Ulta Beauty has selected eight early-stage beauty and wellness companies for the 2026 edition of its MUSE Accelerator Program, giving the founders access to funding, mentorship and practical training designed to help them prepare for retail growth.
The latest cohort marks the fifth year of the initiative, which was launched in 2022 to support underrepresented entrepreneurs and help promising brands build sustainable businesses within the beauty industry.
Eight Brands Join the 2026 Cohort
The new participants represent a broad range of categories, including haircare, skincare, fragrance, cosmetics and body care.
The 2026 cohort features Jade Mui-Wong and Tina Mui of AWARE Hair, a professional scalp wellness brand; Osaremi Sade Parham of Blue Water Girls, a Caribbean-inspired beauty company; and Alexis Flores of Dos Mundos, a Latin-owned luxury fragrance house.
Jordan Polk joins the program with MIA Outdoor Hair™, while Jenny Ching Lien Farelli represents fine fragrance house Mochiglow.
Monica Stevens brings MoKnowsHair, a salon-quality collection designed for different curl types and textures.
The cohort is rounded out by Ernestine Cecelia Meadows of Prados Beauty and Sana Mithani and Lizna Kabani of Prereq Care, a self-care brand.
Each Founder Receives $50,000
Financial support remains a central part of the MUSE initiative.
Each of the eight participating brands will receive $50,000, giving the founders capital to invest in growth while developing the infrastructure needed for long-term retail success.
Ulta Beauty is also partnering with the Fifteen Percent Pledge to provide one additional $10,000 award.
The extra funding will be awarded based on factors including sales growth, whitespace opportunity and community impact.
Together, the grants bring Ulta Beauty’s total financial commitment to the 2026 cohort to $410,000.
A 10-Week Program Focused on Retail Growth
The MUSE journey begins September 14 and runs for 10 weeks.
During that period, founders will participate in a curriculum focused on the practical challenges involved in building and scaling a consumer beauty business.
Training will cover areas such as brand strategy and positioning, retail fundamentals and supply chain logistics.
Participants will also have opportunities to pitch Ulta Beauty merchants and connect with investors.
The program is designed to give founders more than theoretical guidance, with lessons aimed at preparing their businesses for the demands of retail distribution.
Beauty Industry Leaders Join the Conversation
Participants will also gain access to influential figures from across the beauty and wellness sector through intimate fireside conversations.
The featured speakers include Deepica Mutyala, CEO and founder of Live Tinted; Grace Ray, CEO of Cécred; Nancy Twine, founder of Briogeo; Jessica Cruel, editor in chief at Allure Magazine; Chelsea Riggs, founder of Amika; Dianna Ruth, founder of Milk Makeup; and Cristina Nuñez, founder of True Beauty Ventures.
Their involvement gives the founders an opportunity to hear directly from executives, entrepreneurs and industry leaders who have built businesses and careers within the beauty market.
Experienced Founders Take on Mentorship Roles
The cohort will also be supported by a group of established beauty entrepreneurs and executives serving as mentors.
The 2026 mentors include Shontay Lundy, creator and founder of Black Girl Sunscreen; Priscilla Tsai, founder and CEO of Cocokind; Gina Woods, CEO and co-founder of Donna’s Recipe; Nils Johnson, CEO and co-founder of Good Molecules; and Alicia Grande, founder and chief visionary officer of Grande Cosmetics.
Ju Rhyu, co-founder of Hero Cosmetics, will also mentor participants, alongside Malena Higuera, CEO of NOYZ, and Julissa Prado and Tony Prado, CEO and co-founder and COO of Rizos Curls respectively.
Beyond the formal sessions, participants will have opportunities to build relationships with Ulta Beauty executives, brand founders and other members of the retailer’s broader brand network.
Alumni Take a More Visible Role
The 2026 program is also introducing Alumni Spotlights, a new feature designed to highlight former MUSE participants whose businesses have advanced since completing the accelerator.
OCOA, Octavia Morgan Los Angeles, Scarlet by Red Drop and POOM Cosmetics are among the alumni being featured.
Their experiences are intended to provide current participants with practical lessons on navigating growth after completing the program.
The addition gives previous MUSE participants a continuing role in the accelerator while allowing the newest founders to learn from entrepreneurs who have already gone through the process.
MUSE Expands Its Track Record
Since launching in 2022, the MUSE Accelerator has supported more than 30 early-stage brands and awarded more than $1.5 million in funding.
The initiative has also delivered more than 150 coaching hours and helped multiple participating brands enter the Ulta Beauty ecosystem for distribution.
Among those brands are Pound Cake, Octavia Morgan Los Angeles, Scarlet by RedDrop and Ocoa, underscoring the program’s role in helping emerging companies move closer to retail opportunities.
Through the latest cohort, Ulta Beauty is continuing its effort to broaden representation across the beauty industry while giving emerging founders access to capital, expertise and relationships that can help them compete in an increasingly crowded market.
