Many startup founders dream of working with big industry players to increase revenue, credibility, and recognition. It can be a daunting task that requires a significant amount of time and effort, causing many entrepreneurs to give up before even trying. But not Anastasia Georgievskaya, co-founder and CEO of Haut.AI, an Estonian SaaS beauty intelligence startup. Even though Haut.AI’s technology was still in its infancy, she went against the odds and reached out to big names like Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and Ulta Beauty. Her bold move paid off, resulting in significant growth for her startup. This is how she did it.
In 2016, Anastasia and her co-founder, Konstantin Kiesev, pivoted their careers from biotech researcher (Anastasia) and (Konstantin) to entrepreneurs on a journey to develop non-invasive body analytics solutions. They quickly realized the potential of the beauty industry, with most AI for body developments taking place in the highly regulated medical field. They found their niche in developing software that would assess skin and hair conditions based on individual factors rather than a single beauty standard, using smartphone cameras.
Initially, an angel investment helped them analyze over three million selfies across demographics to develop their product. But Anastasia knew she needed to start onboarding partners and clients to drive the company forward. That’s why she began contacting multiple large businesses, presenting her technology and vision and what she had achieved thus far. This power move accelerated their journey, with the first 20 clients across big enterprises and SMEs driving the development of an API solution. Finally, in 2021, they launched their software, which, thanks to initial clients and recognition due to their big names partnerships, quickly quadrupled Haut.AI’s client base to 80+ brands, retailers, and manufacturers.
Rapid expansion is no easy feat, and for Anastasia and Konstantin, co-founders of Haut.AI, it posed a unique challenge. They knew they needed to expand their team but had to get creative with a limited budget. Instead of focusing on skills alone, they prioritized attitude and drive when hiring for their next-gen beauty intelligence tech. While many team members didn’t have the “perfect” skill set for the job, they had the motivation and eagerness to learn on the job. Today, their team of 27 works tirelessly on day-to-day operations, developing more accurate analytics solutions and onboarding new clients. It’s a testament to the power of determination and grit when building a successful startup.
Anastasia describes landing a major brand partnership as a critical achievement for any startup. She and her team had to go through several key milestones, including developing their idea, building a team, creating a product, defining their use cases, marketing their solution, and nurturing relationships. But most importantly, Anastasia owes Haut.AI’s success to her courage to start partner conversations early on. Anastasia believes that forging symbiotic relationships with clients is crucial to success, as it allows tuning into clients’ needs and developing solutions that meet specific requirements.
Anastasia also underlines that when searching for commercial partnerships, visibility is critical. She says that around 80% of Haut.AI clients reached out to her themselves, with existing clients introducing them to new partners, constituting 15% and 5% of clients coming from outbound sales. Anastasia believes that if you have a good product and are willing to show it to the world, Haut.AI proves that you don’t need to be an insider or have excellent connections.
Haut.AI’s success is primarily due to Anastasia’s entrepreneurial spirit and determination. She and her team were unafraid to take risks, pivot when necessary, and build a company from the ground up. She says partnerships with big brands give any startup a substantial competitive advantage beyond recognition and monetary gains – detailed insight into the market and its trends. Big corporations employ hundreds of analytics and solutions that help them understand market dynamics. Anastasia leveraged her relationships to get access to this data and make sure Haut.AI’s products responded to market needs. That’s why finding partners early on can be the best a startup can do to accelerate.
Anastasia’s journey with Haut.AI is a true testament to the power of passion and determination. Her unwavering commitment to growing alongside the company has led to monumental success, proving that a startup can thrive without substantial investments or influential connections. Anastasia’s story inspires aspiring female entrepreneurs everywhere, demonstrating that anything is possible with the right mindset and work ethic. Her unwavering pursuit of excellence will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the beauty intelligence industry and beyond.
If you would like to get in touch with Anastasia Georgievskaya or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
