Fresha reaches $1 billion valuation after securing backing from KKR

Beauty and wellness booking marketplace Fresha has secured an $80 million investment from KKR through its Next Generation Technology Growth fund, pushing the company’s valuation above $1 billion. The investment is particularly significant because it comes from KKR’s growth equity division, which focuses on businesses that have already demonstrated strong business fundamentals but are still pursuing rapid expansion. The backing suggests that investors view Fresha as having moved beyond the uncertainties typically associated with early-stage startups and positioned for its next phase of growth.

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in London, Fresha has experienced substantial expansion over the past several years. In 2021, the platform served approximately 60,000 businesses and worked with more than 150,000 beauty and wellness professionals across 120 countries. Since then, the company has significantly increased its scale and reach.

Today, Fresha reports that more than 140,000 businesses use its platform. According to the company, those businesses collectively process over 35 million appointments every month through its booking system. On an annual basis, that translates to more than one billion appointments, placing Fresha among the largest scheduling and appointment-management platforms globally, not only within the beauty and wellness sector but across the broader appointment-booking industry.

The latest funding round further strengthens the company’s financial position as it continues to expand internationally. With the new investment included, Fresha has now raised a total of $285 million since its founding.

The company said it plans to use the additional capital to accelerate expansion into new markets worldwide while also investing in the development of artificial intelligence-powered features to enhance its platform and improve the experience for both businesses and customers.