MUSE Accelerator is sponsored by Ulta Beauty. This annual accelerator program is designed to uplift early-stage beauty brands, particularly those from underrepresented communities. It offers funding, a 10-week training course, and a mentorship program.

MUSE Accelerator | Retail Readiness Program | Ulta Beauty We're on a mission to magnify, uplift, support and empower emerging founders voices in beauty. You could be next! Apply to be a part of the 2026 MUSE Accelerator cohort by June 28, 2026 at 11:59 PT.

What MUSE Accelerator Offers The MUSE Accelerator offers eight early-stage beauty brands the opportunity to continue their growth towards retail readiness and success. Get $50,000 to help accelerate your business. Our 10-week curriculum and training includes lessons on how to set your brand up for long-term success.

Connect with mentors including beauty founders and Ulta Beauty Merchandising partners to provide guidance along the way. Since its inception in 2022, the program has helped support over 32 beauty brands. What began as a mother daughter ritual is now BEJOU— designed to calm, heal and protect sensitive skin.

Born from a biochemist’s passion for beauty, BiotechBeauty turns science into makeup that cares for and strengthens sensitive, acne-prone skin. Evolving from a personal remedy, Ginger Milk Natural Care is a Latina-founded brand celebrating Caribbean beauty with tropical ingredients and real results.

Drawing on the founders’ Hong Kong roots, Moonbow blends Traditional Chinese Medicine with modern skin care to calm, balance, and brighten the skin. Necole Kane & Ma-Shyrra Durden Challenging the limits of traditional options, My Happy Flo provides plant-based supplements that ease period pain and support hormone balance for healthier cycles.

Building on years of experience, Parëva delivers modern skin care rooted in radical transparency and science you can trust.

Transforming personal frustration into innovation, Poom Cosmetics creates acne-safe, non-pore clogging Korean beauty makeup that promotes clear, hydrated skin Frustrated by the overlooked struggles of textured hair, Richualist created tech-powered solutions that turn washday from a burden into a luxurious, effortless ritual.

From the beginning stages to the boardroom, these beauty brand founders know what it takes to help your brand thrive. Use previous and next buttons to navigate the slides of the Product Carousel Josh Kilmer-Purcell & Dr. Brent Ridge Ann McFerran & Kevin Gould Use previous and next buttons to navigate the slides of the Find MUSE must-haves Product Carousel OCOA Hydrating Curl Cream %1 out of 5 stars ; %2 reviews 4.

7 (50) Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off-Add 2 to bag OCTAVIA MORGAN LOS ANGELES MIDNIGHT ORCHARD Eau de Parfum MIDNIGHT ORCHARD Eau de Parfum %1 out of 5 stars ; %2 reviews 4. 6 (216) POUND CAKE Red Batter Cake Batter Liquid Lipstick Red Batter Cake Batter Liquid Lipstick %1 out of 5 stars ; %2 reviews 4.

7 (232) Scarlet by RedDrop Period Kit %1 out of 5 stars ; %2 reviews 5 (17) BYROE Sugar Plum Shimmer Lip Oil Sugar Plum Shimmer Lip Oil %1 out of 5 stars ; %2 reviews 5 (1) Apostle Reclaim Tinted Moisturizer Reclaim Tinted Moisturizer %1 out of 5 stars ; %2 reviews 5 (4) Queen Cosmetics Holographic Lip Gloss %1 out of 5 stars ; %2 reviews 4.

7 (6) Luna Nectar Atmosphere Multi-Peptide Hair Density & Scalp Serum Atmosphere Multi-Peptide Hair Density & Scalp Serum Dehiya Beauty Mami Wata Brightening Hydra-Booster Mami Wata Brightening Hydra-Booster OCTAVIA MORGAN LOS ANGELES 4 Piece Discovery Set %1 out of 5 stars ; %2 reviews 4. 6 (9) OCOA Curl Defining Styling Gel Curl Defining Styling Gel %1 out of 5 stars ; %2 reviews 4.

9 (33) Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off-Add 2 to bag POUND CAKE Cake Theory Lip Tone Equalizing Oil Cake Theory Lip Tone Equalizing Oil %1 out of 5 stars ; %2 reviews 4. 9 (109) What is the Ulta Beauty MUSE Accelerator? The MUSE Accelerator is a program designed to magnify, uplift, support and empower emerging founders' voices in beauty.

It supports eight early-stage beauty brands as they work toward retail readiness and long-term success. Since launching in 2022, the program has helped more than 32 beauty brands, awarded over $1. 5 million in funding and provided 150+ coaching hours.

We’re thrilled to celebrate five years of impact this year! Who is eligible to apply? The MUSE Accelerator is for brands that currently sell physical consumer products, aligned to Ulta’s current categories.

Those can be found here: Applicants must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. or Canadian citizen currently residing in the U.S. or Canada and their business must be registered in the U.S. or Canada. How long does the program run? The MUSE Accelerator includes a 10-week curriculum and training program focused on setting brands up for long-term success.

Core topic areas covered include brand strategy and positioning, retail fundamentals, supply chain and logistics and a final Demo Week where participants pitch to Ulta Beauty merchants. What does the MUSE curriculum include?

To ensure a holistic, enriching experience that equips participants with real-life skills to succeed, Ulta Beauty has developed a robust 10-week curriculum focused on brand development, including: Brand Strategy & Positioning: An immersive, 360-degree planning session that provides tools, support, and resources needed for long-term success.

Retail 101: Expert training on how to successfully launch, grow and thrive in a national, omni-channel retail environment. Supply Chain & Logistics: A critical course on planning for and navigating distribution channels to ensure optimal customer experiences. Demo Week & Celebration: An opportunity to pitch to Ulta Beauty retail merchants and network with investors.

What do participants receive? Each accepted brand receives $50,000 in financial support to help accelerate their business. Beyond funding, participants receive dedicated mentorship from industry leaders, access to Ulta Beauty Merchandising partners and become part of a lasting community and network of leaders they can tap into for ongoing support.

Does acceptance into the MUSE Accelerator guarantee distribution in Ulta Beauty? Acceptance into the MUSE Accelerator does not guarantee that a brand will launch at Ulta Beauty following completion of the program. Each cohort brand will have the opportunity to pitch their business to Ulta Beauty merchants at the end of the program, but the reality is that not every brand is ready for retail at that point — and that's okay.

The focus of MUSE is to ensure brands are equipped with the tools, funding and resources to successfully launch and thrive in an omni-channel retail environment — whether that's at Ulta Beauty or elsewhere. Support for MUSE brands doesn't end when the program does; Ulta Beauty continues to foster relationships with graduates and remains invested in their long-term success. For more questions, please reach out to MUSEAccelerator@ulta.

com Where can I find out more about MUSE Accelerator? MUSE Accelerator has been featured in WWD, CEW, Gloss, Beauty Independent and BeautyMatter. Have more questions?

Contact us Please contact MUSEAccelerator@ulta. com should you have any questions. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

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