Chennai-based dermocosmetics brand CHOSEN has extended its Series A round with investment from Avnish Chhabria and Saurabh Kapoor, the founders of Wellbeing Nutrition, in a fresh endorsement of science-led skincare in startup funding in India. The size of the extension was not disclosed. The news was reported on 28 October 2026.
CHOSEN had raised a $5 million Series A in May 2026 led by Fireside Ventures, with participation from BOLD, L’Oréal’s corporate venture capital fund, and Alkemi Growth Capital. It had earlier raised $1.2 million in an angel round in 2024. The extension adds two successful consumer-brand builders to a cap table that already mixes venture capital with a global beauty strategic investor.
What CHOSEN does
Founded in 2020 by dermatologist Dr Renita Rajan, CHOSEN develops science-led skincare for melanin-rich Indian skin, drawing on the exposome — how environmental factors affect skin health. It targets four areas of ageing: pigmentation, skin texture, facial contour and hair ageing. Its portfolio spans more than 50 products across skincare, haircare, body care and nutraceuticals, prescribed by more than 2,000 doctors.
The fresh funds will strengthen R&D and expand the formulation pipeline across topicals and nutraceuticals, with a focus on clinical validation and dermatological research. The company also plans a dermatologist-led Centre of Excellence and to expand its R&D, brand and growth teams. In 2026, its CHOSEN Sculpt became, according to the company, India’s first topical lower-face contouring serum, backed by a 12-week clinical study of Indian women published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Why operators are backing it
Wellbeing Nutrition’s founders know the nutraceutical and consumer-wellness playbook first-hand, so their cheque is as much a signal as it is capital: clinically validated, doctor-distributed brands are gaining ground over influencer-led ones in India’s beauty market. For founders, the extension also shows that a strong Series A is not the end of the fundraise — strategic operators will top up a round when the science and distribution story keeps improving.
Why it matters for founders
In consumer brands, clinical proof and a prescriber network are becoming real moats. If your product makes a health-adjacent claim, invest in studies and professional distribution early — that evidence is what pulls in both strategics and follow-on operators, not just your first VC.