Ulta Beauty MUSE Accelerator
Ulta Beauty
$50,000 + potential retail access
$50K + retail access for BIPOC beauty brands
Ulta Beauty's annual MUSE (Magnify, Uplift, Support, and Empower) Accelerator selects eight early-stage BIPOC beauty brands for a 10-week retail-readiness program that includes a $50,000 grant, curriculum covering brand strategy and supply chain, mentorship from established beauty founders, and a demo/pitch opportunity. One participant also receives an additional $10,000 through a Fifteen Percent Pledge partnership. The program targets BIPOC-led brands that are not yet in Ulta retail but are ready to develop toward that goal.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- $50,000 – $60,000
- Realistic amount
- All 8 participants receive $50,000 each. One additionally receives $10,000. The retail opportunity (potential Ulta shelf…
- Deadline
- Annual — 2024 cycle applications opened June 3, 2024. 2025 cohort is currently underway (announced fall 2025). Contact MUSEAccelerator@ulta.com or monitor ulta.com/company/dei/muse for 2026 cycle announcement.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- lump sum
Who qualifies
- BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) founder with majority ownership in the beauty brand
- US or Canadian citizen currently residing in the US or Canada
- Business registered in the US or Canada
- Early-stage beauty brand — not yet in broad Ulta retail distribution
- At least 18 years old
- For-profit business structure
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Demographic eligibility: minority-owned
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Product development and formulation
- Packaging and branding
- Marketing and distribution
- Manufacturing scale-up
- Working capital
- Any legitimate business expense
Ineligible expenses
- Personal expenses unrelated to the beauty business
- Non-beauty businesses
- Brands already in broad Ulta retail distribution
How to apply
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1
Monitor for application announcement
Visit ulta.com/company/dei/muse/muse-accelerator or email MUSEAccelerator@ulta.com in late spring/early summer to inquire about the 2026 cycle. The 2024 cycle opened June 3; a similar timeline is expected for 2026.
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2
Submit online application
Complete the application detailing your BIPOC-led beauty brand: products, stage of development, founder story, and specific plan for how you would leverage the program's resources and retail opportunity.
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3
Selection and cohort announcement
Eight brands are selected from the applicant pool. Selection is announced publicly, typically in late summer or fall of the application year.
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4
10-week accelerator program
Participate in a 10-week curriculum covering brand strategy, retail fundamentals, supply chain logistics, and financial planning. Includes mentorship from Ulta Beauty Merchandising partners and established beauty founders, plus a demo/pitch opportunity at program close.
The retail readiness pathway and Ulta Merchandising partner mentorship are the program's primary long-term value — $50K cash is meaningful but potential Ulta shelf access is worth exponentially more. Apply with a distinct product story and a clear retail strategy.
Deadline & timing
The 2025 cohort of 8 brands was announced and the program is currently underway. The 2026 application cycle dates had not been announced as of late May 2026. The 2024 cycle opened June 3, 2024. Monitor ulta.com or email MUSEAccelerator@ulta.com for 2026 opening announcement.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.