KOSLIV Files IPO Prospectus: Pioneering China's First Supramolecular Anti-Hair Loss Brand with Proprietary 'Hair Growth Peptide'

“The world is so vast; I want to go and see it.” In 2015, this phrase went viral across the Chinese internet, inspiring many people to pursue new lifestyles. This statement also aptly encapsulatesKOSLIV's current CEO, JenniferThe Transition from Teacher to Serial Entrepreneur in 2003.

After graduating from university, Jennifer became a teacher. However, she soon resigned and subsequently joined two multinational technology companies, where she worked in marketing management. Five years later, she underwent another career transition, shifting from an employee to an entrepreneur. In 2009, she founded her first company, turning it from loss-making to profitable within one year and achieving consecutive annual doublings of its performance.

However, overwork sent Jennifer’s body health warnings. In 2017, she was admitted to the ICU due to multiple organ failure. “It was during those 13 days in the ICU that I realized health is the most important thing,” Jennifer said.During her serious illness, she herself suffered from hair loss, stating, “At that time, my hair follicles were damaged, and I lost nearly one-third of my hair.”Consequently, after being discharged from the hospital, she sold her first company and shifted her entrepreneurial focus to the broader health industry.

After conducting multiple market surveys, Jennifer found that the domestic high-end anti-hair loss product market targeting younger consumers was largely dominated by overseas companies, with few domestic players present, leaving the anti-hair loss needs of most young women unmet.A 2019 survey on hair loss released by the National Health Commission also showed that there are approximately 250 million people suffering from hair loss in China, including about 170 million balding men and 80 million women. Moreover, the demographic of hair loss sufferers is trending younger, with individuals born in the 1990s accounting for as high as 39.3%.

In this context, Jennifer decided to establish a company dedicated to developing an effective anti-hair-loss scalp care product. Therefore,In 2019, KOSLIV, a brand dedicated to the R&D of “anti-hair loss+” scalp anti-aging care products, was officially established.。

To date,KOSLIV has developed its proprietary composite polypeptide, “Hair Growth Peptide”—KOSTIDEPRO® (KOS Peptide)—using supramolecular technology and has obtained relevant patent certifications. Leveraging supramolecular technology and the “Hair Growth Peptide,” KOSLIV has developed a series of anti-hair loss care products, becoming the first personal care brand in China to utilize supramolecular technology for anti-hair loss solutions.. Since its market launch in 2022, KOSLIV achieved annual sales of tens of millions in 2023.

Supramolecular technology is a modification technique developed based on the research and application of supramolecular chemistry, which has won the Nobel Prize twice, in 1987 and 2016.

Simply put, “supramolecular” refers to a structure that transcends the molecular level. This technology enables the reassembly of molecules with different functions into a new supramolecular architecture. In this process, the original functionalities of the individual molecules are preserved, while they also act synergistically within the new structure. The resulting supramolecular complex achieves an enhanced efficacy and properties that exceed the sum of its parts (i.e., 1+1>2). Consequently, supramolecular technology holds significant potential in raw material development and production, modification of active ingredients, and transdermal delivery of functional components. Its market appeal has been further amplified by the recognition from Nobel Prize-winning research.

In the cosmetics sector, supramolecular technology can be applied to raw materials and solvents in cosmetic formulations, thereby enhancing product penetration efficiency and absorption rates, reducing the loss of active ingredients, and improving ingredient stability and mildness. Shenzhen Shanhai Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. is one of the earliest companies globally to systematically apply supramolecular technology in the cosmetics industry. Under the leadership of its founder, Professor Zhang Jiaheng, the company has developed numerous high-quality raw materials using supramolecular technology.

Professor Zhang Jiaheng is a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Medicine and Health, Harbin Institute of Technology, as well as the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen). His primary research focus is on the application of “supramolecular modification technology” in the pan-health sector, and he is a leading authority in the field of supramolecular technology in China.

