Could 29, 2026
Tendai Moyo, CEO and co-founder of Ruka Hair, shares their fundraising journey and her greatest recommendation for different founders in a Black Enterprise unique
London-based biotech magnificence model Ruka Hair has introduced $4.5 million in new funding that may assist it carry its revolutionary hair extensions to the U.S.
Co-founded in 2020 by Tendai Moyo, who was born in Zimbabwe, and Ugo Agbai, who was born in Nigeria, Ruka Hair has constructed a loyal following by tackling an issue Black ladies know all too nicely: discovering hair extensions that don’t compromise on high quality, security, or ethics.
Fixing for the sourcing questions round pure hair and the dangerous chemical substances present in artificial choices, Ruka Hair created its personal patent-pending, lab-grown fiber referred to as Synths 2. Its hair extensions are comprised of collagen, are biodegradable and hypoallergenic, and look, really feel, and carry out like pure hair with out plastics or carcinogens.
The brand new spherical brings their whole funding to $10 million and can enable them to launch U.S. operations this yr.
Freedom Path Capital and Henkel Ventures co-led the spherical with participation from Large Difficulty Make investments, Backed VC, and angel buyers, together with British observe star Dina Asher-Smith, and retail and M&A consultant Sophia Dennis.
“Ruka Hair exemplifies what we search for: founders fixing an actual downside with real dedication, constructing by means of neighborhood reasonably than hype,” mentioned Samyr Laine, co-founder and managing companion of Freedom Path Capital, in an announcement.
“Tendai and Ugo constructed this model throughout some of the difficult durations for shopper companies, scaled by means of an genuine neighborhood, and at the moment are pioneering biotech innovation that would reshape a complete class,” he continued. “Ruka is on observe to turn into a category-defining model and a future family title for textured haircare merchandise.”
Co-founder Moyo spoke with BLACK ENTERPRISE about their fundraising technique and the teachings it has taught them:
What was behind Ruka Hair’s resolution to pursue enterprise capital?
For us, enterprise capital made sense as a result of Ruka was by no means nearly launching one other magnificence product. We’re constructing a brand new fiber platform for textured hair, and that requires important upfront funding in analysis and improvement, testing, provide chain, manufacturing, schooling, and brand-building.
There are components of the enterprise that appear like shopper packaged items, however the ambition is rather more infrastructure-led. We are attempting to alter the standard, security, and expertise of hair extensions for a neighborhood that has traditionally been underserved. To try this correctly, we wanted buyers who understood that the chance was not simply [about] short-term progress, however long-term class transformation.
What has the fundraising journey been like for you?
Fundraising has been stretching, humbling, and, truthfully, character-building. Now we have raised by means of very totally different market situations: from the height of shopper enthusiasm to a a lot more durable surroundings the place capital has turn into extra cautious, particularly for shopper manufacturers.
As a Black feminine founder constructing in a class that has usually been misunderstood, I’ve additionally had to spend so much of time educating buyers on the size of the textured hair market, the depth of the buyer downside, and why this class deserves critical innovation.
However the journey has additionally been extremely affirming. The proper buyers have understood that Ruka isn’t just a magnificence model. It’s a science, neighborhood, and culture-led enterprise tackling an enormous world market.
How did you identify that it was time for an additional spherical of fundraising?
The timing was pushed by the stage of the enterprise. We had constructed robust neighborhood belief, confirmed demand, developed Synths 2—our collagen protein fiber-braiding hair—and reached some extent the place the following section required extra infrastructure.
This spherical permits us to maneuver from proving the idea to scaling it correctly. Which means investing in analysis and improvement, product testing, provide chain resilience, manufacturing consistency, schooling, and the operational foundations wanted to develop in america and past.
We had been additionally very aware of rising responsibly. In a tough shopper surroundings, we intentionally constrained spend reasonably than chasing unprofitable progress. Now the main focus is on constructing the foundations that enable us to scale with extra self-discipline and longevity.
How is that this new spherical of funding totally different from earlier rounds?
This spherical feels totally different as a result of it’s much less about proving that the market exists and extra about proving that we are able to construct the way forward for the class.
Earlier rounds had been about imaginative and prescient, neighborhood, and the preliminary product-market match. This spherical is extra about infrastructure, defensibility, and execution. The conversations are deeper—round provide chain, mental property, security, testing, gross margins, operational readiness, and what it takes to construct a enterprise that may final.
As a founder, it additionally feels extra critical. You might be not simply asking individuals to imagine in an thought. You might be exhibiting them the system you might be constructing and the self-discipline behind it.
What is going to this $4.5 million infusion imply in your hair extensions?
The funding will assist us proceed scaling Synths 2, our collagen protein fiber-braiding hair, and the broader fiber platform behind it.
It’ll enable us to take a position additional into analysis and improvement, product testing, provide chain, manufacturing, schooling, and retail readiness. For us, it’s about ensuring the innovation just isn’t solely thrilling, however secure, constant, high-performing, and straightforward for purchasers to know.
It additionally helps our United States growth, together with achievement, content material, neighborhood constructing, and the foundations for bigger retail partnerships. We see america as a significant progress marketplace for Ruka, each commercially and culturally.
Finally, this funding helps us construct the infrastructure to take textured hair innovation severely—on the degree our neighborhood has at all times deserved.
What recommendation do you’ve gotten for different founders about fundraising?
I’d say: know what sort of enterprise you might be constructing earlier than you determine what sort of capital to take.
Enterprise capital isn’t just cash. It comes with expectations round pace, scale, and outcomes, so it has to match the ambition and construction of the corporate.
I’d additionally inform founders to get very clear on the story behind the numbers. Traders want to know the market, however in addition they want to know why you might be uniquely positioned to win. Particularly if you’re constructing in a class that has been neglected, a part of the job is schooling.
And at last, don’t let the fundraising course of outline your price as a founder. A no just isn’t at all times a mirrored image of the standard of the enterprise. Typically it’s timing, mandate, market situations, or just a lack of know-how. The bottom line is to remain near the reality of what you might be constructing, preserve refining the story, and ensure the capital you are taking serves the corporate—not the opposite method round.
