New Delhi – L’Oréal on Thursday announced three Indian startups as winners of the regional finals of its Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program, who will advance to compete in the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) Grand Finale in Singapore on November 7.
The competition, which the company describes as the largest beauty tech open innovation programme of its kind, seeks to back early-stage ventures addressing industry challenges across five themes: consumer experience, content and media, new commerce, tech for good and science for beauty.
The Indian winners are Infloso AI, platform for brand marketing and the creator economy; Sravathi AI, which uses AI and molecular modelling to design and develop pharmaceuticals; and Without, a materials science company turning unrecyclable waste into recyclable products.
L’Oréal said the winners were selected after evaluation by a panel including experts from the company and Google. At the Grand Finale, they will compete against other regional winners for the chance to pilot their solutions with one of L’Oréal’s 37 global brands, gain exposure in 35 SAPMENA markets and receive a year-long mentorship.
To strengthen India’s startup ecosystem in the beauty sector, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed a memorandum of understanding with L’Oréal India earlier this year. The partnership is aimed at providing startups with mentorship, pilot opportunities and market entry support in areas such as sustainable packaging and inclusive beauty.
“I am pleased to note the remarkable ingenuity showcased by Indian startups through the second edition of the L’Oréal Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program,” said Sanjiv Singh, joint secretary, DPIIT. He said the initiative aligns with the government’s vision to build a robust innovation and manufacturing-led ecosystem.
Saloni Shah Javeri, chief digital and marketing officer at L’Oréal India, said the Indian winners reflected a maturing innovation landscape. “The pioneering spirit of the innovations we’ve witnessed this year are inspiring with an increased maturity and potential versus last year,” she said.
Last year two Indian startups – Neural Garage and Live2.ai – were among the winners of the inaugural SAPMENA Grand Finale.
The programme’s judging panel also includes experts from Google, Meta and Veros Ventures. The top three winners at the Grand Finale will secure a L’Oréal-funded pilot and mentorship.
