Cake slices into new capital because it expands sexual wellness product placement • TechCrunch

Sexual wellness model Cake this week is increasing its product placement in some main retailers, together with new house in CVS shops, because it publicizes $8 million in new Sequence A funding.

We final profiled Cake in April when its line of lubricants, condoms, toys and sexual hygiene merchandise made its debut in Goal and took in $2.5 million in bridge financing. The corporate now has 5 merchandise in retailer areas in addition to Amazon, Thrive Market and UrbanOutfitters.com.

The corporate grew 200% 12 months over 12 months between 2021 and 2022. 4 of its merchandise are actually in CVS, together with Tush Cush, So-Low Lotion, Buzzy Butt and Stroker. Cake can be doubling its product SKUs in Walmart, going from 4 to 11 SKUs, the corporate mentioned.

The sexual wellness market is huge enterprise now, as a lot of the stigma round it has eroded lately. The market is predicted to succeed in $125.1 billion by 2026, up from $67.4 million in 2019 and rising 12% yearly, in line with KBV Analysis.

Consequently, Cake just isn’t alone in attracting enterprise capital. For instance, final week, Dame Merchandise raised $7 million for its line of vibrators and serums. In 2020, Barcelona-based Emjoy raised $3 million for its “sex-positive subscription audio content material.”

In the meantime, Silas Capital led Cake’s new funding, which supplies the corporate over $16 million in complete funding so far. Silas was joined by its current traders, together with Lerer Hippeau, Selva Ventures, Bullish and Finn Capital Companions.

The brand new funding shall be centered into continued retail growth and product innovation, Hunter Morris, co-founder and CEO of Cake, informed TechCrunch. The corporate additionally introduced on Greenback Shave Membership’s former Chief Innovation Officer Fadi Mourad to move up product innovation, and former SmartyPants govt Christina Komen to guide retail gross sales.

“We function on a recurring theme of placing intercourse again in arm’s attain,” Morris mentioned. “Retail has been type to us, and growth has been quicker than anticipated. As we get extra clear on the Cake audience, we’re determining the place they store and going to these locations. We are able to’t go into particulars now, however we could have a brand new, thrilling retailer that shall be carrying Cake in 2022 and 2023.”