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Estée Lauder Companies Launches Catalysts Program To Empower Emerging Storytellers

Applicants will have the chance to win up to $250,000 in financial backing as well as mentorship and project assistance.

Estée Lauder Companies Launches Catalysts Program To Empower Emerging Storytellers

The Estée Lauder Companies wants to empower the next generation of storytellers with its new Catalysts program.

Created by the company’s new Incubation Ventures (NIV) and launched with support from TikTok, the global initiative is aimed at empowering emerging storytellers with fresh visions for the beauty industry.

Applicants will have the chance to win up to $250,000 in financial backing as well as mentorship and project assistance. A panel of industry executives, creative experts and TikTok creators will select two winners who are reshaping the future of beauty through innovative branding, product development and storytelling.

“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. Founders are storytellers, cultural ambassadors, filmmakers, designers, gamers and artists,” explained Shana Randhava, senior vice president, New Incubation Ventures (NIV). “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 program to identify and elevate these visionaries as they continue to drive innovation and push the conversation forward.”

To support applicants, The Catalysts will unveil 10 masterclasses providing an overview of what it takes to build the next great brand. Whether applicants dream of revolutionizing skin care, cosmetics or fragrance, the masterclass series taps a group of industry-leading founders, storytellers, and creatives to share the insights needed to build a next generation beauty brand.

The jury, which will also include representatives from The Estée Lauder Companies, is comprised of Shana Randhava, Vanessa Craft, Michèle Lamy, Fabien Baron, Craig McDean, Carlos Nazario, Eugene Souleiman, Hung Vanngo, Ruba Abu-Nimah, Julia Sarr-Jamois, Thomas Roussel, Violet Chachki, Drew Elliott, Courtney McHugh, Andreas Neophytou, Francisco Costa, Celia Ellenberg, Hanna Hanra, Sallyann Houghton, Mitchell Halliday and Grace Choi.

The Catalysts website and application portal are live and will accept applications until August 4, 2024, 11:59 PM ET. Program details can be found here.

Winners will be announced in October 2024 at a final event in Paris.

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