FundingFunding opportunities up to ₹10 Lakh through ACIC-VGU schemes
Equity-free Idea AI, SaaS & Enterprise
ClosesAug 15, 2026
13d left Competition Equity-free
BEAUTY&YOU India 2026
by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc
BEAUTY&YOU India 2026 is a beauty entrepreneurship and innovation program by The Estée Lauder Companies, in partnership with Nykaa and supported by Startup India, DPIIT. It is open to founders, entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives building for the Indian beauty market, from pre-launch ideas to established brands, with a ₹4 crore total prize pool across five categories.
Check your readinessShare a few details and an IncorpX advisor will walk you through fit, documents and timelines for this scheme. Free, no obligation.
- Beauty startups and brands targeting Indian consumers
- Pre-launch beauty founders
- Revenue-generating beauty businesses seeking growth capital
- Beauty technology and formulation innovators
- Scientists developing new beauty technologies or ingredients
- Designers and creative founders
- Packaging and visual artists
- Storytellers and cultural creators
- Founders developing beauty-related business-model innovations
- Indian founders based in India or abroad, provided the concept is designed for the Indian market
About this scheme
BEAUTY&YOU India 2026 is designed to discover and support the next generation of founders, entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives shaping the future of beauty for Indian consumers.
The program accepts applications across different stages of development, from pre-launch concepts and early-stage ideas to established beauty brands, creative projects and breakthrough technologies.
Applicants can apply across beauty categories including skincare, hair care, fragrance, makeup, wellness and beauty-adjacent areas. The program also welcomes innovation in technology, ingredients, formulations, business models, design and creative experiences.
BEAUTY&YOU India 2026 has five award categories:
GROW is for revenue-generating beauty brands already operating in the market and seeking growth capital. Applicants must have at least one distribution point and more than USD 100,000 in sales at the time of application.
IMAGINE is for pre-launch and early-stage founders seeking initial funding. Applicants can be pre-revenue or have up to USD 100,000 in sales, and do not need a finished product or existing sales.
DESIGN is for designers, creative founders, packaging and visual artists, storytellers and cultural builders developing creative concepts for the beauty industry. Selected winners may have an opportunity to co-create a real project with an Estée Lauder Companies brand.
BREAKTHROUGH is for founders, scientists and innovators developing new beauty technologies, ingredients, formulations or business-model innovations. Selected winners may have an opportunity for a paid pilot or collaboration with The Estée Lauder Companies.
The 2026 program offers a total prize pool of Rs. 4 crore, along with strategic mentorship, potential distribution support through Nykaa, national ecosystem support through Startup India and global amplification opportunities.
Who can apply
- Applicant must be 18 years or older on the date of submission.
- The idea or business must be focused on the Indian beauty market.
- The application must fall within beauty or a beauty-adjacent category.
- Relevant categories include skincare, hair care, fragrance, makeup and wellness.
- Applicants may be at the idea stage, pre-launch stage or already operating in the market.
- Indian founders based outside India can apply if their concept is designed for Indian consumers.
Eligible entity types: Private Limited, LLP, Partnership, Individual Innovator
Benefits & funding
Headline support
Rs. 4 Crore Total Prize Pool Across 5 Categories
- ₹4 crore total prize pool
- Strategic mentorship from beauty industry leaders
- Access to the broader beauty and startup ecosystem
- Potential distribution support through Nykaa
- National visibility through Startup India
- Global and national media amplification
- Opportunities for collaboration with The Estée Lauder Companies
- Potential paid pilot opportunities for selected Breakthrough applicants
- Opportunity to co-create projects with an Estée Lauder Companies brand for selected Design winners.
How the application process works
The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with The Estée Lauder Companies Inc, in your own name.
- 1
Review the eligibility requirements and select the most suitable award category.
- 2
Prepare your company, business or creative project information.
- 3
Prepare an executive summary covering the relevant aspects of your idea or business.
- 4
Explain the market opportunity, problem and solution, product or brand concept and distribution plan where applicable.
- 5
Explain why your company, idea or creative work should win.
- 6
Submit the required pitch video.
- 7
Complete and submit the online application before 25 August 2026.
- 8
Shortlisted applicants proceed to the finalist stage.
- 9
Finalists pitch their concepts to the judging panel in October 2026.
Want a second pair of eyes before you submit?IncorpX provides assistance for structuring proposals and organising the paperwork this process expects.
Documents checklist 12
- Company details
- India incorporation number, if applicable
- Social media links
- Executive summary
- Market opportunity information
- Problem and solution
- Brand and product idea, where applicable
- Distribution plan, where applicable
- Explanation of why the applicant should win
- Explanation of the beauty innovation
- Pitch video — required
- Requirements may vary depending on the category.
Need help getting these in order? IncorpX provides assistance for incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME and GST registrations along with document preparation.
Official application
Ready to apply? Get the official link
Applications are submitted directly with The Estée Lauder Companies Inc, in your own name. Share a few details and we will point you to the official application portal and help you prepare a complete submission.
Here is the official application link
Apply in your own name with The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Want a second pair of eyes before you submit? An IncorpX advisor can help you prepare.
Open the official applicationFrequently asked questions
Who can apply for BEAUTY&YOU India 2026?
Founders, entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives aged 18 or above who are building for the Indian beauty market can apply.
Is BEAUTY&YOU India 2026 only for existing beauty startups?
No. The program accepts applicants from the idea and pre-launch stages through established, revenue-generating businesses.
What categories are available?
GROW, IMAGINE, DESIGN, BREAKTHROUGH and the Visionary Women's Award jury prize are listed for the 2026 program.
What is the total prize money?
The 2026 program has a total prize pool of ₹4 crore distributed across five categories.
Do I need to have sales to apply?
Not necessarily. IMAGINE is open to pre-revenue applicants and applicants with up to USD 100,000 in sales.
Do I need a finished product?
No. IMAGINE applicants do not need a finished product or existing sales.
Can Indian founders living outside India apply?
Yes, provided their concept or plan is designed for the Indian market and Indian consumer.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 25 August 2026.
When will finalists be announced?
Finalists are scheduled to be announced in September 2026.
Is a pitch video required?
Yes. A pitch video is required as part of the application.
Important disclaimer
IncorpX is a private platform operated by a private company. It is not a government department, agency or official portal, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government body or of any organisation, incubator, accelerator, investor or partner listed in this directory. All program names, logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only.
This directory is compiled from publicly available official sources and is provided for general information only. It does not constitute legal, financial, tax or professional advice. Funding amounts, eligibility criteria, required documents, deadlines and availability are determined by each program authority and change with every cycle, so the details shown here may be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm the current terms on the official program source before you apply or take any decision.
IncorpX charges no fee for the information in this directory and does not collect, process, lodge or submit any application on your behalf. Applications are made by you, in your own name, directly with the respective program authority. IncorpX provides assistance only for application preparation and for related registrations such as company incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME (Udyam) and GST. Eligibility, approval, disbursement and selection rest solely with the respective program authority, and IncorpX makes no representation or guarantee as to any outcome.
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