The barber shops industry in the US is a vibrant and growing sector that combines personal grooming, style, and self-care. These establishments range from traditional barbershops to modern grooming salons, each offering a variety of services such as haircuts, shaves, beard trims, and skincare for men and women. With the rise of self-care awareness, many shops are incorporating added services like skincare treatments and grooming products. Industry trends indicate an increased focus on sustainability and inclusivity, with many shops catering to LGBTQ+ and gender-neutral clients. The future of barber shops lies in blending classic techniques with innovative practices.

This list features notable investors actively backing the barber shops sector. Ranging from venture capital firms like 500 Global and Y Combinator to private equity partners such as L Catterton and TSG Consumer Partners, these investors have established themselves across various US cities. Founded between 1986 and 2015, these firms vary in size, employing between 1 to 500 professionals. In 2024, their investment activity spanned from seed funding to growth capital, with contributions focused primarily on innovative grooming and beauty solutions that enhance consumer experiences and operational efficiency.

Top 13 Barber Shops Investors in the US

1. 500 Global

• Website: 500.co
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2010
• Headcount: 201-500
• Number of deals in 2024: 98
• LinkedIn: 500-startups

500 Global is a venture capital firm and startup accelerator based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage technology companies, providing funding, mentorship, and resources to help founders scale their businesses. Notably, 500 Global has invested in companies relevant to the barber shops industry, such as StyleSeat, which raised a total of $7.75 million in seed funding in 2012 and 2013, and ShearShare, which raised $3.4 million in funding across multiple rounds from 2018 to 2020. These investments highlight 500 Global's commitment to supporting innovative solutions in the beauty and grooming sector, making them a significant player in the barber shops market.

2. Y Combinator

• Website: ycombinator.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2005
• Headcount: 51-200
• Number of deals in 2024: 802
• LinkedIn: y-combinator

Y Combinator is a prominent startup accelerator and venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2005. It specializes in providing funding and mentorship to early-stage technology companies, having successfully launched over 4,000 startups. Among its diverse portfolio, Y Combinator has invested in companies relevant to the barber and beauty industry, such as Glitzi, which raised $2.8 million to expand its at-home beauty and spa services, and Squire, a platform that offers management solutions for barbershops. These investments highlight Y Combinator's engagement in the grooming sector, showcasing its commitment to supporting innovative solutions within this space.

3. L Catterton

• Website: lcatterton.com
• Type: Private Equity
• Headquarters: United States (USA)
• Founded year: 1989
• Headcount: 201-500
• Number of deals in 2024: 23
• LinkedIn: l-catterton

L Catterton is a private equity firm founded in 1989, specializing in investment management with a focus on consumer brands across various sectors. The firm partners with middle market companies and high-growth enterprises, providing capital and strategic guidance to enhance brand equity and market presence. With a strong emphasis on consumer insights, L Catterton aims to drive growth and innovation within its portfolio companies. Notably, they have made significant investments in the beauty and personal care industry, including a $150 million Series B investment in Function of Beauty, which specializes in personalized hair products. They also acquired a majority stake in Beauty Industry Group, a provider of hair extension products, further demonstrating their commitment to the hair care market. Additionally, their investment in GlossGenius, a platform for beauty professionals, highlights their engagement with businesses that cater to the beauty and grooming sectors, which are closely related to barber shops.

4. Lerer Hippeau

• Website: lererhippeau.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: New York, New York, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2010
• Headcount: 11-50
• Number of deals in 2024: 23
• LinkedIn: lerer-hippeau-ventures

Lerer Hippeau is a venture capital firm based in New York, founded in 2010, that specializes in investing in early-stage startups. They provide essential funding and support to help businesses grow, connecting talented professionals with opportunities in their portfolio companies. Notably, Lerer Hippeau has invested in Glamsquad, a mobile beauty service provider, which raised $15 million in Series B financing, and Heyday, a skincare startup that has raised significant funding across multiple rounds. Heyday has opened several locations in Manhattan, indicating a strong presence in the personal care market. These investments highlight Lerer Hippeau's engagement in the beauty and personal care sectors, which are closely related to barber shops, showcasing their potential relevance in this industry.

