Glamsquad Secures $7 Million For On-Demand Hair Styling And Beauty Services

On-demand beauty business Glamsquad has now raised $7 million. The 1 year old startup was founded in 2013, and launched its product in January. Glamsquad's website and mobile app connects customers willing to pay for an in-person visit with independent, vetted hair stylists and makeup artists in New York.

The company raised the money in Series A funding in a round led by SoftBank Capital and joined by Lerer Ventures, AOL's BBG Fund and Montage Ventures and plans to use the capital to expand into markets beyond New York and Los Angeles. "Glamsquad has created a trusted brand at the intersection of three important categories—beauty, affordable luxury and on-demand services," said Marissa Campise, partner at SoftBank, in a statement.

Currently available in Los Angeles, the company charges from $50 for hair services and $75 for makeup application as it does in New York. The company promises more markets in 2015. "The market response since launch has been overwhelming, and we intend to leverage the brand and consumer trust we are building into a suite of complementary services, products and partnerships nationwide that will fulfill our core mission of making getting ready a whole lot easier," said CEO Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, the Gilt Groupe cofounder who came aboard at Glamsquad in August.

Currently headed by Gilt Groupe co-founder Alexandra Wilkis Wilson who joined earlier this year as co-founder and CEO, the company has now raised a total of $9 million in venture backing and competes with startups like Madison Reed, TheStylisted, Priv and more, and less directly with online beauty services such as StyleSeat or Beautified.