Missbeez

Missbeez operates as a mobile-first marketplace designed to provide on-demand beauty and lifestyle services. Founded in March 2015 by CEO Maya Gura and CTO Gil Bouhnick, the company developed a platform to connect busy women with certified, self-employed beauty professionals. The service allows clients to book treatments such as manicures, pedicures, massages, hairstyling, and makeup directly to their home or office at any time, 24/7.

The inspiration for Missbeez stemmed from Gura's experiences prior to founding the company. A serial entrepreneur who had previously co-founded and sold two startups to eBay and Getty Images, Gura was also pursuing a master's degree in criminology and working with women in prisons. This work exposed her to an underprivileged population of skilled women who lacked opportunities for stable, flexible employment. This led to the creation of a social business model that uses technology to empower women to become successful, independent business owners. The company's name is an allusion to the "busy bee," representing the modern working woman managing a demanding schedule.

The business model is centered around its mobile application, which utilizes algorithms to manage bookings and personalize the user experience. Missbeez generates revenue by taking a commission from the services booked through its platform, while the majority of the fee (reportedly 80%) goes directly to the service provider. The company vets, trains, and supports its network of professionals, helping them grow their businesses and income. The platform targeted busy working women as its primary clientele while simultaneously providing a flexible and profitable career path for female beauty therapists.

Headquartered in Israel, Missbeez expanded its operations to London. By late 2017, the company had raised approximately $5.3 million over two funding rounds, with investors including OurCrowd, 500 Startups, iAngels, and Target Global. In October 2019, the company was acqui-hired; its Israeli operations were acquired by cosmetics company Il Makiage, and its UK operations were sold to a local competitor, Urban Massage Ltd.

Keywords: on-demand beauty services, mobile marketplace, at-home beauty, lifestyle services, female entrepreneurship, gig economy, beauty tech, Maya Gura, Gil Bouhnick, Tel Aviv startup, Il Makiage, manicure on-demand, pedicure at home, mobile massage, hairstyling app, makeup artist booking, social business, women empowerment, beauty services platform