Glossier is growing its grant programme for black-owned beauty businesses beyond the US with its first programme in the UK.
The millennial favourite beauty brand first introduced its grant programme in 2020 and has since partnered with more than 30 founders across 26 innovative brands in the US.
To launch the UK version, Glossier is partnering with Black Girl Fest, the UK’s first arts and culture festival dedicated to black women, girls and non-binary people.
The Black Beauty Grant Programme is a 12-week learning programme that will support UK-based black women founders to take their business to the next level, gain expert advice from industry professionals, and connect with experienced founders.
Applications are now open and will close on 9 May 2023, at which point five founders will be selected to take part in the programme; each will receive a £10,000 equity-free cash grant.
To be eligible, businesses must be founded by a black woman or someone who identifies as non-binary; have a physical beauty product and be actively selling; be aged 18 or over; be based in the UK; have a revenue cap of £50,000 in net sales per year; and be self-funded (with no VC or angel investment).
Black Girl Fest was founded in 2017 by Nicole Crentsil
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Black Girl Fest to bring the Glossier Grant Programme to the UK,” said Kleo Mack, Chief Marketing Officer, Glossier Inc.
“As soon as we launched the programme in the US, we knew it was only a matter of time before we would take it across the pond, and saw a lot of excitement from our community members across the region.
“It was crucial that we collaborated with an expert partner on the ground with first-hand experience of being a black female founder in the UK market.
“We’re so excited to work with Nicole [Crentsil, founder and CEO, Black Girl Fest] and the whole Black Girl Fest team and of course to meet what we know will be an incredibly inspiring group of UK founders.”
“We're so excited to be working with Glossier to bring this programme to the UK," added Crentsil.
“At Black Girl Fest, we’re super passionate about creating economic impact for black women that directly sparks the change we want to see in the black beauty industry.
“Super honoured to work closely with the wonderful team at Glossier to turn this vision into a reality.”
Those interested in applying to the programme can find out more here.