SXSW Pitch Finalist: Renzoe Box
The Forrest Four-Cast: February 12, 2020
Women who wear makeup know that leaving the house with more than a single lipstick is a pain. Having a full complement of beauty products available, whether you’re going on a trip, to the gym, or heading out after work, generally involves cramming them in a messy, jumbled makeup bag, which gets dirty fast.
With one elegant, modular, and intelligent system, Austin-based Renzoe Box solves makeup waste and clutter, and simplifies a daily beauty routine.
The creation of Texas-based architect René Graham, Renzoe Box is a smart beauty platform that streamlines favorite makeup products into one sleek refillable compact. The companion Renzoe-V software is AI-powered to help users manage their makeup collection, discover new products, and easily order refills.
The Box features a small drawer that owners fill with the “Renzoe Pods” of their choice, choosing from a vast selection of well-known beauty brands for eyeshadows, blushes, highlighters, and more. Specially-designed brushes are cleverly concealed in the hinge, and there’s a second drawer for mascara, lip gloss, whatever else you might want to carry.
As Graham, now Founder and CEO, says, “we are the next-gen hardware and software platform for the $550B global beauty industry.”
After a successful pilot run, Renzoe Box fans include WNBA great Lisa Leslie who says, “It’s chic. It’s classy. And now my makeup won’t be all at the bottom of my purse.” Actress and activist Rose McGowan agrees. “Congratulations on an incredible concept and product,” she says.
One of the 50 finalists for SXSW Pitch 2020, Graham will pitch Renzoe in the category Consumer Technology & CPG (9:30 am to 10:30 am Sunday, March 15) before a live audience and a panel of expert judges.
Winners in each of the 10 categories will be announced at the Pitch Awards Ceremony, at 6:30 pm Sunday, March 15. SXSW attendees are also invited to Meet the Finalists from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Monday, March 16. All SXSW Pitch events take place at the Hilton Austin Downtown.
Graham talked about what she loves about Austin, her curiosity about facial recognition technology and the power of shape-shifting.
What is your top goal for Renzoe Box for 2020?
2020 is the breakout year for Renzoe Box. We had an incredible pilot run where we tested users on their preferences and needs. This year we aim to serve 50,000 new customers and launch with five new brands.
Tell us about something you love.
I love architecture and beautifully designed spaces. There’s nothing quite like exploring a culture through its buildings and aggregates of man-made structures.
What do you do when you are low on energy?
I go for a jog around Lady Bird Lake. It is the best way to clear my mind and get endorphins flowing. There’s something about the fresh air and beautiful scenery-it energizes me and refreshes me; it’s my reset button.
Tell us your favorite thing about being based in Austin.
I love Austin! Austin is the perfect combination of urban and nature. In no other city in the U.S. do you find such a seamless intermingling of outdoors right in the downtown area. In a 15-minute walk from the office you can be hiking along the greenbelt and not even know you’re in the midst of a bustling city.
If you weren’t working for Renzoe Box, what would you be doing?
I would most definitely be designing buildings…because I’m an architect! I’d also be teaching architecture, which I was doing up until I founded Renzoe Box. Architecture and design are my true passions. Renzoe Box is actually kind of a smaller version of architecture if you think about it!
With the exception of Renzoe Box, what tech trend is your team most excited about?
Facial recognition technology is both fascinating and scary. On the one hand, it’s fun on social media and games; the uses in media, retail and entertainment are endless! Perhaps there’s even a future use of the technology for Renzoe Box. But on a recent trip overseas for manufacturing, the U.S. Customs & Immigration was using facial recognition for boarding passengers where upon scanning your face, no boarding pass or Passport was required. It knew the passenger name and seat assignment via face scan. The technology is somewhat creepy when you think about it in “big brother” terms. It will be interesting to see how this plays out at scale.
What has the startup experience taught you about life?
Nothing is over until you give up.
Every founder will tell you there’s an infinite number of trials and tribulations. The key is to not let them break you, and to always know there’s something better on the horizon. It’s just a matter of taking that next step, putting one foot in front of the other, and pushing forward.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I wish I could sing…like really sing. Like Beyoncé.
What’s your actual super power?
My super power is shape-shifting: I can adapt to many situations and learn quickly in any environment. It’s a helpful super power as a founder because I interact with a lot of different people in many different scenarios. I have to try to understand their environment coupled with the context of the situation in order to yield a positive result. Whether it’s factory workers in China, tech developers in Austin, celebrity beauty influencers in Los Angeles, or angel investors in New York, I find a way to engage, communicate, and interact.
What motto or quote do you live by?
Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat: “Fortune favors the brave.”
What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten — or given?
Strive for excellence. Never settle for mediocrity.
This was instilled in me by my parents and several of my most favorite teachers growing up. To this day I pass it along to those I mentor and employ. At the end of the day, don’t we all want to be the best version of ourselves?
If you were offered the opportunity to colonize Mars (but with no guarantee that you would ever return to Earth), would you go?
Yes, absolutely I would go. Space travel has always been a dream of mine, and exploring new worlds and getting to create a new town/city on a new planet…figuring it all out from scratch? Sounds like an awesome adventure.
Look for more interviews with other finalists in this space between now and the start of SXSW Pitch on Saturday, March 14. Visit this page to see all previous interviews in this series as well as a list of all finalists.
If you are an entrepreneur, check out the SXSW 2020 Startups Track, which runs March 13–17. This track brings together founders and funders and showcases exciting new companies, products, services, and business models across different verticals and industries.
Hugh Forrest serves as Chief Programming Officer at SXSW, the world’s most unique gathering of creative professionals. He also tries to write at least four paragraphs per day on Medium. These posts often cover tech-related trends; other times they focus on books, pop culture, sports and other current events.
