LVMH retailer Sephora has chosen the eight entrepreneurs who will now go on to take part in its debut Accelerate Cohort programme.
The programme, announced in January, aims to inspire confidence in women, with the goal of supporting more than 50 female-led beauty businesses in the US by 2020.
The women selected are: Candace Mitchell, Myavana; Carolina Grove, Stylerz; Danielle Cohen-Shohet, Glossgenius; Karissa Bodnar, Thrive Causemetics; Leila Janah, Laxmi; Leila Janah, Laxmi; Naa-Sakle Akuete, Eu'Genia Shea; and Suzanne LeRoux, One Love Organics.
The successful candidates will now proceed to a bootcamp held in San Francisco, US, designed to impart the necessary skills required to run and build their businesses. Sephora will provide a network of industry leaders and internal mentors to give added support to the women.
Corrie Conrad, Sephora's Head of Social Impact, said: "Sephora is thrilled to announce the entrepreneurs selected for our Accelerate Cohort program. These female founders from the US, Mexico and Canada have impressed us with their vision and unique approach to beauty. We are excited to take the next step in building a supportive community and learning environment for these early stage leaders, who are helping to shape the industry we are so passionate about at Sephora, an industry we are honored to share with these future brand leaders."
Some of the women selected expressed their biggest challenges experienced as a woman setting up a beauty business. Mitchell said: "My biggest challenge as a female entrepreneur is having the resources to grow and scale quickly while pushing through the stereotypes of being a minority." Meanwhile, Cohen-Shohet added: "If 50% of the US population is female, why isn't 50% of my mentor and advisor base female? It's been a challenge to build a support and mentor group that reflects the gender diversity of the world around me."
