Manscaped
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Male grooming, Personal care |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder | Steve King, Paul Tran |
| Headquarters | San Diego , United States |
Key people | Paul Tran (CEO) |
| Products | Male hygiene and grooming products |
Manscaped LLC is a company specializing in male grooming, headquartered in San Diego, California. Established in 2016 by Steve King and Paul Tran, it develops and sells male hygiene and grooming products under the Manscaped label.
History
Manscaped was founded by Steve King, who initially served as CEO, and Paul Tran, the current CEO. The business focuses on addressing pubic hair removal through tailored male grooming solutions. Its brand identity revolves around the concept of manscaping, a term recognized by Merriam-Webster. The company employs humor and celebrity partnerships to break down stigmas related to male personal care.
In October 2018, Manscaped made an appearance on ABC's Shark Tank, where co-founders Steve King and Josh King pitched for $500,000 in exchange for a 25% equity share. Although Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner expressed interest with offers matching the requested amount, the agreement was not completed.
Towards the end of 2020, Manscaped sought further investment opportunities with backing from Kaktus Capital, Longley Capital, Rx3 Venture Partners, and Scala Ventures. A notable advertising campaign showcased NFL athlete Rob Gronkowski alongside supermodel Camille Kostek.
In July 2021, discussions began between Manscaped and Los Angeles-based SPAC Bright Lights regarding a potential merger to create an entity valued at up to $1.4 billion. Bright Lights, led by Michael Mahan (former CEO of Dick Clark Productions), had gone public on Nasdaq earlier that year with a focus on consumer product mergers.
By November 2021, the merger was officially announced with an approximate valuation of $1 billion despite prevailing market difficulties. The transaction received support from actor Channing Tatum as well as investors Endeavor and Guggenheim Investments. Nevertheless, due to adverse market conditions, both parties agreed to terminate the merger arrangement in 2022.