5. Tiger Global

• Website: tigerglobal.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: New York, New York, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2001
• Headcount: 51-200
• Number of deals in 2024: 25
• LinkedIn: tiger-global-management

Tiger Global Management, LLC is a prominent investment firm based in New York, specializing in both public and private equity investments. Founded in 2001, the firm manages approximately $50 billion and focuses on innovative companies leveraging technology. Among its notable transactions, Tiger Global has invested in Squire, a technology platform that supports barbershops with tools for scheduling and payments. Squire raised $60 million in a Series D funding round on July 28, 2021, and $45 million in a Series C round on December 9, 2020. These investments highlight Tiger Global's commitment to supporting businesses that cater to the barber shop industry, alongside its broader investment strategy targeting various sectors.

6. Upfront Ventures

• Website: upfront.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Santa Monica, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 1996
• Headcount: 11-50
• Number of deals in 2024: 10
• LinkedIn: upfront-ventures

Upfront Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Santa Monica, California, founded in 1996. The firm has a diverse investment portfolio, with a focus on consumer products and services. Notably, Upfront Ventures has invested in Walker & Company Brands, which specializes in grooming products, including the Bevel brand aimed at men with coarse or curly hair. This company has raised multiple rounds of funding, including a Series A and Series B, indicating strong growth and market interest. Additionally, Upfront Ventures participated in the Seed Round for Hairtelligence, a company that raised $5 million to enhance hair care services. These transactions highlight Upfront Ventures' engagement in the beauty and grooming sector, making them a relevant player in the barber shop investment landscape.

7. Backstage Capital

• Website: backstagecapital.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2015
• Headcount: 1-10
• Number of deals in 2024: 3
• LinkedIn: backstage-capital

Backstage Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2015 and based in Los Angeles, California. The firm focuses on investing in startups led by underestimated founders, including women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Backstage Capital aims to address funding disparities in the startup ecosystem by providing not only capital but also mentorship and support services to help these founders succeed across various industries. Notably, Backstage Capital has invested in ShearShare, which raised a total of $3.4 million in funding, including a $2.3 million round in 2020, and a $1.06 million pre-seed round in 2018. ShearShare's business model is particularly relevant to the barber shop industry as it facilitates the connection between beauty professionals and salon spaces, indicating Backstage Capital's interest in the beauty and grooming sector.

8. XRC Ventures

• Website: xrcventures.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: New York, New York, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2015
• Headcount: 11-50
• Number of deals in 2024: 3
• LinkedIn: xrclabs

XRC Ventures is a venture capital firm and startup accelerator based in New York, founded in 2015. The firm focuses on driving innovation in retail technology, consumer healthtech, and consumer goods, providing funding and support to early-stage startups. Notably, XRC Ventures has invested in Barb, a company that raised $135,000 in a Pre-Seed round in March 2022, which directly relates to the barber shops industry. This investment highlights their interest in the grooming sector. Additionally, they have been involved in other transactions, such as their investments in Billie, a company in the personal care space, which raised significant funds in various rounds. These transactions demonstrate XRC Ventures' commitment to supporting innovative companies within the consumer goods sector, including those relevant to barber shops.

9. Precursor Ventures

• Website: precursorvc.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2015
• Headcount: 1-10
• Number of deals in 2024: 30
• LinkedIn: precursor-ventures

Precursor Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage companies, particularly in the pre-seed and seed stages. They focus on building long-term relationships with founders, providing both financial support and strategic guidance to help startups grow. Their portfolio includes a diverse range of innovative companies across various sectors, including the beauty and grooming industry. Notably, Precursor Ventures has invested in ShearShare, which raised $2.3 million in seed funding to connect salon owners with beauty professionals, and in Rebundle, which raised $1.4 million to create plant-based hair extensions. These transactions highlight their commitment to supporting businesses that cater to the hair and beauty market, aligning with the interests of barber shops.

