Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Kiki World
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Image Credits:Kiki World
Cloud Computing
commercialism
Crypto
endeavor
EVs
Fintech
fund-raise
Gadgets
stake
Government & Policy
Hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
secrecy
Robotics
Security
Social
infinite
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
If you conceive that opt a nail polish coloring material or which ingredient go into your face cream ca n’t have anything to do with blockchain , think again .
Kiki World , a peach inauguration launch last year , wants consumers to co - create product and co - own the fellowship with the help of web3 technology .
On Tuesday , LA - based Kiki announce that it lift a $ 7 million seed troll from the Andreessen Horowitz crypto investment company and The Estée Lauder Companies ’ New Incubation Ventures , along with other backers such as Orange DAO and 2 Punks Capital .
Kiki co - founder Jana Bobosikova said she believes that being a truehearted user of a mark in the vane 2.0 world can be a net negative experience . “ You probably have watched a wad of Godhead on TikTok recommend it to you . You likely urge it to all your acquaintance . And what do you get for that ? Just more retargeted ads , ” she state .
Kiki is flipping that model by allow its community members to vote on the features they desire before the beauty products are made . As a reward , voters garner points toward innocent products and take in digital token in the company .
“ It ’s a moral force that the internet and your bathroom have not envision yet , ” Bobosikova say . ( She may be right about the bathroom , though of course , the net has seen plenty of customers vote on mathematical product and earn digital token for their participation . )
Since it ’s not rare for cosmetic company to recover themselves with declamatory piles of inventory they ca n’t sell , another benefit of Kiki ’s on - demand approach is that it uses less capital and resource .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Although member ’ product ballot are recorded on Ethereum , Bobosikova said some participants do n’t ask to lie with they are convey action on blockchain . Users can signal in with an email , and voila , Kiki has created an on - chain write up that will store the phallus ’ vote into perpetuity .
a16z decided to back Kiki after the inauguration completed its10 - week crypto startup catalyst political program . “ Jana is a force of nature . She was one of the matter that most drew us to the companionship , ” said Arianna Simpson , a general partner at the firm . “ She has incredible expertise in the knockout quad , but also a unique understanding of web3 , which is not always something we see if we have a founder coming out of a more traditional diligence . ”
Prior to founding Kiki , the Czech - born Bobosikova was the chief executive officer of Epic Future Labs , a product development and brand innovations agency .
Simpson noted that Kiki is not the firm ’s only wager on a company that reinforce customer using blockchain technology . Last year , a16z led a$24 million Series A of Blackbird Labs , a hospitality technical school company that developed a loyalty program that incentivizes Edgar Guest to dine in self-governing restaurants .
For now , Kiki has launched five product collections , including a nail polish playpen , for which consumers can prefer the next color Kiki will manufacture .
But , as Simpson pointed out , Kiki has plans to finally expand beyond the humans of beauty .
How long will it be until it ’s possible to vote on jeans expressive style or pocketbook sizes ? Perhaps a while .
“ We have look insane challenges on the physical side of things , ” Bobosikova sound out , adding that some products take much longer to manufacture than others . “ The mogul of inquire people what they want and giving it to them , it ’s very , very mere . It ’s just very hard to do . ”