Watalook

Watalook, a Lithuanian beauty-tech company founded in April 2020, operates a platform designed to support independent beauty professionals and salons. The company was established by co-founders Klaudijus Ambrožas (CEO) and Justas Vitėnas (CXO). The idea for the venture originated when the founders observed their fiancées, both working in the beauty industry, manually managing client appointments in notebooks even during personal time. This highlighted a clear need for a digital solution tailored to freelance beauticians who were underserved by existing salon-focused software.

The firm targets the growing segment of independent beauty service providers, a market shift that has seen the percentage of independent contractors in the US beauty industry rise significantly. Watalook's business model is centered on a subscription-based service (SaaS), where professionals pay a monthly fee for access to the platform's full suite of tools. Revenue is also generated through service fees on advance payments made by clients. The platform addresses both B2B clients (independent professionals and salons) and their end customers.

The core offering is the Watalook Workspace, a mobile application that provides a comprehensive toolkit for business management. Key features include a 24/7 online self-booking system for clients, a smart calendar, and automated SMS reminders to reduce no-shows. To further protect against lost revenue, the app includes an advance payment feature. The platform also serves as a client relationship management tool, allowing professionals to keep notes, track client history, and view analytics on revenue, appointment frequency, and cancellations. Each professional receives a personal webpage to showcase their portfolio and services, which can be integrated with their social media profiles to attract new clientele.

Watalook has demonstrated significant traction since its launch, experiencing substantial user growth even during nationwide lockdowns. The company secured approximately €825K-€1M in a pre-seed round in August 2021 to fuel product development and US market entry. This was followed by a €3 million Seed round in late 2022, led by byFounders and Practica Capital, to support expansion in Europe, with a focus on Scandinavian markets. The company is also developing integrated fintech solutions to broaden the financial operations available within the app.

Keywords: beauty professional software, salon management app, appointment booking system, independent beauticians, client management tool, beauty-tech, SaaS, online booking platform, financial tools for artists, automated reminders, portfolio showcase, US beauty market, European beauty market, Klaudijus Ambrožas, Justas Vitėnas, hairstylist app, nail technician software, makeup artist booking, salon booking software, freelance beautician tool