The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (ELC) has partnered with Startup India, an initiative by the Indian government, to support innovation and entrepreneurship in the country’s growing beauty and personal care market. The partnership, formed through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), is the first of its kind between a global beauty brand and Startup India.
The collaboration aims to enhance ELC’s flagship entrepreneurial program in India, BEAUTY&YOU India, which focuses on discovering and supporting emerging India-focused beauty brands. Coinciding with International Women’s Day, ELC also announced the expansion of BEAUTY&YOU India to include a new initiative specifically aimed at recognizing and supporting women entrepreneurs. Stéphane de La Faverie, President and CEO of The Estée Lauder Companies, said, “We are honoured to be the first global beauty company to partner with Startup India to help reimagine the future of beauty by nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs—especially women, who have long been the backbone of our industry, from our founder, Mrs.
Estée partners for beauty innovation
Estée Lauder, to today’s inspiring founders.”
Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary of DPIIT, added, “India’s beauty industry is undergoing a major transformation, and collaborations like this are pivotal in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. We are excited to work with The Estée Lauder Companies to create new opportunities for emerging beauty brands in India.”
Over the past 20 years, ELC has introduced 14 brands to the Indian market, spanning makeup, skin care, hair care, and fragrance.
The company has also made a strategic investment in Mountain Valley Springs India Private Limited, the company behind the luxury Ayurvedic brand Forest Essentials. Launched in 2022, BEAUTY&YOU India has attracted over 1,500 applicants from more than 150 cities and has invested in grants to build a diverse community of entrepreneurs, particularly promoting women-led businesses. Beyond BEAUTY&YOU India, ELC continues to increase women’s workforce participation and advance women’s health and empowerment across India.
The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation and M·A·C Cosmetics have donated over $7 million in the past decade to various nonprofit partnerships in the country. The partnership between ELC and India’s Ministry of Commerce is an exciting step forward in advancing entrepreneurship and innovation in the beauty sector, with a particular focus on empowering women entrepreneurs.
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