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: $12.5M. 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, Market Square Ventures, Global Brain (EP-GB L.P.).
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Knoxville, USA
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $12.5M
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 (e.g., Walmart) 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), Epson (Strategic investor and technology partner), Kirker Enterprises (Leading nail polish manufacturer and strategic partner), APTUS DesignWorks (Engineering/robotics design partner), Evolution VC Partners
Notable customers
Walmart
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 Co-Founder and CEO of Blank Beauty, which he started in 2016 at age 19 while studying at the University of Mississippi (business/marketing). Early work involved garage prototyping in Memphis before relocating HQ to Knoxville; no verified prior role at X-Biomedical (that firm's CIO is Matthew R. Maltese).
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Official website: https://blankbeauty.com