vlcc

What vlcc does

VLCC Institute is an Indian beauty and wellness vocational education provider operating as the education arm of the broader VLCC Group (which also includes VLCC Wellness clinics, VLCC Personal Care, and VLCC Wellscience). Founded in 2001 by Mrs. Vandana Luthra, the Institute runs 100+ institutes across 75+ Indian cities delivering 100+ courses spanning makeup artistry, aesthetics/skin, hair dressing, nutrition, spa therapies, esthiology/cosmetology, nail artistry, and a Faculty Development Program, using a blended-learning pedagogy of approximately 80% hands-on practice and 20% theory. Programs range from short-term workshops to professional diplomas and are credentialed through international accreditations (CIDESCO, IAO, ISO) and Indian skill bodies (NSDC, Beauty & Wellness Sector Skill Council).

VLCC Institute operates a hybrid franchise-direct distribution model: franchise partners invest 36-48 Lacs INR to operate branded institutes under VLCC School of Beauty, VLCC Salon, or VLCC Salon+ (with dermatology) formats and share revenue with VLCC, while the Institute also enrolls students directly via its website, enquiry forms, and an institute locator across 25+ cities. Approximately 5,000 students are trained annually and the Institute claims 1 million+ cumulative students placed across a placement network of 200+ organizations spanning hospitality (Taj Hotels), retail and beauty (UrbanClap, Kaya, Bobbi Brown, Vanity Cube), direct selling (Amway), and technology (HCL). The Institute has expanded into B.Voc degree courses in partnership with Mangalayatan University, online continuing-education programs (Nutritional Gynecology, Diabetes Educator, Digital Marketing), and large-scale government skill development contracts under PMKVY, NSDC, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and various state skill development missions, having trained 40,000+ students under these schemes in the prior three years.

Revenue mechanics span three streams: (i) franchise fees (~8 Lacs per new partner) and ongoing revenue sharing from the franchise network; (ii) tuition and certification fees from individual students across 100+ courses; and (iii) government-funded training under Skill India and allied schemes. In January 2023, Carlyle Group acquired a majority stake in the parent VLCC Healthcare Ltd. for approximately $300M at a ~$728M post-money valuation, installing PE control to fund expansion across the group's wellness clinic, personal care, and education businesses.

Name

vlcc

Legal name

VLCC Healthcare Ltd.

Website

https://vlccinstitute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

VLCC Institute is an Indian beauty and wellness vocational education provider operating 100+ institutes across 75+ cities, training ~5,000 students annually in 100+ courses spanning makeup, aesthetics, hair, nutrition, and spa therapies via a franchise-direct hybrid model, majority-owned by Carlyle Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gurugram

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees and Revenue Sharing: VLCC Institute generates revenue through franchise partnerships where franchisees invest 45-48 Lacs for VLCC School of Beauty setup and share revenue with VLCC. The franchise includes franchise fee (8 Lacs), interiors, equipment, branding, and misc expenses totaling 48 Lacs with ROI expected in 24-30 months.
2. Course Fees from Students: Revenue generated from tuition fees for 100+ professional courses including aesthetics, makeup, hair, nutrition, spa therapies, and esthiology. Courses range from short-term workshops to professional diploma programs with 100% placement assistance.
3. Government Skill Development Programs: VLCC trains students under various central and state government skill development schemes including Skill India mission, PMKVY, NSDC schemes, and government partnerships with Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Ministry of Minority Affairs, and others. Trained more than 40,000 students in last three years through government schemes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VLCC Institute of Beauty & Nutrition provides professional vocational education and certification in beauty and wellness disciplines including makeup artistry, hair styling, skincare, cosmetology, spa therapies, and nutrition and dietetics. The institute offers 100+ courses across 100+ physical training centers in 75+ Indian cities, serving individual students seeking careers in the beauty industry with certification, hands-on practical training, and structured placement assistance through a network of 200+ partner organizations.

Product overview

VLCC Institute is a beauty and wellness education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional courses and certifications. The offering consists of core vocational training programs (Aesthetics, Hair Dressing, Makeup Artistry, Nutrition, Spa Therapies, Esthiology/Cosmetology, and Nail Artistry), faculty development programs for industry professionals, B.Voc degree programs in partnership with Mangalayatan University, and specialized online courses (Nutritional Gynecology, Diabetes Educator, Digital Marketing). The institute provides over 100 courses and workshops ranging from beginner to advanced professional levels, with international certifications through CIDESCO and IAO. The programs combine theoretical knowledge with hands-on practical training and include 100% placement assistance for graduates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Makeup Courses

