Maesa Launches Second Annual Maesa Magic Incubator Program to Empower Beauty and Wellness Entrepreneurs from Underserved Communities
July 10 2024 - 7:30AM
Business Wire
Initiative Uniquely Tailored to Support
Underrepresented Pre- and Early-Stage Entrepreneurs
Maesa, the world’s #1 beauty incubator in mass, proudly
announces a call-for-entries to the second cohort of its giveback
initiative, the Maesa Magic Incubator program. The program first
launched in 2023 to celebrate Maesa’s 25th anniversary and honor
the company’s entrepreneurial roots. According to the Kauffman
Foundation, women and/or BIPOC founders collectively receive less
than three percent of venture capital funding. To bridge this gap,
Maesa Magic Incubator aims to amplify and elevate beauty and
wellness entrepreneurs from historically under-represented
backgrounds, including those identifying as women and/or BIPOC,
LGBTQIA+, differently abled, and seniors above 65. The program also
welcomes and encourages entrepreneurs from low-income households.
Last year’s Maesa Magic Incubator winners were Nikita Charuza,
founder of Ayurvedic beauty brand Squigs Beauty; Keisha Wagner,
founder of hair removal skin care brand Fuzz Clinic; and Selah
Jael, founder of explorative fragrance brand House of Foster.
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Through a combination of interactive lecture-based learning with
personalized mentorship, hands-on training, and access to
no-strings-attached grant capital of $35,000 for each winner, Maesa
Magic Incubator equips participants with the necessary tools to
build successful brands, from concept to aisle. Maesa Magic
Incubator provides a transformative opportunity to three promising
beauty and wellness entrepreneurs who are either in the
pre/early-launch phase or have achieved less than $1,000,000 in
sales to-date.
The program is designed to function as a fast-track, practical
program that delivers real results to the winning cohort. Winners
learn both foundational business principles in a core curriculum
and are able to “major” and “minor” in tracks like Finance or
Integrated Marketing to work on a project that tangibly impacts
their business based on their specific goals.
Winners also receive admission into the coveted “Future of
Commerce and Work” program, hosted by the Emerson Group, located
on-site at the Harvard Faculty Club. As an additional benefit this
year, winners will receive a graduation gift from Cosmoprof North
America: an incredible opportunity to attend a fully-paid trip to
Cosmoprof North America Miami in January 2025 and complimentary
admittance to their illustrious Entrepreneur Academy.
The program will culminate with a pitch deck presentation to an
esteemed advisory board comprised of Maesa executives, successful
beauty and wellness company founders, and industry thought leaders
and investors. This year’s advisory board includes Piyush Jain,
Scott Kestenbaum, Mindy McKnight, Ashley Tisdale, Liraz Evenor, and
Nyakio Greico.
“Having the opportunity to learn from veterans in the beauty
space who had already helped build so many great brands was
incredible,” said Charuza, referring to her experience as one of
the 2023 winners. “Our mentors really tried to meet us where we
were in our trajectories, which was so helpful. I walked away from
the program with tangible feedback and tasks that I could
immediately put to use as a small business.”
“Last year, the inaugural Maesa Magic Incubator program
identified and worked with three founders who are crafting
beautiful brands. We are so proud to have been a part of helping
them through their journey.” said Piyush Jain, CEO of Maesa. “This
program is the embodiment of Maesa’s entrepreneurial spirit and
commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse beauty
industry. There are so many budding entrepreneurs working to meet
unmet consumer needs and have their voices be heard. We’re looking
forward to another opportunity to share some Maesa Magic and help
their brands bloom.”
By nurturing diverse ideas, Maesa aims to stimulate innovation
and foster economic growth, creating a ripple effect of shared
success and satisfying unmet consumer needs. All interested,
eligible entrepreneurs can apply to the #MaesaMagicIncubator
program before August 23rd, 2024, by visiting
Maesa.com/incubator-page.
About Maesa
Maesa is the world's #1 beauty incubator in mass, transforming
the industry by incubating and growing meaningful, innovative
brands and making prestige beauty accessible. We believe beauty
ignites inspiration, creativity, imagination, and connection,
sparking new ideas and possibilities, and meeting unmet consumer
needs. Through best-in-class design, formulation, manufacturing,
and marketing capabilities, we deliver new, better, and
differentiated products with an unsurpassed speed to market. Maesa
works with mass, drug, and specialty retailers to cultivate both
private label and owned brands, including Kristin Ess Hair,
Hairitage by Mindy McKnight, Fine'ry, Being Frenshe by Ashley
Tisdale, Flower Beauty by Drew Barrymore, TPH by Taraji P. Henson,
itk Skincare by Brooklyn & Bailey McKnight, Mix:Bar, and Kōze
Place. For more information, visit www.maesa.com.
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Suhanee Patel, DeVries Global, spatel@devriesglobal.com