Loading organizations...
Based in Milan, Italy, Barberino's - Benessere Italiano is a luxury men's grooming brand that operates premium barbershops and retails proprietary skincare and cosmetic products. The company generates approximately €5 million in annual revenue by serving over 100,000 customers across more than 20 physical locations, which currently includes a flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York City. Operating with a workforce of between 101 and 200 employees, the enterprise manages a specialized product portfolio of 45 stock-keeping units distributed across 120 premium retail distribution points globally. To finance international expansion, Barberino's has secured over €3 million in equity funding from notable backers including CDP Venture Capital, former professional footballer Bernardo Corradi, and Art of Shaving founder Eric Malka. The organization was officially founded in 2015 by its co-founders Michele Callegari and Niccolò Bencini.
Barberino's - Benessere Italiano has raised $560K across 1 funding round.
Barberino's - Benessere Italiano has raised $560K in total across 1 funding round.
Barberino's - Benessere Italiano has raised $560K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $560K Barberino's - Seed in January 2018.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2018 | $560K Seed | — | Blockchain Valley Ventures, Gumi Cryptos Capital, P101 | Announced |
Barberino's - Benessere Italiano has raised $560K in total across 1 funding round.
Barberino's - Benessere Italiano's investors include Blockchain Valley Ventures, Gumi Cryptos Capital, P101.
Barberino's - Benessere Italiano is a premium men's grooming and wellness brand that delivers an Italian-style experience through physical barbershops, made-in-Italy products, and digital channels, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern accessibility.[1][2][5] It operates 18 shops across six major Italian cities (Milan, Rome, Turin, Bologna, Monza, Padova) plus one in New York City, serving men seeking self-care rituals like haircuts, shaves, beard care, and anti-fall treatments, while offering products in haircare, styling, shaving, skin care, and fragrances via e-commerce and app.[1][4][7] The brand solves the gap in premium yet affordable male grooming by creating immersive "wellness experiences" that emphasize feeling beautiful through quality time, with strong growth including U.S. revenue over $1M from its first NYC shop and a $1.2M investment for further expansion.[1][4]
Founded in 2015 by Niccolò Bencini and Michele Callegari—former finance professionals with backgrounds in economics from Bocconi University, strategic consulting, and M&A at Crédit Suisse—the idea sparked from a London trip exposing them to experiential barbershops, contrasting Italy's outdated unisex salons or 1970s-style barbers.[2][5] They launched the first shop on Milan’s Corso Magenta, drawing from a family legacy: Michele's great-grandfather Giovanni Callegari emigrated to Boston in 1910, earning fame as "Barberino" for his grooming craft.[5] Early traction built through direct operations, pop-up corners, and a 2020 equity crowdfunding round oversubscribed at over €1.3M via MamaCrowd, advised by Cross Border Growth Capital, fueling Italian expansion and private-label products.[3]
Barberino's rides the digital-native grooming trend, merging physical retail with e-commerce/app distribution to tap rising male self-care demand, underserved in premium segments especially U.S. luxury grooming.[2][3][4] Timing aligns with post-pandemic wellness boom and "Italian lifestyle" appeal—craftsmanship, iconic locations, full digital approach—positioning it against fragmented markets lacking branded experiences.[1][2] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering "personal care lifestyle" brands, attracting VC (e.g., 2020 €1.3M raise), top talent, and cross-border capital, while expanding wholesale elevates Italian grooming globally.[3][4]
Barberino's is poised for accelerated U.S. dominance via its $1.2M infusion, targeting retail flagships, wholesale, and more immersive hubs to claim the underserved luxury grooming niche.[4] Trends like experiential retail, male wellness personalization, and omnichannel luxury will propel it, potentially multiplying shops and revenue as "Italian male wellness" becomes a global standard.[2][4] Its influence may evolve from Italian disruptor to international platform, drawing more capital and partnerships—echoing its origin as finance pros modernizing a timeless craft into high-growth reality.[2][5]