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% Placement Assistance to all students on select courses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CIDESCOcoreOthersCIDESCO (Comite International d'Esthetique et de Cosmetologie) is the world's most prestigious qualification in Aesthetics and Beauty Therapy. VLCC provides training and education in beauty and spa therapies to produce graduates of highest calibre certified by CIDESCO.
• ISOcoreOthersISO certification provides VLCC with widened market potential, compliance to procurement tenders, improved efficiency and cost savings, high level of customer service and satisfaction.
• Beauty & Wellness Sector Skill CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe sector skill council focuses on establishing effective ecosystem for development and imparting of skills for Beauty and Wellness industry, including relevant curriculum courses, information database, delivery system, standardization, accreditation and certification process.
• NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation of India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSDC is a Public Private Partnership company with mandate to catalyze skills landscape in India through creating quality vocational training institutions, providing patient capital, and enabling support systems for skill development.
• Cengage LearningminorOthersCengage is an education and technology company building learning experiences for learners. VLCC partners with Cengage for educational content and learning resources.
• Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (Government of India)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVLCC partners with Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs for skill development training under various government schemes. Partnerships include governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and municipal corporations.
• Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVLCC conducts skill development training under Ministry of Minority Affairs schemes for marginalized communities.
• Ministry of Skill Development & EntrepreneurshipcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVLCC participates in NSDC schemes including Star Scheme and PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana) and RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) for skill certification.
• Tata Steel FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSR initiative partnership with Tata Steel Ltd for skill development and training programs in beauty and wellness sector.
• Mangalayatan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVLCC offers B.Voc Degree Courses in Cosmetology and Nutrition in collaboration with Mangalayatan University. Programs provide blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on training for future professionals.
• State Skill Development MissionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVLCC partners with various state skill development missions including UPSDM (Uttar Pradesh), APSDM (Arunachal Pradesh), OSDA (Odisha), JSDM (Jharkhand), and others for training delivery.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lakme Academy: Lakme Academy, backed by Hindustan Unilever, is one of India's largest chains of cosmetology and beauty training institutes offering certified courses in skin, hair, makeup, and nail arts across dozens of cities. Directly competes with VLCC Institute for the same entry-level beauty career-seeker segment with a similar franchise-driven model.
• Orane International: Orane International is one of India's largest beauty and wellness training institutes operating 100+ centers across India and internationally, offering courses in cosmetology, makeup, hair, and spa therapies. Directly competes with VLCC on curriculum breadth, franchise expansion model, and entry-level beauty professional training.
• Jawed Habib Academy: Jawed Habib Academy operates a chain of hair and beauty training institutes across India with a celebrity-endorsed brand, focusing primarily on hairdressing and styling courses. While narrower in scope than VLCC, it is a direct peer in the franchise-driven Indian beauty vocational training market.
• Shahnaz Husain School of Beauty: Shahnaz Husain runs beauty training schools in India focused on ayurvedic and herbal cosmetology. Comparable to VLCC as a heritage Indian beauty training brand with established placement credentials, though smaller in scale.
• Blush Beauty Academy: Blush Beauty Academy operates beauty training institutes across major Indian cities offering courses in makeup, hair, skin, and nails with placement assistance. Comparable to VLCC as a direct competitor in the mid-tier Indian beauty vocational training segment.

Broad incumbents

• L'Oréal Professionnel Academy: L'Oréal Professionnel runs branded hairdressing and beauty academies globally as part of its broader beauty products portfolio. While not a standalone vocational chain, it competes for the same hairdressing and aesthetics training market as VLCC with strong international brand credibility.
• Anthropologie / Sephora Beauty Programs: Sephora and similar global beauty retailers run in-house beauty education and masterclass programs that partially overlap with VLCC's consumer-facing makeup courses. Comparable as adjacent beauty education channels targeting the same aspirational consumer, though not direct vocational competitors.

Regional players

• Toni&Guy Academy: Toni&Guy operates globally-recognized hairdressing academies across multiple geographies including India. Comparable to VLCC in professional hairdressing credentials and certification-based training, but primarily serves as a regional UK-headquartered brand in India rather than a pan-India vocational chain.

Emerging players

• Make-up Designory (MUD): MUD is a US-headquartered professional makeup artistry school offering branded certificate programs globally. Comparable to VLCC's makeup artistry vertical on curriculum depth and professional certification, but focused narrowly on makeup versus VLCC's full beauty vertical.

Others

• National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) Affiliated Training Partners: NSDC-affiliated training partners collectively form the broader ecosystem in which VLCC operates its government-skill-development programs. While not a single competitor, this ecosystem represents alternative training providers (e.g., local ITIs, smaller academies) competing for the same PMKVY-funded trainees that VLCC targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvcMN_X-8EdTs7roxmZXPiA
• Facebookfacebook.com/vlccschoolofbeauty
• Instagraminstagram.com/vlcc_schoolofbeauty

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about vlcc