KKR Invests in Fresha, the Leading AI-Powered Platform for Beauty and Wellness, at $1bn Valuation

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2026--

Fresha, the leading AI-powered marketplace and business management platform for the beauty and wellness industry, today announced an $80 million primary growth investment from funds managed by KKR, a leading global investment firm. The transaction values Fresha at over $1 billion, marking a defining milestone in its mission to transform how self-care businesses operate globally.

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The investment brings Fresha's total capital raised to date to $285 million. Already profitable, Fresha will deploy the new funding to accelerate global expansion and fuel next-generation product and AI innovation.

Headquartered in London and founded in 2015 by William Zeqiri and Nicholas Miller, Fresha is one of the fastest-growing beauty and wellness platforms in the world, with leading market positions in the United Kingdom, Australasia, and the GCC, and a rapidly growing presence across North America, Continental Europe, and South East Asia.

Fresha is used by over 130,000 beauty and wellness businesses globally across key verticals including hair, beauty, barbering, nails, aesthetics, wellness, fitness, and spa. The platform facilitates more than 35 million appointments per month and over $15 billion in annual GMV, positioning Fresha as one of the largest and most scalable platforms in the global beauty and wellness economy.

Patrick Devine, Partner and member of KKR’s Tech Growth team, said: “Fresha has built a differentiated platform, combining software, financial services, and marketplace capabilities with embedded AI, in a way that is deeply integrated into daily operations of beauty and wellness businesses. We believe the company is well positioned to continue scaling globally as demand grows for modern, vertical-specific technology solutions.”

Marta Szczerba, Director in KKR’s Tech Growth team, added: “We have followed William and the broader management team over the years, and have been highly impressed with the consistent performance they have been driving at Fresha. The team have been on the front-foot in implementing AI in a way that drives meaningful business outcomes, and we are thrilled to be embarking with them on the next chapter of Fresha’s journey.”

William Zeqiri, Founder and CEO of Fresha, said: “Reaching unicorn status is a proud milestone, but more importantly, this investment is a strong testament to the trust our partners place in Fresha every day. KKR brings deep experience scaling category-defining technology companies, and their conviction in our vision gives us tremendous confidence as we enter this next chapter. With KKR’s support, we will be able to further accelerate our global expansion and invest heavily in AI to transform how beauty and wellness businesses operate worldwide.“

Nicholas Miller, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Fresha, said: “From day one, our obsession has been building software that beauty and wellness professionals genuinely love using. Every feature we ship is shaped by the people running these businesses — the salon owners, the stylists, the spa operators. This round reinforces what our customers have been telling us for years: Fresha delivers one of the most complete, intuitive, and valuable platforms in the industry. KKR's investment gives us the resources to push that even further, particularly in AI, where we see enormous potential to remove operational friction and unlock new revenue for our partners.“

KKR is making the investment in Fresha through its Next Generation Technology Growth strategy, building on the firm’s established track record in technology investing, including recently announced investments Reserv, Coder and Premialab.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR's insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com.

About Fresha

Fresha is the world’s leading and top-rated AI-powered booking platform for the beauty, wellness, and self-care industry, trusted by millions of consumers and businesses worldwide. For consumers, Fresha offers a seamless way to discover, book, and pay for beauty and wellness services with top local professionals. For businesses, Fresha provides an all-in-one platform that streamlines operations, from appointment management to client engagement, helping businesses grow effortlessly with powerful software, integrated payments, financial services and advanced technology solutions. For more information, please visit Fresha’s website at www.fresha.com

From left to right: Marcin Dąbrowski (Deputy Chief Product Officer); Nick Miller (Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer); William Zeqiri (Founder and CEO); and Paweł Iwanów, (Chief Payments Officer).

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market is rising Tuesday as it catches up with others around the world that climbed the day before, when President Donald Trump said negotiations were “proceeding nicely” with Iran on ending their war.

The S&P 500 rose 0.8% after trading resumed following Monday’s holiday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 25 points, or 0.1%, as of 10:50 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.3% higher. All three indexes are near all-time highs.

The gains came even though fighting continued in the region, and the U.S. military said it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats placing mines. Markets have rallied in the past on hopes for a coming end to the war with Iran, only to see the conflict drag on.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, rose 3.8% to $99.80, but that reclaimed only some of its 7.1% plunge from Monday. The price for a barrel of U.S crude oil, meanwhile, fell 3% to $93.74.

Oil prices have been at the center of the action for financial markets since the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February. The ensuing war has closed the Strait of Hormuz to most oil tankers, keeping crude pent up in the Persian Gulf instead of flowing to customers worldwide. That in turn has driven up oil’s price and sent a wave of painful inflation around the world.

Hopes for a deal to improve the flow of oil helped lift stocks of companies with big fuel bills. United Airlines rose 6.6%, and cruise operator Carnival steamed 3.5% higher.

The lower oil prices also helped pull yields down in the U.S. bond market, which eased the pressure on Wall Street. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.49% from 4.56% late Friday.

It’s a respite following recent gains for yields in bond markets worldwide, which threatened to slow economies and undercut prices for stocks and all kinds of other investments. High yields have already forced the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate to its most expensive level since last summer, and they could curtail companies’ borrowing to build the artificial-intelligence data centers that have supported the U.S. economy’s growth recently.

Big technology stocks also continued their big runs. Micron Technology leaped 17.7% to top $880 and was the strongest force lifting the S&P 500 after analysts at UBS led by Timothy Arcuri raised their 12-month price target for the stock to $1,625 from $535. They're forecasting continued strength in demand for computer memory, and Micron's stock has already tripled so far this year.

That helped offset a drop of 11.6% for AutoZone, which reported slightly weaker revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit topped expectations. CEO Phil Daniele said performance for the retailer’s stores in Brazil and Mexico was below its plan.

Most big U.S. companies have been reporting both profit and revenue for the start of 2026 above what analysts expected. The strong performances have helped vault U.S. stocks to records, even with all the uncertainty around oil prices and the war with Iran.

U.S. households have been feeling discouraged about the economy because of accelerating inflation, and a report on Tuesday said consumer confidence edged downward in May, though the number was not as bad as economists expected. It followed a report on Friday that said sentiment among U.S. consumers hit its lowest level on record.

In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.5% as it also caught up with other markets following a Monday closure for a holiday.

London’s FTSE 100 added 0.5% even though British petroleum giant BP fell 5.1% there. BP ousted its chairman over what it called serious concerns related to “important governance standards, oversight and conduct.”

Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.2% from its all-time high set the day before.

AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

Specialist Glenn Carell, left, and trader Robert Charmak work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

People walk in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Monday, May 25, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

A currency trader talks on the phone near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, left, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A person looks at an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Monday, May 25, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

A person stands in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index, seen through the glass wall of an office building Monday, May 25, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)