Beginning September 6th through September 25th, Sephora will be accepting applications for its 2024 Accelerate program, its longstanding brand incubator aimed at building a community of innovative, inspirational brand founders of color in the beauty space.
The Accelerate program – which first launched in 2016 – was revamped in 2021 to focus exclusively on supporting BIPOC founders, reflecting Sephora’s commitment to cultivating a more diverse and inclusive beauty industry. Since then, 25 founders have completed the program, with brands spanning the makeup, skincare, hair care, and fragrance categories.
Each year’s program features a 360-degree, six-month curriculum that includes mentorship, merchandising support, access to grants, and investor connections. Last year, Sephora introduced the offering of a dedicated advisory team to each program participant – including a financial and investment expert, a legacy industry partner and a current brand founder from within the Sephora portfolio of brands – enabling more personalized support for all. Importantly, the Accelerate program also serves a potential pathway for founders to launch their brands at Sephora; by the end of 2023, more than half of the Accelerate brands will have done so.
The 2024 Sephora Accelerate program will kick off in January 2024 and run through June 2024.
Accelerate brands currently available to shop at Sephora include:
