L’Oréal Research & Innovation Startup Challenge 2018 is looking to partner with early-stage startups and small enterprises in the Asia Pacific Region and beyond, who have unique solutions in the area of Performance Materials and Products, Personalized Beauty Experiences and Sustainable Innovations.

Categories

1)  Performance Materials & Products :

1. Materials should be able to disperse in cosmetic solutions (oil or water)
2. Materials have to be safe and contain no heavy metals
3. Materials need to be scalable and cost-effective

2) Personalized Beauty Experiences :

1. Demonstrated efficacy of technology when benchmarked to standard equipment/solutions/materials
2. Cost-effective, robust and reliable, ideally suitable for use in developing countries (if possible)
3. Non-invasive sample collection (if applicable), e.g. cheek swab/ saliva
4. Compliant with applicable regulations on data privacy protection (if applicable)
5. Safe to use

3) Sustainable Innovation :

1. Compliant with L’Oréal program Sharing Beauty With All: https://sharingbeautywithall.loreal.com
2. Data that demonstrate and quantify the efficacy of the technology from an environmental and/or societal angle
3. Life cycle assessment
4. Biodiversity and society compliant.
5. Scalable, cost effective, robust and reliable.

Prizes & Incentives

Participants can win the opportunity to work with L’Oréal, gain access to mentors and industry networks through L’Oréal, NUS Enterprise, and Enterprise SG. Two S$5,000 cash prizes and two S$50,000 Startup SG grants are up for grabs!

1. Potential access to L’Oréal’s leading R&D expertise in beauty :

   • Opportunities for conducting a pilot study with  L’Oréal hubs.
   • Developing longer term strategic partnerships.

2. Financial Award

   • Each winner will receive a prize award of S$5,000. 2 winners will be selected.
   • No equity is taken.

3. Startup SG Grant

   • 2 winners stand to EACH win a $50,000 Startup SG grant Sponsored by Entreprise SG. T&Cs apply.
   • In addition both winners will be fast-tracked to the Qualifying Round of SLINGSHOT@SWITCH powered by Startup SG (2nd edition).

4. Mentorship and Industry Network

   • Exposure to NUS Enterprise and local network of industry partners, companies, investors and startup mentors
   • Startup boot-camp or targeted mentorship sessions by NUS Enterprise for startups selected to be in the semi-finals.

5. Industry Exposure

   • Opportunity to pitch to a wide audience
   • Gain faster understanding of industry challenges and needs
   • Unique insights for the shortlisted proposals
   • Increase prospects for co-creation or co-development activities.