Curology

Curology was co-founded in 2014 by Dr. David Lortscher, Nancy Nell, and David Kern. Dr. Lortscher is a board-certified dermatologist. Nancy Nell previously led brand strategy at Gap and Levi's. David Kern had a product design background at Polyvore (per TechCrunch, 2017).

Curology connects patients with a licensed medical provider — typically a physician assistant or nurse practitioner — via an online consultation. The provider reviews photos and medical history to prescribe a custom-compounded cream containing up to three active ingredients. The cream is shipped monthly along with a cleanser and moisturizer (per the firm's public communications).

Curology raised venture capital from Founders Fund, SignalFire, and others. In 2015, the company raised a $1.5M seed round from Founders Fund. In 2017, it closed a $15M Series A led by SignalFire (per TechCrunch, 2017). No further fundraising rounds were publicly reported.

In 2022, the U.S. FDA issued a warning letter to Curology for labeling its prescription-strength cream as an over-the-counter cosmetic product (per FDA warning letter, 2022). Curology later revised its labeling and continued operations.

Curology's primary distribution channel is its direct-to-consumer subscription model, shipped to patients monthly. In March 2023, the company expanded into retail by launching a line of OTC products at Target stores nationwide (per Target press release, March 2023).