Sephora Will Prop Up BIPOC Brands in Its Accelerator Program

From the 15 Percent Pledge to employee training, retailers have recently renewed their diversity and inclusion efforts after customer and employee demands. Sephora is now extending its commitment to early-stage brands, elevating BIPOC-owned beauty companies, including 54 Thrones and Topicals, in its relaunched incubator program.

On the agenda: After the eight brands selected for Sephora Accelerate are onboarded to the retailer’s platform, they’ll...

• Attend a bootcamp with workshops focusing on marketing, omni strategy, product development, investment strategy, and supply chain management.
• Prepare a pitch to scale their brand before a group of industry experts, investors, and senior Sephora leadership at the end of May.

Building on a promise: Sephora was the first retailer to take the 15 Percent Pledge, so the incubator is an extension of its commitments to help overlooked brands reach long-term growth.

Zoom out: Brands can use accelerators to heighten their profile and ultimately raise money. Take Stitch Fix and Harlem’s Fashion Row, which created a grant program last year to support five Black-owned brands via mentorship and wholesale orders from Stitch Fix.