Ephemeral (company)

Ephemeral
ServicesTattoos
Websiteephemeral.tattoo

Ephemeral is a corporate chain of tattoo studios that has raised millions from venture capital investors. Their tattoos were supposed to fade in 9 to 15 months.[1][2][3] In February 2023, the company updated the timeframe, saying that 70% of tattoos will fade within two years.[4] The company was founded by five students at New York University,[5][6] two of whom invented Ephemeral’s ink.[7] In 2021, the company raised 20 million of venture capital funding.[2]

Ephemeral’s ink is made of bioabsorbable polymer particles that are supposed to break down over time, eventually degrading enough to be eliminated by the immune system.[8]

In September 2023, Ephemeral announced that they are closing all of their studio locations within the month.[9]

  1. ^ Kukura, Joe (2 November 2022). "New Valencia Street 'Temporary' Tattoo Parlor Faces Complaints the Tattoos Aren't Temporary, Don't Go Away". SFist. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b Joshua, Josyana (July 7, 2021). "'Tattoo for a Year' Startup Inks a $20 Million Funding Round". Bloomberg. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  3. ^ Wilson, Mark (March 16, 2021). "Would you get a tattoo that fades in a year? Ephemeral is banking on it". Fast Company. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  4. ^ Holtermann, Callie (25 Feb 2023). "Ephemeral Tattoos Were 'Made to Fade.' Some Have a Ways to Go". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  5. ^ Ball, Helena (April 7, 2016). "This Startup Wants You to Never Regret Getting a Tattoo". Inc. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  6. ^ Brandeis, Amanda (April 26, 2022). "Made to fade within a year, innovative tattoo ink guarantees customers a clean slate". KSTU (Fox). Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  7. ^ Krueger, Alyson (October 15, 2021). "Why Do You Tattoo?". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  8. ^ Trager, Rebecca. "Made-to-fade tattoos". Chemistry World. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  9. ^ Pershan, Caleb (September 11, 2023). "Temporary tattoo startup closing studios after customers complain of long-lasting ink". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 11, 2023.