Blank Beauty
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
A beauty technology startup utilizing AI-driven robotics to provide hyper-personalized, on-demand cosmetic manufacturing, replacing traditional mass production with a micro-factory model. Blank Beauty was founded in 2016. The company is led by Charles C. Brandon. Based in Knoxville, USA. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $8.0M. Latest round: Series A, $6.5M, 2025-05, led by Kirker Enterprises. Key investors include ["Epson","Kirker Enterprises","RPM Ventures","Three Roots Capital","Evolution VC Partners"].
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Knoxville, USA
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $8.0M
Value proposition
Enables instant, custom-color cosmetic creation at the point of sale or online, reducing inventory waste and providing consumers with exact color matches through AI and precision robotics.
Products and solutions
["Huey: A proprietary robotic micro-factory for on-demand cosmetic mixing","AI Color Science Platform: Software for precision color matching and formulation","Custom Nail Polish: The flagship personalized product line","Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Customization Interface","Vivi: Custom foundation platform using spectroscopic facial scanning and robotic mixing for personalized complexion kits"]
Unique value
The company shifts the cosmetic supply chain from 'mass produce and hope' to 'on-demand precision,' using a robotic system (Huey) that can mix millions of color combinations in seconds.
Target customer
Individual beauty consumers seeking hyper-personalization, and major retailers (Walmart, Nordstrom) looking for experiential, tech-driven beauty solutions.
Industries served
["Beauty & Personal Care","Retail Technology","Robotics & Automation","Advanced Manufacturing"]
Technology advantage
Combines high-precision fluid mechanics and AI color theory with a compact robotic footprint, allowing for industrial-grade manufacturing to occur within a retail environment or small-scale hub.
How they differentiate
Blank Beauty utilizes proprietary AI-driven 'micro-factories' (Huey and Dolly) to automate the formulation and fulfillment of custom cosmetics, shifting the model from mass production to on-demand precision robotics.
Main competitors
["BoldHue","Clockwork","L'Oréal (Perso/YSL Rouge Sur Mesure)","Lip Lab"]
Key partnerships
["Walmart (Retail installation partner)","Nordstrom (Retail installation partner)","Epson (Strategic investor and technology partner)","Kirker Enterprises (Leading nail polish manufacturer and strategic partner)","Evolution VC Partners"]
Notable customers
["Walmart","Nordstrom","Ulta"]
Major milestones
["Closed $6.5M Series A funding round in May 2025","Formed strategic robotics partnership with Epson in April 2025","Launched 'Huey' robotic pilot program in select Walmart locations in March 2024","Consolidated operations into a new 4,000 sq. ft. manufacturing center in Knoxville, TN","Developed 'Dolly,' an automated fulfillment system for e-commerce orders","Launched 'Vivi' custom foundation platform at Cosmoprof North America in January 2026"]
Growth metrics
Projected $10M ARR by 2026; currently scaling from $250k revenue (2024) following Series A capital injection.
Market positioning
Early-stage beauty-tech leader specializing in robotic retail automation and hyper-personalized cosmetic manufacturing.
Geographic focus
North America (primarily United States retail partnerships)
Patents and IP
Holds 15+ patents in robotics, fluid dispensing, and beauty technology applications.
About Charles C. Brandon
Charles C. Brandon is the Co-Founder and CEO of Blank Beauty. Prior to founding the company, he served as the Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at X-Biomedical, Inc., a medical device startup. He has a background in public policy leadership and innovation, holding a degree from the University of Mississippi.
Official website: https://blankbeauty.com