Dame Products, the 11-year-old sexual wellness startup co-founded by sexologist Alexandra Fine and MIT engineer Janet Lieberman-Lu, announced in April 2025 that it had acquired Chakrubs, a brand known for handcrafted crystal-based intimate products including $45 yoni eggs. The deal was structured as a mix of cash and equity, with terms undisclosed.
Why It Matters
Dame's acquisition-led growth strategy offers a blueprint for how cash-strapped sextech startups can scale without venture capital — through operational consolidation and portfolio diversification — at a time when traditional VC funding remains largely closed to the category due to "vice clauses."This marks Dame's second acquisition in just over a year, following its February 2024 purchase of Emojibator, the emoji-shaped vibrator brand whose sales doubled under Dame's ownership in 2024. Chakrubs founder Vanessa Cuccia will transition from CEO to Brand Director, while both acquired brands will maintain separate e-commerce storefronts.
Dame has raised a total of $13 million in funding, including a $7 million Series A in 2022. The company broke even in 2024 despite significant headwinds. Both brands share warehousing and manufacturing partners behind the scenes, driving operational efficiencies.
The acquisition spree mirrors a broader consolidation trend in sexual wellness: Hello Cake acquired Trigg Laboratories (owner of the Wet lubricant brand) in October 2024 alongside an $18 million Series B. Dame has expanded its retail presence into Target (2023) and Walmart (2024), positioning itself as a mass-market player.
However, Dame faces a significant challenge from Trump's 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, which affect 80% of its production. The company has added a $5 shipping surcharge to offset costs.
Sources
Update — 2026-03-14
Initial entry — story first created.