The entrepreneurial internet-famous PhD aims to more closely integrate the R&D of cosmetic raw materials with market demand and product efficacy. Recently, the company “Guanchen Bio” specializing in the development of cosmetic raw materials has completed tens of millions of RMB in angel round financing. This fund is mainly used to strengthen R&D efforts and construct new production lines.
Guanchen Bio, established in September 2021, is located in Huzhou, Zhejiang. Adhering to the mission of “Technology Creates Beauty,” the company concentrates on developing innovative cosmetic ingredients. It has already established cooperation with numerous well-known cosmetic brands at home and abroad, and some of its products have successfully hit the market.
As consumers increasingly focus on the components and efficacy of cosmetics, the importance of raw material innovation continues to grow. Industry giants such as L’Oréal and Yangsheng Shares are stepping up their investments and strategies in raw material sectors, highlighting the strategic position of new raw material development.
The founder of Guanchen Bio, Qiao Jian, views innovation and domestic substitution as new opportunities in the cosmetic raw material field. The industry is typically dominated by a few multinational corporations, but Qiao Jian, with his educational background from Tsinghua University and the National University of Singapore, along with nearly ten years of professional experience in the cosmetic raw material field, has profound insights into the industry.
In addition to specializing in his field, Qiao Jian is also active on multiple social platforms as a beauty content creator with a large following. This multifaceted identity allows him to understand the market pulse while developing innovative products.
Qiao Jian holds a balanced view of current ingredient trends, mentioning the industry optimization brought on by ingredient popularity, as well as discussing the narrow understanding of ingredients in the market. He foresees a future “Ingredient 2.0 era” that will be oriented towards actual efficacy, where consumers will pay more attention to the actual effects of products rather than just the ingredients themselves.
The strategy of Guanchen Bio is based on this market insight, not limiting itself to a single technology or ingredient but establishing a R&D direction centered on clean beauty and significant effects.
In the consumer market, the concept of “natural” is gaining widespread acceptance. Hence, “clean beauty” has emerged to tap into greener, natural ingredients to meet market demand. “Efficacy” focuses on the active components in cosmetics, aiming to develop ingredients that consumers can clearly feel the benefits of.
Specifically concerning technology and products, the core technologies of Guanchen Bio include photolysis technology and delivery technology. Photolysis technology mainly degrades natural macromolecular materials to obtain naturally sourced ingredients with significant effects, and includes natural plant components that are more easily absorbed by the skin. Delivery technology encapsulates active ingredients in micelles with high transdermal efficiency and targeting functions, thereby precisely delivering them to the deeper layers of the skin.
It is noteworthy that the production base Guanchen Bio has in Wuxing Economic Development Zone, Huzhou, is expected to begin production in June this year. Qiao Jian revealed that by 2024, the company aims to achieve batch production of several products. Next, the company plans to accelerate its cultivation of domestic emerging brand customers, complete ISO certification, and establish deeper cooperation with international cosmetic companies.
In terms of team composition, apart from Qiao Jian, Chen Kelei, serving as the external collaboration leader, boasts academic credentials from Sichuan University and a Ph.D. from National University of Singapore, along with extensive resources in biology and collaborations with universities, is mainly responsible for the scrutiny of new technologies. The R&D partner, Ma Guangyuan has more than ten years of experience in the cosmetics industry and previously served as the head of cosmetic ingredient development at Evonik Asia Pacific. Hu Dacheng, the production leader, is a veteran in the fine chemical industry with twenty years of industry experience and has an in-depth understanding of chemical plant management, planning, and compliance processes.
The perspective of investors is equally important. Zhang Zhijian from Sequoia Capital expressed that the momentum of development for domestic cosmetic ingredients is strong, with both consumers and brands looking forward to the emergence of new ingredients that are significantly effective and naturally pure. He believes that the founding team of Guanchen combines cosmetic ingredient research and development with global industry insight, promoting the upgrading of the local cosmetics industry and helping consumers become more beautiful through scientific methods. Zhang Jie, founding partner of Chuanxin Seed Fund, also expressed a positive view, considering that enterprises driven by market demands and R&D as the core will gain new development opportunities in the process of domestic industrial chain upgrading.
