Key Takeaways:WWD reported that Iota has secured investment to support its brick-and-mortar rollout with Ulta Beauty and Nordstrom.Iota co-founders self-funded to revenue of $8M and $10M in 2025.Sidekick Partners, Touch Capital, Era VC, Palette Ventures, and Blueprint Capital represent the first outside investors in the business.BeautyMatter 2025 NEXT50 brand Iota takes its first outside capital to support retail expansion.WHO: Launched in 2022 by Monique Meneses and Ray Kim, Iota is smart microbiome bodycare designed with both complete functional and microbiome benefits for skin—in one pioneering a new category bodycare rooted in both premium skincare and daily supplementation.The collection combines proven face-grade actives with 47 vitamins, minerals, and adaptogens from premium plant-based ingredients—powerful, targeted treatments for glow, firmness, and aging.WHY: The investment will be used to support the launch into 860 Ulta Beauty doors and expand its digital partnership with Nordstrom into brick-and-mortar stores.IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “We knew that to take Iota to the next level, to show up properly in major retail and scale our vision, we needed the right partners behind us,” Iota co-founder and co-CEO Monique Meneses told WWD. “In terms of this year, we’re leaning into momentum. We have more limited-edition drops in the pipeline, new formulations, and we’ve always been intentional about how we grow and that won’t change. But the stage is bigger now and we’re ready for it.” DETAILS:Iota raised outside capital for the first time, of undisclosed size.