10. Fearless Fund

• Website: fearless.fund
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2018
• Headcount: 1-10
• Number of deals in 2024: 1
• LinkedIn: fearless-fund

Fearless Fund is a not-for-profit venture capital firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 2018. The firm focuses on investing in under-resourced entrepreneurs, particularly those led by women of color, aiming to bridge the funding gap in venture capital. They specialize in early-stage investments to help scalable and growth-oriented ventures achieve their potential. Notably, Fearless Fund has been involved in several transactions relevant to the barber shops and beauty industry, including a $2.3 million seed round investment in ShearShare, a platform that connects beauty professionals with salon owners, and a multi-million dollar seed funding round for Bread Beauty Supply, a haircare line. These investments highlight their commitment to supporting businesses that operate within the beauty and barbering sectors.

11. Trinity Ventures

• Website: trinityventures.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 1986
• Headcount: 11-50
• Number of deals in 2024: 1
• LinkedIn: trinity-ventures

Trinity Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 1986. They specialize in early-stage investments in technology-driven companies, supporting mission-driven entrepreneurs with capital and resources to thrive in competitive markets. Notably, Trinity Ventures has invested in Squire, a company that has raised a total of $60 million in Series D funding and $45 million in Series C funding, among other rounds. Squire focuses on providing software solutions tailored for barbershops, which aligns with the barber shop industry. Their portfolio reflects a diverse range of companies across various tech sectors, but their engagement with Squire highlights their interest in the barbering space specifically.

12. TSG Consumer Partners

• Website: tsgconsumer.com
• Type: Private Equity
• Headquarters: Larkspur, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 1986
• Headcount: 51-200
• Number of deals in 2024: 1
• LinkedIn: tsg-consumer-partners

TSG Consumer Partners is a private equity firm based in Larkspur, California, founded in 1986. The firm specializes in consumer-focused investments and manages approximately $14 billion in assets. TSG partners with established brands across various industries, providing both capital and strategic support to drive growth and innovation. Notable transactions include the acquisition of Kenra Professional, a hair care brand, which aligns with the barber shop industry, as well as Pevonia International and Huda Beauty, both of which are involved in beauty and personal care. Their recent investment in Summer Fridays, a skincare and makeup company, further demonstrates their commitment to the beauty sector, making them a potentially valuable partner for barber shops looking to expand their offerings or improve their brand presence.

13. Serena Ventures

• Website: serenaventures.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
• Founded year: 2014
• Headcount: 1-10
• Number of deals in 2024: 2
• LinkedIn: serena-ventures

Serena Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2014, based in San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage companies and providing mentorship to founders, with a strong emphasis on supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs. Their portfolio spans various sectors, including fintech and edtech, but they have also made significant investments in the hair care industry. Notably, they participated in the seed funding rounds for Hairtelligence, which raised $5 million to enhance its offerings in the hair care space, and Mayvenn, a hair extension company that raised $10 million to expand its product line and infrastructure. Additionally, they invested in Parfait, an AI-driven wig customization company, further demonstrating their engagement in the hair and beauty sector. This diverse portfolio reflects their commitment to fostering innovation and inclusivity in the startup ecosystem, particularly within industries related to personal grooming and beauty.

Barber Shops Insights: Key Investors in the US

Investor	Headquarter	Size	Founded	Deals 2024
500 Global	San Francisco, California, United States (USA)	201-500	2010	98
Y Combinator	San Francisco, California, United States (USA)	51-200	2005	802
L Catterton	United States (USA)	201-500	1989	23
Lerer Hippeau	New York, New York, United States (USA)	11-50	2010	23
Tiger Global	New York, New York, United States (USA)	51-200	2001	25
Upfront Ventures	Santa Monica, California, United States (USA)	11-50	1996	10
Backstage Capital	Los Angeles, California, United States (USA)	1-10	2015	3
XRC Ventures	New York, New York, United States (USA)	11-50	2015	3
Precursor Ventures	San Francisco, California, United States (USA)	1-10	2015	30
Fearless Fund	Atlanta, Georgia, United States (USA)	1-10	2018	1
Trinity Ventures	Menlo Park, California, United States (USA)	11-50	1986	1
TSG Consumer Partners	Larkspur, California, United States (USA)	51-200	1986	1
Serena Ventures	San Francisco, California, United States (USA)	1-10	2014	2

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