Venetia Archer

Venetia Archer is the Founder and CEO of RUUBY LIMITED, a leading on-demand beauty and wellness services platform based in London. She launched Ruuby in 2016, inspired by the convenience of apps like Uber and Deliveroo, which prompted her to create a similar service for beauty treatments. The platform connects clients with over 1,000 skilled beauty professionals, offering services such as blowdries, massages, manicures, and makeup applications directly to customers' locations.123

Background and Education

Archer was born in Australia and moved to the UK at the age of 12. She pursued her education at the University of Cambridge, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social and Political Sciences from 2006 to 2009. Before founding Ruuby, she worked as a geopolitical risk analyst, including a stint in East Africa focusing on issues like piracy.235

Entrepreneurial Journey

Despite lacking a background in technology or beauty, Archer leveraged her journalism skills to build a network of advisors and learn about starting a business. She initially faced challenges in fundraising but successfully raised £2.5 million from various investors, including Francesco Trapani, former CEO of Bulgari.23 Under her leadership, Ruuby has expanded significantly, serving thousands of clients and freelancers across the UK and planning further international expansion.13

Vision and Impact

Archer's vision for Ruuby extends beyond just providing beauty services; she aims to create an accessible luxury experience that empowers both clients and beauty professionals. The platform has become popular for its personalized approach, allowing users to choose their beauticians based on past work and reviews.24 Archer also emphasizes the importance of innovation in the beauty industry, continually integrating new trends into the platform's offerings.23

In recognition of her achievements, Venetia Archer was named one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 in the retail and e-commerce category, highlighting her impact as a young entrepreneur in the tech and beauty sectors.12