Valdé Beauty has positioned itself at the forefront of female-founded, tech-driven luxury beauty, especially as an early adopter of the NFT and metaverse space. Now, the brand is hoping to champion the next generation of tech-savvy entrepreneurs, with the annual Latinx Beauty Entrepreneur Grant, an extension of the Valdé NFT Collective. 

Beauty entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their product offerings, company mission, level of impact in the community, and overall business plan to founder Margarita Arriagada, as well as an illustrious panel comprised of the likes of Nyakio Grieco, founder & CEO of Nyakio Beauty, Ana Flores, Founder & CEO of #WeAllGrow Latina, and Rea Ann Silva, creator & CEO of BeautyBlender. “We wanted to enlist individuals who are leaving their mark in the industry and those who continue to uplift others on their way to their success. People that are willing to offer their time, wisdom and perspective to the next generation of beauty entrepreneurs. I am honored that these women have agreed to join to help make this possible,” Arriagada tells BeautyMatter.

With applications open until May 23rd, the winner will receive a $10,000 cash grant and $200,000 in consulting services with companies like The Bonita Project and The Dream Lab. They will also receive a lifetime opportunity to pitch to retailers Ulta Beauty, Thirteen Lune, and Sephora.

It is not only a beautiful opportunity of uplifting indie founders, but also a necessary step in boosting Latinx-owned businesses. Specifically, only 25% (versus 44% of white-owned companies) are likely to be fully funded by local banks, according to research done by Bain & Company in 2021. “As such an impactful consumer of beauty this community needs more support,” Arriagada explains. “The beauty industry can support by highlighting these smaller, independent brands in the media. Purchasing their products and spreading awareness via social media. Established brands can provide resources and mentoring while exposing their existing audience to something new.”

From consumer to industry, initiatives such as the Latinx Beauty Entrepreneur Grant are shining a light on the fact that everyone, from individuals to large corporations, can play their part in creating a more inclusive beauty space.