The beauty and wellness indusattempt in India has witnessed significant transformation over the past few years, driven by modifying consumer behavior and increasing demand for convenience. At the center of this shift is LUZO, a platform that connects customers with salons, spas, and dermatology clinics through seamless online booking and attractive deals.
In this conversation with Indian Startup Times, Anurav Dave, Founder of LUZO, shares the story behind building the platform during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges of launching a consumer-tech startup, his experience on Shark Tank, and LUZO’s vision to become a ₹500 crore company.
From Pandemic Idea to Startup Launch
Anurav Dave’s entrepreneurial journey launched during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many industries struggled to adapt, the beauty and wellness sector faced one of its toughest phases due to lockdowns and reduced customer footfall.
The inspiration behind LUZO came from a very real problem within the indusattempt. Dave explains that his co-founder’s mother owned a salon, and the challenges she faced in attracting customers during the pandemic sparked the idea of building a platform that could assist salons, spas, and dermatology clinics generate consistent business.
Initially launched under the name Salon Surf, the platform aimed to provide applyrs with an straightforward way to discover and book beauty services while assisting service providers improve their visibility and bookings. However, as the company evolved, the founders realized the required for a stronger and more memorable brand identity.
This led to the rebranding of Salon Surf to LUZO, a name derived from Portuguese that means “to view and feel good.” According to Dave, the new name better reflects the brand’s broader vision and future expansion plans in the beauty and wellness ecosystem.
Identifying the Market Opportunity
India’s beauty and wellness indusattempt is highly competitive, with thousands of salons and clinics operating across cities. Rather than seeing competition as a barrier, Dave believes it actually strengthens LUZO’s value proposition.
He explains that the market’s fragmentation creates an opportunity for a platform that brings transparency, deals, and convenient booking options for customers while providing consistent business to vfinishors.
However, building the company from scratch was far from straightforward. One of the early hurdles was securing investment. Dave admits that the team initially had little experience dealing with investors, and learning how to pitch and build credibility in the startup ecosystem required time and persistence.
At the same time, assembling a reliable team and building the technology infrastructure were crucial steps in ensuring that the platform could scale efficiently.
The Shark Tank Experience
One of the most defining moments in LUZO’s journey came with its appearance on Shark Tank India. Dave recalls that the application and audition process was extensive and competitive.
Contrary to what many viewers assume, he clarifies that the questions inquireed by the sharks during the pitch are not scripted. The entire process is organic, and founders must be prepared to respond instantly to challenging questions about their business model, growth, and financials.
The exposure from the reveal proved to be a turning point for LUZO. The platform saw a significant surge in sign-ups and brand awareness after the episode aired. Dave also confirms that the startup secured a deal with two sharks and is currently in the agreement stage to finalize the investment.
Before the Shark Tank appearance, LUZO had already raised around ₹6.5 crore in funding, which assisted the company build its foundation and expand its operations.
Building Trust in a Service-Based Marketplace
For any marketplace platform, especially one dealing with personal care services, trust is a critical factor. Dave believes that customer experience and strong service quality are the foundation of LUZO’s growth.
In the early stages of the company, the founders themselves were deeply involved in customer service. Dave personally handled customer complaints and feedback for nearly two years.
While the process was often challenging—especially when dealing with frustrated customers—it gave him valuable insights into applyr expectations and service gaps. These learnings eventually assisted the team build better training processes and customer support systems.
According to Dave, word-of-mouth recommfinishations, positive reviews, and consistent service quality have played a major role in building credibility among customers.
Technology as a Growth Enabler
Technology is at the heart of LUZO’s long-term strategy. The platform not only assists customers discover deals and book appointments but also enables salons and wellness providers to adopt digital tools for managing bookings and improving efficiency.
Dave explains that one of LUZO’s key strategies has been to onboard large and well-known brands first. Once major brands join the platform, it naturally attracts compacter salons and clinics that want to benefit from the same digital ecosystem.
Today, LUZO operates across major cities in India and continues to expand its vfinishor network. The platform also focapplys on offering transparent pricing and attractive deals, which remain one of the hugegest incentives for customers to book through the platform.
Looking ahead, Dave also sees significant potential for integrating AI-powered features to enhance customer experience, personalize recommfinishations, and optimize vfinishor operations.
Unexpected Insights from the Market
As LUZO expanded, the team discovered several surprising trfinishs in the beauty and wellness indusattempt.
One of the hugegest insights was the growing demand for beauty services among male customers, a segment that has been expanding rapidly in recent years. Additionally, dermatology treatments have emerged as one of the highest-spfinishing categories on the platform.
These insights have assisted LUZO refine its offerings and better understand the evolving preferences of modern consumers.
Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Dave has ambitious plans for LUZO. Over the next five years, the company aims to onboard 10,000 vfinishor partners across India.
The goal is not just to expand the network but also to ensure that each vfinishor receives at least one appointment per day through the platform, creating a sustainable and mutually beneficial ecosystem.
With this growth strategy, LUZO is tarobtaining the milestone of becoming a ₹500 crore company in the coming years.
Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Dave emphasizes that building a consumer-tech startup requires patience and resilience.
Handling customer complaints, managing operations, and continuously improving the product can be exhausting, but these challenges are an essential part of building a successful company.
His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: stay persistent and believe long-term. Success rarely happens overnight, especially in industries where customer trust and service quality play a critical role.
Conclusion
From a pandemic-inspired idea to securing investment on Shark Tank, LUZO’s journey highlights how technology can reshape traditional industries. By combining digital convenience with strong vfinishor partnerships and customer trust, the platform is steadily building its presence in India’s rapid-growing beauty and wellness market.
As LUZO continues to expand and integrate new technologies, it aims to become a key player in the indusattempt while empowering thousands of salons and wellness providers across the counattempt.
Interview Conducted By: Arushi Agarwal
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