MUSE Accelerator

The MUSE Accelerator is a program designed to magnify, uplift, support and empower emerging founders' voices in beauty. It supports eight early-stage beauty brands as they work toward retail readiness and long-term success. Since launching in 2022, the program has helped more than 32 beauty brands, awarded over $1.5 million in funding and provided 150+ coaching hours. We’re thrilled to celebrate five years of impact this year!  

The MUSE Accelerator is for brands that currently sell physical consumer products, aligned to Ulta’s current categories. Those can be found here:  

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. or Canadian citizen currently residing in the U.S. or Canada and their business must be registered in the U.S. or Canada. 

The MUSE Accelerator includes a 10-week curriculum and training program focused on setting brands up for long-term success. Core topic areas covered include brand strategy and positioning, retail fundamentals, supply chain and logistics and a final Demo Week where participants pitch to Ulta Beauty merchants. 

To ensure a holistic, enriching experience that equips participants with real-life skills to succeed, Ulta Beauty has developed a robust 10-week curriculum focused on brand development, including: 

• Brand Strategy & Positioning: An immersive, 360-degree planning session that provides tools, support, and resources needed for long-term success. 

• Retail 101: Expert training on how to successfully launch, grow and thrive in a national, omni-channel retail environment. 

• Supply Chain & Logistics: A critical course on planning for and navigating distribution channels to ensure optimal customer experiences. 

• Demo Week & Celebration: An opportunity to pitch to Ulta Beauty retail merchants and network with investors. 

Each accepted brand receives $50,000 in financial support to help accelerate their business. Beyond funding, participants receive dedicated mentorship from industry leaders, access to Ulta Beauty Merchandising partners and become part of a lasting community and network of leaders they can tap into for ongoing support.  

Acceptance into the MUSE Accelerator does not guarantee that a brand will launch at Ulta Beauty following completion of the program. Each cohort brand will have the opportunity to pitch their business to Ulta Beauty merchants at the end of the program, but the reality is that not every brand is ready for retail at that point — and that's okay.

The focus of MUSE is to ensure brands are equipped with the tools, funding and resources to successfully launch and thrive in an omni-channel retail environment — whether that's at Ulta Beauty or elsewhere. Support for MUSE brands doesn't end when the program does; Ulta Beauty continues to foster relationships with graduates and remains invested in their long-term success. 

For more questions, please reach out to MUSEAccelerator@ulta.com

MUSE Accelerator has been featured in WWD, CEW, Gloss, Beauty Independent and BeautyMatter. 

Please contact MUSEAccelerator@ulta.com should you have any questions.