Ulta Beauty has selected eight emerging beauty and wellness brands for the fifth annual MUSE Accelerator Program, providing funding, mentorship and retail-readiness support during a 10-week program beginning September 14.
The 2026 cohort includes AWARE Hair, Blue Water Girls, Dos Mundos, MIA Outdoor Hair, Mochiglow, MoKnowsHair, Prados Beauty and Prereq Care. The brands span haircare, skincare, fragrance, cosmetics and body care.
Each participating company will receive $50,000, while Ulta Beauty and Fifteen Percent Pledge will select one cohort member for an additional $10,000 award. Ulta will provide a combined $410,000 to the eight businesses.
The program’s curriculum covers brand strategy, retail fundamentals and supply chain logistics and gives founders opportunities to pitch Ulta Beauty merchants and connect with investors.
Since launching in 2022, the MUSE Accelerator has supported more than 30 early-stage brands, awarded over $1.5 million and provided more than 150 hours of coaching. Previous participants that have entered Ulta’s retail ecosystem include Pound Cake, Octavia Morgan Los Angeles, Scarlet by RedDrop and OCOA.
KEY QUOTE:
“For five years, MUSE has elevated emerging voices with the potential to shape the future of beauty, providing founders with greater access to the resources, mentorship and support that can help them succeed. We’re proud to have supported 32 brands and counting and look forward to seeing the impact this next cohort will have on our industry.”
Lauren Brindley, Chief Merchandising and Digital Officer at Ulta Beauty
