Cristina Nuñez didn’t just break into the beauty industry—she’s redefining who gets to shape it. She started her career in traditional finance and private equity, but craved something more personal and creative. So she rolled up her sleeves and jumped into roles that strategically built beauty brands, including Laura Geller and Clark’s Botanicals.
Now, as co-founder and General Partner of True Beauty Ventures, Cristina is rewriting the VC playbook for the industry—one founder, one investment at a time. She’s not just writing checks for beauty startups; she’s building trust, offering strategy, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with brands like K18, Crown Affair, and Moon Juice. In a fundraising climate where doubt often outweighs belief, Cristina is proof that clarity, conviction, and heart still win.
In this episode, she opens up about dealing with loss, pivoting with purpose, and what it really takes to be investment-ready in today’s beauty and wellness space. Whether you're a founder looking for funds right now or still in the visioning stage, this conversation will change how you think about scaling, pitching, and the power of leading with empathy.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[00:57] Cristina’s path from finance to beauty
[02:56] Why she left investing to build brands
[04:00] Personal turning point: her father's diagnosis
[06:54] Launching True Beauty Ventures
[08:49] Doubts from male investors and pushing through
[10:54] The case for more diverse funders
[11:47] What is venture capital?
[12:56] How True Beauty Ventures is different
[15:45] The five P’s of investment readiness
[17:45] What do investors look for in founders?
[20:47] Misconceptions about working with investors
[22:47] How to build trust with VCs
[24:44] Focus, prioritization, and saying no
[26:45] How to get on an investor’s radar
[30:45] Why founder prep matters in fundraising
[31:44] How early-stage valuation actually works
[34:45] Common mistakes founders make
[36:47] Why tight assortments win in beauty
[39:45] The danger of low product margins
[42:47] The value of founder business acumen
[44:47] Cristina’s morning routine and wellness habits
[48:45] Advice for founders raising capital now
To learn more about Cristina, follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Resources Mentioned:
True Beauty Ventures | Website
K18 Biomimetic Hairscience | Website
Crown Affair | Website
Moon Juice | Website
Equinox | Website
L Catterton | Website
Clark’s Botanicals | Website
Tengram Capital Partners | Website
Laura Geller Beauty | Website
Clark's Botanicals | Website
Youthforia | Website
JumpStart Beauty Brand with Rohit Banota Episode 7 on What Beauty Founders Don't Know with Cristina Nuñez | Spotify or Apple
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