Maesa Magic Incubator Class of 2026

The Maesa Magic Incubator Class of 2026 is a grant and accelerator initiative developed to support beauty and wellness entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. The program is offered by Maesa, a beauty brand incubator known for creating innovative product lines and supporting next-generation founders. This incubator was launched to bridge the opportunity and funding gap experienced by minority entrepreneurs and to enable sustainable business growth through capital, mentorship, and exposure. The incubator selects three winning founders to participate in a high-impact program tailored to the unique needs of early-stage companies. Each selected entrepreneur receives a $35,000 no-strings-attached grant. The funding can be used flexibly by recipients to advance their ventures. In addition to monetary support, the program includes an intensive curriculum that covers essential business skills, hands-on learning, and access to industry mentors. Participants also engage in intimate fireside chats with successful beauty founders who serve on the advisory board. Program benefits extend beyond mentorship and funding. Selected founders receive a fully funded trip to Cosmoprof North America’s Entrepreneur Academy in Miami, providing direct access to industry leaders and potential partners. Another major experience is the Future of Work Conference at Harvard University, which adds further opportunities for learning and networking. Throughout the incubator, founders choose one ‘Major’ and one ‘Minor’ track to tailor their participation, culminating in a final pitch presentation to the advisory board. The grant is open to individuals who identify as part of underrepresented communities, including but not limited to Black, Latinx, BIPOC, LGBTQIA, non-binary, disabled, and female founders. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and run an early-stage beauty or wellness business that is incorporated in the United States. The business must not yet be widely distributed and should generate under $1 million in annual sales. Immigrants with legal U.S. residency are also eligible to apply. The application deadline for the 2026 cohort is August 6, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. The application process includes submission of business information and may involve narrative components. While specific evaluation criteria are not detailed, the emphasis on early traction, growth-stage potential, and alignment with the incubator’s mission implies that applicants will be assessed on impact, scalability, and founder background. Interested applicants must complete their submissions by the deadline and should be aware that the program is not offered on a rolling basis. There is no mention of matching requirements or application fees. The grant is intended to be distributed once annually, with this cycle anchored in 2025 and recurring likely each subsequent year.