Sephora names 2023 accelerate brand incubator program cohort

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Dec 7, 2022

Sephora North America named on Tuesday a cohort of seven BIPOC brand founders spanning fragrance, makeup, and skincare for its 2023 Accelerate brand incubator program. 

In its eighth year, the Sephora accelerate program creates a foundation, network, and ecosystem for brands to launch and thrive. The program offers a 360-degree, six-month curriculum with mentorship, merchandising support, grants, and investor connections to all participants.

In particular, this year's program aims to prepare BIPOC-founded beauty brands to launch at Sephora North America via bespoke support. Participants will benefit from an advisory team inclusive of beauty industry partners, founders from within the Sephora portfolio and financial professionals. 

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Likewise, in its second year of partnership with Sephora, beauty branding agency School House will continue to bring individualized brand workshops and strategy to the program focusing on providing a bespoke approach to each Accelerate founder.

"We are very excited to welcome all 2023 finalists to the Accelerate program and into the Sephora family," said Priya Venkatesh, senior vice president, global merchandising. "Our program continues to create spaces for BIPOC-founded and owned brands that represent our clients and the world today, all while providing meaningful support for growing brands to succeed.”

Making up the 2023 cohort is Moodeaux, a line of clean fragrances; Brown Girl Jane, a wellness-first multicultural beauty and health brand; Range Beauty, a plant-powered makeup brand that targets uneven tones and soothes irritated skin for melanin-rich women; and Glosshood, a beauty brand with a specialty in providing niche goods that honor your inner child.

Completing the cohort is Seaspire Skincare, disrupting the skincare industry with new ingredients that are safer and more sustainable; Oui the People, a treatment-driven bodycare brand; and Of Other Worlds, a clinically conscious, culturally-inclusive beauty brand. 

All 2023 participants applied to the program in fall 2022. In selecting finalists, Sephora considered each brand’s vision, innovation, and current stage of product development.