Sephora Accelerate is a brand incubation program dedicated to building a community of innovative, inspirational brand founders in beauty. With a focus on founders who are people of color, in line with our commitment to the 15 Percent Pledge, our goal is to ensure there are brands in the beauty industry representative of the colors, races, and ethnicities that make up the Americas.

Founders will embark on a six-month journey where they’ll gain the necessary skills to build and sustain a successful business through consistent, cohesive, and ongoing support backed by digital and in-person resources with content and curriculum directly correlated to helping founders succeed at Sephora.

In addition, brands will have the unique experience of building a heart-and-soul connection to our community and its ecosystem, as well as the opportunity of a lifetime—launching with Sephora, the world’s largest beauty retailer.

Apply Now

Applications for Sephora Accelerate 2025 are now closed.

About the Program

  •  
    What do I need to apply?
    • Eligibility requirements: Applicants must lead a North America-incorporated beauty brand company, be founded or co-founded by a person who is at least 18 years old and must be an early-stage brand not yet widely distributed.

      If selected, you must be able to attend the program in its entirety (6 months; January-June).

      *At this time, current employees of Sephora are not eligible to participate in the Accelerate program.

      Application: In the application you’ll be asked to respond to questions around eligibility, tell us more about your brand, record and submit a short video, and be prepared to share product samples if asked.

  •  
    What does the selection process look like?
      • There are a variety of criteria our team uses to make the final selection including, but not limited to:
        1. Vision: Do you have the passion needed to make your business successful?
        2. Innovation: What is differentiated about your brand or product? What can you offer clients that they currently cannot find elsewhere?
        3. Product: Do you have a working prototype that has been iterated on at least once to incorporate user feedback? (I.e., product sample, goop.) and/or have proven interest in your product (i.e., sales, customers, etc.)
      • Brands will be notified via email whether they’ve been selected or not.
  •  
    What can a participant expect to get out of the program?
    • As an Accelerate brand, you’ll learn directly from industry experts, beauty brand founders, Sephora leaders and gain access to a host of resources to optimize your retail readiness and boost your brand.

2024 Founders

Yasmin Zeinab

ABI AMÉ

Roz Samimi

banuskin

Teri Johnson

Harlem Perfume Co.

Diipa Büller-Khosla

indē wild

Katini Yamaoka

Katini Skin

Denise Vasi

MAED Beauty

Hannah Diop & Issa Rae

Sienna Naturals

Quani Burnett

Soft Rows

Program Partners

Alicia Sontag

Prelude Growth Partners

Partner

Alisa Carmichael

VMG Partners

Partner

Alisa Won

Sideman & Bancroft LLP

Partner

Amy Liu

Tower28

Founder and CEO

Aurora James

Brother Vellies & Fifteen Percent Pledge

Founder and Creative Director

Christopher Skinner

Front Row

Chief Brand Officer

Danessa Myricks

Danessa Myricks Beauty

President & CEO

Dianna Ruth

Milk Makeup

COO/Co-Founder

Divya Gugnani

Wander Beauty

Co-Founder and CEO

Janet Gurwitch

Advent International

Operating Partner

Joe Cloyes & Greg Gonzalez

Youth to the People

Founders

Ken Suslow

Sandbridge Capital

Founder and Managing Partner

Karl Trepanier

ILIA

COO

Lynda Berkowitz

ILIA

CEO

Lilli Gordon

First Aid Beauty

Founder

Mark Ritson

Market Week Mini MBA

Marketing Professor

Nancy Twine

Briogeo

Founder and CEO

Nicole Fourgoux

Stride Consumer Partners

Operating Partner

Philippe Glessinger

REDO Ventures

Partner

Sarah Lee & Christine Chang

Glow Recipe

Co-Founders & CEOs

Trevor Nelson

Aria Growth Partners

Founder and Managing Partner

Vicky Tsai

Tatcha

Founder

Wende Zomnir

Caliray

Founder

Accelerate Alumni