
- Launching new haircare and skincare devices
- Building manufacturing capabilities in the coming years
The investment also highlights growing investor confidence in India’s beauty-tech and consumer appliance segment, which is witnessing strong demand from younger consumers.
Commenting on the company’s growth, GVFL Managing Director Mihir Joshi stated that Protouch is addressing a clear opportunity in India’s beauty-tech market through product innovation and strong consumer understanding.
Creating an Indian Beauty-Tech Brand
One of the most interesting aspects of Protouch’s journey is its effort to build products specifically engineered for Indian conditions.
From hair textures to climate conditions, Indian consumers often have very different requirements compared to Western markets. Protouch focused heavily on creating products that were relevant for these local needs while maintaining global-quality standards.
That understanding helped the company build a stronger product-market fit early in its journey.
More importantly, the company entered a category where Indian startups are still relatively few. While India has seen massive growth in beauty and skincare brands, beauty-tech hardware and appliances remain a more challenging segment due to product development complexity, manufacturing requirements, and consumer trust-building.
Protouch’s growth therefore represents more than just startup traction — it reflects the emergence of a new generation of Indian hardware-led consumer brands.
A Proud Moment for the GUSEC Ecosystem
As an incubated startup at GUSEC, Protouch’s journey is a proud moment for the entire startup ecosystem.
At GUSEC, the goal has always been to support founders who are building innovative and scalable businesses with long-term potential. Watching startups like Protouch raise institutional funding and build nationally recognized brands reinforces the growing strength of India’s startup landscape.
Tanisha Lakhani’s journey also highlights the increasing presence of women founders leading high-growth consumer and technology-driven startups in India.
Looking Ahead
With fresh capital, expanding market demand, and increasing brand recognition, Protouch now enters an important phase of growth.
The company is expected to continue expanding across categories while strengthening its position in India’s rapidly growing beauty-tech segment. Its long-term ambition of becoming a household beauty appliance brand now appears significantly closer than ever before.
For many young entrepreneurs, Protouch’s story is a reminder that strong consumer brands are built by deeply understanding customer needs and consistently innovating around them.
And for the GUSEC community, it is another inspiring example of how bold ideas, when supported with the right ecosystem and execution, can scale into impactful businesses.