Currently, Professor Zhang Jiaheng serves as the R&D consultant for KOSLIV. The R&D team led by Professor Zhang also includes several postdoctoral fellows from Harbin Institute of Technology, as well as Ph.D. holders in pharmaceutics from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and experts in nano-packaging technology.

Leveraging the technical expertise of its R&D team, KOSLIV has pioneered innovations in both base formulations and active ingredients through supramolecular technology, developing a novel active mixture dominated by natural ionic liquids—known as supramolecular solvents. Enhanced by these supramolecular solvents, KOSLIV has increased the bioavailability of its product ingredients by fivefold, with a 45% rise in concentration at target sites, thereby improving penetration efficacy and retention time.

Currently, the aging of scalp hair follicles under the influence of androgens is a primary factor in hair loss. Specifically, the androgen testosterone reacts with 5α-reductase in the cytoplasm of scalp cells to produce dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Elevated levels of DHT cause susceptible hair follicles to miniaturize and their growth cycles to shorten, leading to symptoms such as thin, soft, and yellowing hair, hair shedding, excessive scalp oiliness, or flaking. Furthermore, scalp aging is accompanied by the accumulation of inflammatory factors, impaired scalp microcirculation, and reduced vitality of hair follicle stem cells, ultimately resulting in follicular degeneration.

To address the aforementioned issues, KOSLIV has selected three mature and highly effective active peptides—Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-4, and Biotin Tripeptide-1—and formulated them with multiple active ingredients using supramolecular technology. This ultimately yielded a proprietary patented “hair-growth peptide”—KOSLIV Peptide.

Unlike traditional peptide molecules with poor permeability, KOSLIV peptides leverage supramolecular technology to increase peptide permeability by up to fivefold, enabling active ingredients to efficiently penetrate the skin barrier and ultimately achieve targeted delivery to the site of action.

The efficacy of KOSLIV peptides has been validated in experiments. KOSLIV commissioned a third-party institution to conduct cellular assays, using minoxidil as the control. The three key indicators evaluated were the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and β-catenin protein. These factors play critical roles in modulating hair follicle activity and hair loss. By reducing or enhancing their levels and expression, it is possible to achieve hair follicle repair and prevent hair loss.

The results showed that KOSLIV peptide inhibited IL-6 by 34.83%, reducing inflammation and helping to restore the scalp’s healthy balance. It increased VEGF levels by 14.99%, enhancing hair follicle activity and scalp health. Furthermore, KOSLIV peptide upregulated β-catenin by 37.84%, promoting hair follicle cell growth and division, thereby stimulating hair growth. The data demonstrate that KOSLIV peptide is comparable to minoxidil in preventing hair loss across the three indicators: IL-6, VEGF, and β-catenin.

Building on its core ingredient, Kospeptide, KOSLIV incorporates multiple additional components into its products according to a proprietary formula. For instance, KOSLIV combines the dual-acid blend of “salicylic acid + citric acid” with amino acids, enabling the product to gently exfoliate the scalp and regulate the scalp’s water-oil balance.

Furthermore, the company leverages supramolecular technology to extract active ingredients from plants such as Polygonum multiflorum and ginger, formulating them into supramolecular solvents that endow products with soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. Data indicates that the yield of active ginger and Polygonum multiflorum extracts obtained by KOSLIV through supramolecular technology is 20 times higher than that of traditional water extraction methods. Compared to conventional organic alcohol extraction, supramolecular technology improves extraction efficiency by 3 to 5 times.

Notably, KOSLIV products are free from sulfates, utilizing mild cleansing systems instead. The formulations incorporate low-irritancy surfactants such as alkyl polyglucosides (APG), betaines, and succinates. This combination ensures high cleansing efficacy while maintaining mildness, thereby minimizing damage to the scalp and hair follicles. By addressing factors contributing to hair loss right from the washing stage, the products help extend follicle lifespan and maintain a healthy scalp environment during care routines.

