Dive Temporary:
- Ulta Magnificence final month shared its lineup of eight early-stage manufacturers making up this 12 months’s Muse Accelerator cohort. The model founders will bear a 10-week program and obtain mentorship all through, in addition to monetary assist.
- This 12 months’s Muse cohort consists of: Apostle, a males’s cosmetics model co-founded by Jamie Melbourne and Tony Lecy-Siewert; Audaja, a skincare model based by Audrey Ajakaye; Byroe, a skincare model based by Amy Roe; Femigist, a female care model based by Amara Onwukaeme; Luna Nectar, a hair care model based by Mia Fiona Kut; Ocoa, a curly hair care model based by Nicol Varona Cancelmo and Cory Varona; Queen Cosmetics, a magnificence model based by Elimar Depaula; and RedDrop, a first-time menstrual model based by Dana Roberts, Jarrod Shaw and Dr. Monica Williams.
- This 12 months, Ulta and the Fifteen % Pledge will give one model an extra $10,000 along with the $50,000 given to every model in this system. The Fifteen % Pledge asks retailers to dedicate 15% of their shelf area to Black-owned manufacturers. Ulta Magnificence first signed the pledge in 2021.
Dive Perception:
The Muse accelerator is a part of Ulta’s ongoing mission to “amplify, uplift, assist and empower” underrepresented communities within the magnificence business and curate an inclusive assortment on its cabinets.
Much like final 12 months’s programming, the cohort will take part in periods on model technique and positioning, provide chain and logistics and the omnichannel retail surroundings, all main as much as a demo week and celebration. There, the model homeowners can have a possibility to pitch their companies to Ulta Magnificence retail retailers and community with buyers.
“As retail leaders and model builders, we search to create area and alternatives for all manufacturers to thrive in our business and nurture an inclusive assortment that displays the fantastically numerous group we serve,” Monica Arnaudo, chief merchandising officer at Ulta Magnificence, stated in an announcement. “We’re targeted on model amplification, assortment development and creating equitable visitor and affiliate experiences so everybody can see themselves mirrored in what we provide.”
Leaders from Ulta, in addition to Meta, TikTok, Magnificence Unbiased, Métier Artistic, True Magnificence Ventures, Energy Digital and Pitts Management Consulting will all function mentors for the cohort, “a essential factor for nurturing model improvement and long-term success,” per the retailer.
Moreover, cohort members will probably be mentored by a category of business leaders with profitable model launches. This 12 months’s Muse Accelerator mentors embody: Aliyah and Marco Marandiz of Sugardoh, Cassandra Thurswell of Kitsch, Tony Prado of Rizos Curls, Priscilla Tsai of Cocokind, Lillian Tung of Fur and others.
Many retailers and types have integrated accelerator applications as a way to succeed in underrepresented communities and diversify their product lineup. In Could, Macy’s introduced its class of 26 entrepreneurs taking part in “The Workshop at Macy’s,” an academic program that additionally offers funding. In June, TikTok introduced two separate accelerators that might fund and mentor 15 women-owned companies and 30 LGBTQIA+-owned companies, respectively, within the U.S. In September, Sephora introduced open functions for its 2025 accelerator incubator program.
