Launching the largest startup competition in the Beauty Technology industry

L'Oréal has just officially launched the "BIG BANG - Beauty Technology Innovations 2025" Competition for startups from countries in the Southeast Asia - Pacific , Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) region.

The startups will compete for the opportunity to partner with L'Oréal on a commercial pilot project with one of the group's 37 international brands and gain access to 35 markets in the region. The winning startups will also receive one year of mentorship from senior executives of the group and program partners after winning the prize.

The largest Beauty Tech startup competition offers a large geographic footprint and this year will expand to include Australia and New Zealand. Participating startups will tackle one of five challenge themes, including the new 2025 theme of “ Science in Beauty” alongside media categories such as Customer Experience, Content & Media, New Commerce and Technology for the Common Good.

L'Oréal SAPMENA President Vismay Sharma said: " With its vibrant startup ecosystem and tech-savvy consumers, we are confident that the SAPMENA region has great potential to be a driving force for innovation in the beauty industry. The Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Challenge will help us discover , support and nurture the next generation of innovators in the industry. By collaborating with promising startups to co-create and develop technological and scientific solutions in the beauty industry, we can accelerate innovation and elevate the beauty experience for consumers in the region."

The SAPMENA region, home to 40% of the world’s population, has a young and rapidly growing consumer base that is fueling the growth of the beauty industry in the region. The SAPMENA startup ecosystem is thriving, with over 625,200 startups and over 245 unicorns, making it one of the most vibrant markets for beauty innovation. Vietnam is also one of the fastest-growing markets in the region for technology adoption. With consumers willing to experiment with new technology solutions in beauty, Vietnamese startups will have many opportunities to develop smart beauty devices, apply artificial intelligence in skin care consulting, and apply advanced biotechnology to improve product efficiency.

" With the theme 'Science in Beauty' in this year's BIG BANG competition, we believe that Vietnamese startups can bring innovations to help the beauty industry become more sustainable. This is a special opportunity for Vietnamese startups to affirm their position on the global beauty technology map and bring their innovations to millions of consumers in the region and around the world. We hope to receive positive responses from startups to jointly create the future of the beauty industry in Vietnam ," said Mr. Benjamin Rachow, General Director of L'Oreal Vietnam.

Apply via the contest website: https://bigbang.lorealsapmena.com/

Deadline for applications: 30 May 2025. Regional semi-finals (online) will take place in August - September 2025 for countries in the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The SAPMENA Regional Final will take place on 5 November 2025 in Singapore, where the top 10 startups will compete for the top prize. The competition jury will include senior leaders from the L'Oreal group and program partners.

The top three startups from the SAPMENA Finals will receive funding from L'Oréal to develop their commercial projects, and will receive one-year mentorship from senior leaders from the group and program partners.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/khoi-dong-cuoc-thi-khoi-nghiep-lon-nhat-nganh-cong-nghe-lam-dep-20250212105402598.htm