Currently, KOSLIV has seven products approved for market sale, namely: Anti-Hair Loss and Oil-Control Shampoo, Anti-Hair Loss and Oil-Control Scalp Essence, Moisturizing and Hydrating Hair Conditioner, Nourishing Water-Light Hair Essence Oil, Five-Dimensional Anti-Dandruff and Anti-Itch Shampoo, and Premium Anti-Breakage Hair Mask. Based on the different efficacies, application scenarios, and target user groups of its products, the company has developed three major types of anti-hair loss products: rinse-off products, rinse-off hair and scalp care products, and leave-in essence products, thereby creating an integrated product system that covers scalp moisturizing, oil control, follicle repair, and hair loss prevention.

KOSLIV Product Examples (Image source: KOSLIV)

Among them, the anti-hair loss and oil-control shampoo and scalp essence have obtained the national special certification for hair growth products issued by the National Medical Products Administration. Furthermore, the products have been verified by third-party testing companies and are supported by comprehensive human efficacy reports.

Data shows that the anti-hair loss and oil-control shampoo achieves an 88.04% inhibition rate of 5α-reductase, while the anti-hair loss and oil-control scalp essence reaches an inhibition rate as high as 90%. Furthermore, the five-dimensional anti-dandruff and anti-itch shampoo has been proven to have significant antibacterial and anti-dandruff efficacy, and after using the premium anti-breakage hair mask under high-temperature conditions, hair strength increased by 20.76% compared to before use.

Since its market launch one year ago, KOSLIV has cultivated a core base of seed users. The successful launch of each product relies on the involvement of these key users, with the entire R&D cycle spanning 8 to 12 months, from identifying user needs to product implementation. KOSLIV’s product development principle is to comprehensively consider consumer needs and user experience in terms of skin feel, scent, and efficacy, which is also a major reason for its high repurchase rate.

Since its official market launch in 2022, KOSLIV has established a comprehensive online sales system, leveraging the expertise of its brand operations team with years of experience in managing beauty brands. In 2023, the company’s annual product sales exceeded tens of millions of yuan. Furthermore, KOSLIV was honored with the “Best Ingredients and Formula” award for Outstanding Brand at the 2022 TBI (Top Brand Innovation Awards) and was shortlisted for iiMedia Research’s 2022 List of New Chinese Brands with the Greatest Development Potential.

In addition, KOSLIV has garnered significant favor from the investment community, completing two rounds of financing within less than a year. In November 2021, KOSLIV announced that it had secured strategic investment from leading industrial capital; in May 2022, the company again announced that it had obtained tens of millions of yuan in strategic financing. The company is currently planning a new round of financing to advance product upgrades and expand its sales scale.

Currently, KOSLIV is focusing on scaling up its product marketing and building an omni-channel sales network that integrates online and offline platforms. Building upon its existing online sales channels, the company has developed offline distribution channels tailored to its product characteristics, targeting pharmacy chains, lifestyle concept stores, specialized maternal and infant care outlets, and premium scalp management centers.

The company has currently established partnerships with institutions such as Sinopharm Group, Chunwai Department Store, NU SHOP, and Duo Xi Wa. Furthermore, the company will comprehensively enhance brand exposure through cross-category brand collaborations and product placements in films and short dramas. With multiple channels integrated, KOSLIV’s total product sales revenue for 2024 is projected to double again.

KOSLIV has not halted its pace of innovation. The company continues to explore product ingredients and raw materials, leveraging continuous technological advancements to optimize product quality, while developing a broader range of innovative anti-hair loss scalp care products to meet consumers’ diverse needs for hair loss prevention and maintenance.

Looking to the future, Jennifer stated that “KOSLIV” is derived from a homophonic play on simplified Chinese characters: “Ke” (可) for science, “Shi” (氏) for bestowal, “Li” (利) for beauty, and “Fu” (夫) for skin. The brand name KOSLIV originates from the Old Norwegian words “kos” and “liv,” conveying the meaning that “beautiful girls deserve a beautiful life,” a mission the company has consistently strived to achieve. In the future, the company will leverage its proprietary technologies to strengthen its position as a premium scalp care brand and bring more products to the global market.