Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) is teaming up with TikTok to launch a first-of-its-kind beauty initiative.
The global incubator programme, called The Catalysts, is created with ELC’s New Incubation Ventures (NIV), and will reward "emerging storytellers with fresh visions for the beauty industry."
Whether you're a brand founder, content creator, fashion designer, perfumer, photographer, skin care scientist, or make-up artist, The Catalysts is an open call for new ideas set to transform the future of beauty. It's an opportunity to receive vital funding to turn your plans into reality.
"Today, founding a beauty brand takes more than traditional business acumen; it’s about crafting narratives, building communities and shaping not just trends but also broader conversations and movements," said NIV senior vice president, Shana Randhava.
"Founders are storytellers, cultural ambassadors, filmmakers, designers, gamers and artists."
"Their visions of beauty – expressed via product, retail experiences, films, content – continue to fuel growth in the beauty sector."
"We set out to create a programme to identify and elevate these visionaries as they continue to drive innovation and push the conversation forward," said Randhava.
Two winners will receive up to $250,000 in financial backing, as well as mentorship and project assistance.
TikTok is "delighted to be joining The Estée Lauder Companies in finding and nurturing future pioneers of the beauty industry," added TikTok global head of partnerships, Vanessa Craft.
"We’ve witnessed the evolution of beauty firsthand on TikTok, not just through how products are shared and discovered, but how they are experienced."
"We’re proud to have created a space where everyone is able to explore the diversity and inclusivity of beauty – driven by our incredible community of creators and brands who enable enthusiasts to be a part of something and see how beauty products perform on people that look like them," said Craft.
Applicants will be judged by a panel of 21 creative figures.
To support applicants, the programme will unveil ten masterclasses in which industry leaders share their insights for building a next-generation beauty brand.
Applications for The Catalysts are now live and will remain open until August 4th, with winners announced in October at a Paris-based event.
You can find out more information here.
Image credit: Estée Lauder Companies
