BEAUTY&YOU India 2025 Empowers Next-Gen Beauty Founders

• ELC introduces BEAUTY&YOU India 2025, supporting India-focused next-gen beauty leaders
• The winners benefit from mentorship and financial awards totalling up to $500,000 and industry recognition in four competitive categories

BEAUTY&YOU India with renewed purpose, brings together Nykaa, Startup India, and the new Visionary Women’s Award to empower the next wave of beauty innovators. This year’s initiative offers up to $500,000 in funding and spotlight excellence across four key categories, including the debut of the Visionary Women’s Awards.

With a continued focus on fostering innovation, Estée Lauder Companies Inc. launches the fourth edition of BEAUTY&YOU India, its flagship initiative to support the next wave of India-centric beauty founders. This year’s initiative themed ‘Beauty Frontier’ invites visionary entrepreneurs to apply by August 24, 2025. The India program delivers both financial backing and industry insight to startups building the next generation of beauty solutions in India.

As lead partner once again, Nykaa reaffirms its dedication to advancing India’s beauty ecosystem through targeted discovery, mentorship, and distribution. This year’s edition also welcomes Startup India, following its landmark MoU with ELC and DPIIT, marking the first collaboration of its kind between a global beauty giant and the Indian government. Together, they champion Indian entrepreneurs, particularly women-led startups.

Falguni Nayar, Executive Chairperson, MD & CEO of Nykaa, commented: “At Nykaa, we’ve spent over a decade shaping India’s beauty ecosystem, from discovery to distribution, and from consumers to creators. As lead partner for BEAUTY&YOU India 2025, we are proud to extend that ecosystem to early-stage founders through a programme designed to transform bold ideas into scalable, future-facing brands. In collaboration with The Estée Lauder Companies, this initiative offers the resources, network, and credibility needed to empower the next generation of beauty entrepreneurs.”

Beyond funding, the program provides winners with comprehensive growth support and national visibility via Startup India platforms like Startup Mahakumbh. BEAUTY&YOU India 2025 builds on a legacy of over 1,5000 applications from diverse regions, most led by women. Finalists will be revealed in September ahead of the live presentations in October.