Estée Lauder, Nykaa, Startup India launch 5th BEAUTY&YOU India entrepreneurship program

• The Estée Lauder Companies’ BEAUTY&YOU India returns with launch partner Nykaa and Startup India, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, to accelerate the next wave of beauty innovation
• Applications are now open for India’s leading beauty entrepreneurship program

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) (ELC) today announced the launch of the fifth edition of BEAUTY&YOU India, the country’s leading beauty entrepreneurship program designed to discover and support the next generation of Indian beauty entrepreneurs through funding, mentorship, and industry access.

Since its launch in 2022, BEAUTY&YOU India has become a powerful catalyst for culturally rooted innovation and a launchpad for visionary entrepreneurs, helping shape the future of beauty in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.

BEAUTY&YOU India marks its fifth year amid a broader period of investment for The Estée Lauder Companies in India, including the recent agreement to acquire Forest Essentials, India’s first luxury Ayurveda beauty brand, bringing timeless wisdom, exquisite craftsmanship, and everyday rituals grounded in the science of modern Luxurious Ayurveda. As the initiative enters its next chapter, BEAUTY&YOU India is evolving into a strategic investment platform that identifies, supports, and invests in India’s next generation of beauty brands, technologies, ingredient innovation, and entrepreneurial talent.

The 2026 edition champions the boldest ideas in beauty for Indian consumers, including a new Design category for designers, visual artists, and creative talent reimagining how beauty comes to life through packaging, retail, and experiences. The program also expands the Breakthrough category through a new partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies’ Fragrance Atelier in Paris, the company’s global innovation hub dedicated to fragrance expertise, advanced technologies, and cutting-edge capabilities. The award recognizes India’s long legacy of fragrance craftsmanship and connects Indian innovators with The Estée Lauder Companies’ fragrance expertise and ecosystem.

Applications are now open through August 25, 2026, at: https://www.beautyandyouawards.com/

Five Years of Momentum: Advancing Innovation & Entrepreneurship in India

Nykaa, India’s leading beauty and lifestyle retailer, returns as launch partner, reinforcing its commitment to building the future of Indian beauty through discovery, mentorship, and distribution at scale. As one of India’s most successful homegrown beauty companies and a pioneer in shaping the country’s modern beauty landscape, Nykaa brings unparalleled market expertise, entrepreneurial insight, and consumer understanding to the program.

The program also continues its collaboration with Startup India, DPIIT, a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India, deepening a shared commitment to advancing Indian entrepreneurship and accelerating opportunities for women founders through the return of the Visionary Women’s Award. Building on the momentum and impact generated by BEAUTY&YOU India since its launch, the collaboration affirms the program’s reach and its ability to support entrepreneurs across the country.

Shaping the Future of India’s Beauty Ecosystem

Nadine Graf, President, Europe, UK & Ireland, and Emerging Markets, The Estée Lauder Companies, said:

“India is one of the world’s most dynamic beauty markets and an increasingly important source of innovation for the global beauty industry. BEAUTY&YOU India celebrates the unique combination of cultural heritage, exceptional craftsmanship, entrepreneurial talent, and breakthrough innovation that makes India’s beauty ecosystem so distinctive. As we mark the program’s fifth year, we are proud to help accelerate the vision of entrepreneurs whose ideas are redefining beauty in India and increasingly influencing the future of beauty around the world.”

Anchit Nayar, Executive Director and CEO, Nykaa Beauty, said:

“For more than a decade, Nykaa and The Estée Lauder Companies have shared a common ambition to contribute to the long-term growth of India’s beauty industry. BEAUTY&YOU India is a natural extension of that partnership, bringing together…”