FAQs

What is Sephora Accelerate?

Sephora Accelerate is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for brands to build, refine, and grow with the power of Sephora. From mentorship and community to resources and an opportunity to launch at Sephora, it’s a brand incubation program that elevates the next generation of founders so we can change the future of beauty together.

As the industry’s most powerful brand incubator, the program includes digital and in-person resources (both 1:1 and group sessions), where founders can gain the necessary skills to confidently navigate beauty retail—benefitting from Sephora’s one-of-a-kind guidance. The program also provides a unique opportunity to elevate your brand’s visibility by tapping into our powerful network, initiatives, and platforms.

Persons of all backgrounds are welcome to apply to Sephora Accelerate! Applicants must lead a North America-incorporated beauty brand company (ex. an LLC incorporated in the US for distribution would allow a brand to be eligible to apply). Your brand should be in its early stages, not yet widely distributed. We are only considering companies with at least a working prototype or lab sample of product.

Your brand must be founded or co-founded by a person who is at least 18 years old. Applications must be filled out by the founder/co-founder and either the founder/co-founder is required to be the active/primary participant of the program. If selected, founder(s) must be able to attend the program in its entirety, including digital and in-person programming.

Unfortunately, at this time, no—Sephora employees are not eligible to participate in the Sephora Accelerate program.  

TIMELINE: Key dates
  • Application: Applications for Sephora Accelerate Class of 2026 will be live March 2–31.
  • Selection: Brands will be notified via email whether or not they’ve been selected by summer 2026.
  • Kickoff: The program will kick off fall 2026 with our Accelerate Class of 2026 Kickoff. If selected, you must be able to attend the program in its entirety.
SELECTION CRITERIA: What we’re looking for
  • Bold vision: Are you passionate about beauty and ready to take your business to the next level?
  • Innovative edge: Does your brand bring something fresh and exciting to the beauty world?
  • Proven potential: Do you have a polished prototype or real buzz from customers and fans?
APPLICATION DETAILS: You’ll need to...
  • Answer a few quick eligibility questions
  • Tell us all about your amazing brand
  • Show us your personality with a short video
  • Be ready to share product samples with us if asked

No, becoming an Accelerate Alum does not guarantee launching at Sephora—though a selection of participating brands may have the opportunity to do so upon completing the program, per Sephora’s discretion.

However, there are so many exceptional benefits to becoming an Accelerate Alum, regardless of whether or not your brand launches at Sephora. Read all about them here.

Additional Questions?

For any other inquiries, please don’t hesitate to
contact acceleratesupport@sephora.com

If you're experiencing any issues submitting your application, email acceleratesupport@sephora.com with the email address and brand name you used in your application. Including a screenshot of any error message you received will help us understand the situation and assist you promptly.

Accelerate Your Brand with Sephora

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