Apothékary raises $16M Series A to push herbal tinctures into more stores
What's the deal? Herbal tinctures brand Apothékary has raised $16 million, with $10 million in venture capital and $6 million in debt financing, to expand its retail presence and develop new products.
The brand counts the funding as part of its Series A round. Investors include ShiseidoDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, NextLevel ManagementDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, about 50 angels, founders, and family offices, with debt financing from mission-focused lender RSF Social FinanceDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
Shiseido first backed Apothékary through its venture arm LIFT in 2024.
Why now? The raise follows a year of fast retail growth. Apothékary entered Ulta BeautyDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in July 2025, Whole FoodsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in January 2026, and The Vitamin ShoppeDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in May 2026, adding to distribution through Free PeopleDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, SproutsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Amazon.
"There are two types of fundraising: one is to survive…and the second way is to raise equity to grow faster," says founder and chief executive officer Shizu Okusa, a former Goldman Sachs trader. "This was a huge opportunity to go faster, meaning we can take our existing products into retail doors, which is very expensive."
The brand is targeting $40 million in 2026 sales, with revenue up 30% to 40% year over year.
What could go wrong? Retail is only Apothékary's third-biggest channel. TikTok Shop and direct-to-consumer lead, with TikTok Shop alone driving more than $1 million in a single month.
Pushing into physical stores is costly, and the round isn't fully closed. Okusa says it is seeking another $3 million in venture funding. To date, Apothékary has raised about $32 million.
The signal: Now at breakout stage, Apothékary illustrates how corporate beauty money is chasing the wellness ritual: its backers include ShiseidoDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and NextLevel ManagementDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, both strategic corporate investors, plus impact lender RSF Social FinanceDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The mix of equity and mission-focused debt signals a brand trying to fund expensive retail expansion without diluting too heavily as it scales toward its $40 million sales goal.
Read more: Beauty Independent
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
