Neothera, a new age skincare startup, has raised Rs 9 crore in a pre seed funding round led by Blume Ventures. The startup was founded by Radhika Agarwal, who previously worked as a venture capital investor before deciding to build her own company in the skin health space.
From Investor to Founder
Before starting Neothera, Agarwal spent five years working as a VC, backing and investing in founders across different sectors. Interestingly, one of the firms she worked closely with during that time, Blume Ventures, is now the lead investor in her own startup. This shift from investing in businesses to building one herself marks a significant career change for Agarwal.
Neothera is focused on skincare, but with a different approach compared to most brands in the market. Instead of simply treating visible symptoms like acne, the startup aims to address the root causes behind skin issues. The company is combining diagnostics, doctor backed treatment plans, behavioral science, technology, and clinical formulations to build long term skin health solutions rather than short term fixes.
Along with Blume Ventures, the pre seed round also saw participation from Barbershop Fund, Consumer Collective by Atrium, Veltis Capital, and a group of marquee angel investors. The Rs 9 crore raised will likely help Neothera strengthen its research, product development, and early growth efforts as it works to establish itself in the competitive skincare industry.
Neothera’s launch highlights a growing trend of experienced professionals moving from investing roles into building their own science driven startups. With backing from well known investors and a clear focus on solving real skin health problems through research and technology, Neothera aims to bring a more thoughtful and long term approach to acne care in India.
