Founded just six years ago, Scandinavian Biolabs has quickly established itself as a standout name in science-backed haircare, amassing over 200,000 customers and securing a landmark launch with Boots. At the helm is Anders Reckendorff – lawyer turned management consultant turned scale-up CEO – who has built the brand around a simple but powerful belief: that science and human empathy belong together. We sat down with Anders to hear the story behind the brand’s remarkable rise.
CEW: From lawyer to management consultant to scale-up CEO – that’s quite a journey. What was the moment you knew Scandinavian Biolabs was the opportunity you wanted to build your career around?
I don’t think there was one big dramatic moment where everything suddenly clicked. It was more a gradual feeling. Hair loss is such an emotional topic, but the category has often felt either very medical and cold, or full of exaggerated promises. I felt there was room to build something different. A brand that took the science seriously, but also understood the human side of what people are going through. That combination felt meaningful to me. It was not just about building another beauty brand. It felt like we had the opportunity to grow something that could genuinely help people feel more like themselves.
CEW: Science-backed beauty is one of the biggest conversations in the industry right now and Scandinavian Biolabs feels right at the heart of it. How have you built such a strong sense of trust with your customers?
I think trust comes from being honest, especially in a category like hair growth where people are often vulnerable and really hoping for results. We try to be very clear about what our products can do, what they cannot do, and why consistency matters. Hair growth is not an overnight category, and customers respect that when you explain it properly instead of pretending there is a miracle solution. For us, science is not just a nice word to put on packaging. It has to guide the formulation, the claims, the testing, and the way we communicate. Customers can feel the difference when a brand is trying to educate them rather than saying whatever they can to get them to jump on board.
CEW: Hair loss is something so many people experience but few feel comfortable talking about openly. How has Scandinavian Biolabs helped change that conversation – and what does it mean to you when customers share the impact the brand has had on their confidence?
Hair loss is often talked about as if it is only vanity, but for many people it is much deeper than that. Hair is tied to identity, confidence and the way you recognise yourself when you look in the mirror. I think we have helped make the conversation a bit more open, more informed and less shameful. We try to speak about hair loss in a way that is honest and direct, but also respectful. People do not need to be scared into buying something. They need to feel understood. When customers tell us they feel more confident, or that they feel more like themselves again, that is honestly the most meaningful part of the work. It reminds you that behind all the growth numbers, retailers and campaigns, there are real people with very personal stories.
CEW: +200, 000 customers, a Boots launch, and significant expansion across Europe and the US in just six years – the growth story here is genuinely exciting. What’s been the proudest milestone so far, and what does the next chapter look like for the brand?
Boots is definitely a very proud milestone. For us, it shows that a specialist, science-led hair growth brand can move from being a challenger brand online to earning space with one of the most trusted retailers in beauty and health. But I think the proudest part is seeing the brand become something people trust across markets, channels and customer groups. We started with a very specific problem and a very clear belief, and it is exciting to see that resonate with so many people. The next chapter is about building on that foundation. More clinical work, more education, stronger retail presence, and continued expansion across Europe and the US. Our ambition is to become one of the most trusted hair growth brands in the world, but to do that in a way where the product, the science and the customer experience all keep getting stronger.
CEW: For anyone in the beauty industry thinking about building something new and science-led, what’s the one piece of advice you’d give them from everything you’ve learned on this journey?
Do not use science as decoration. If you say you are science-led, it has to actually show up everywhere: in the product, the claims, the testing, the customer education and the way you talk about results. Consumers are much smarter than many brands give them credit for. They can feel when science is just being used as a marketing layer. At the same time, science alone is not enough. You still need to build a brand people care about. The strongest science-led beauty brands, I think, are the ones that can be credible without becoming cold, and emotional without becoming misleading. That balance is difficult, but it is also where the real opportunity is.
Read more about Scandinavian Biolabs here
