AKT London raises $10m investment to 'accelerate expansion'

AKT London, the brand behind the award-winning deodorant balms, has announced it has successfully raised £7.4 million ($10 million) in order to pursue its mission of advancing product innovation and expanding globally. Andy Coxon, Co-Founder of AKT, told TheIndustry.beauty about the brand's plans for future growth.

Founded by West End performers in 2020, Andy Coxon and Ed Currie, AKT London has rapidly gained a loyal following in the UK for its innovative, gender-neutral deodorant balms.

The brand, born out of a desire to create a deodorant that could withstand the demands of life on stage, has garnered praise for its commitment to sustainability, efficacy, and luxurious scents.

Fast forward four years and the brand has sold over 500,000 units worldwide and won 21 awards. In February it took its first leap across borders, launching in the US, which now makes up a third of the business.

AKT London has raised $10 million and has now crossed $10 million run-rate revenue. This strategic move aligns with AKT London’s vision of becoming a global leader in personal and body care.

When asked if we should be expecting new product launches, Andy Coxon told TheIndustry.beauty: "We will be expanding the range over time, but we aren't about launching products just for the sake of it. In order to become the "Personal Performance Company" we have designed a brand architecture to create more innovative and meaningful products, moving us away from being just a deodorant brand."

"We are really committed to re-invigorating the industry with products that truly perform...We are focussed on creating products that are just as innovative, efficacious, sustainable and stunning to look at. We've done it again with our new Body Wash Concentrate, Body Conditioning Balm and Konjac Sponge, but that's just the beginning. New innovation is on the way"

The funding will also support a comprehensive continued UK and US. Setting its sights even further, the brand plans to launch in Europe and Australia in the near future.

Coxon added: "We will be focussing on new products, US retail partners and global brand partnerships. Showing up in the places our consumers are is really important but it has to be right. We have only scratched the surface with partnerships and have a huge network of opportunities that we can now tap into in ways many brands can't, from the performance world to sports to fashion."

The new funding has been secured from Felix Capital, a London-based venture capital firm, operating at the intersection of technology and creativity. Investments include Mejuri, AMI Paris and Castore to name a few

Andy Coxon and Ed Currie