{"id":55389,"date":"2026-05-12T11:52:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T04:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/?p=55389"},"modified":"2026-05-12T11:52:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T04:52:00","slug":"loreal-invests-in-future-of-ai-powered-commerce-and-the-creator-economy-with-tech-startups-from-south-asia-pacific-middle-east-and-north-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/?p=55389","title":{"rendered":"L&#8217;Or\u00e9al Invests in Future of AI-Powered Commerce and the Creator Economy with Tech Startups from South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"10\" cellpadding=\"5\" align=\"right\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2525348\/LOREAL_Logo.jpg?p=medium600\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" title=\"logo\" hspace=\"0\" vspace=\"0\" width=\"118\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>L&#8217;Or\u00e9al has launched its 2026 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program\u00a0for startups across South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA)<\/li>\n<li>Winners secure a fully funded commercial pilot with one of L&#8217;Or\u00e9al&#8217;s 40 international brands, potential scale across 35 SAPMENA markets and year-long mentorship from L&#8217;Or\u00e9al senior leaders and programme partners<\/li>\n<li>Entering its third year, the programme has seven startup winners to date from Australia, India, Singapore and UAE.<\/li>\n<li>2026 innovation themes tap into greater potential for AI-powered commerce, creator and affiliate ecosystems, and circularity solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"legendSpanClass\">SINGAPORE<\/span>, <span class=\"legendSpanClass\">May 12, 2026<\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ &#8212; L&#8217;Or\u00e9al is officially calling for the next generation of tech pioneers in Singapore to co-create the future of beauty. Applications are now open for the <b>2026 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program<\/b>\u00a0across the SAPMENA region. \u00a0Entering its third year, the biggest beauty tech open innovation competition has become the industry&#8217;s launchpad for scale: seven startups from previous cohorts have progressed to commercial pilots with one of L&#8217;Or\u00e9al&#8217;s 40 brands.<\/p>\n<p><b>THE OPPORTUNITY: FROM COMPETITION TO COMMERCIAL SCALE<\/b><\/p>\n<p>From May to November, startups compete for the\u00a0ultimate opportunity to scale in beauty: a fully funded commercial pilot with one of L&#8217;Or\u00e9al&#8217;s 40 iconic international brands. Beyond the pilot, winners unlock potential scale\u00a0across 35 high-growth markets in the SAPMENA region and receive a year of\u00a0strategic mentorship\u00a0from L&#8217;Or\u00e9al&#8217;s senior leaders and programme partners.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 2026 edition has been updated to harness three major structural shifts shaping the industry: the rise of\u00a0AI-powered commerce, the dominance of\u00a0creator and affiliate-led ecosystems, and the critical advancement of the\u00a0circular economy.<\/p>\n<p>Startups can apply under five strategic innovation themes designed to drive both commercial growth and positive impact:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><b>Connected Brand Experience<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Creators &amp; Affiliates<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>AI-Powered Commerce<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Science for Beauty<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Innovation for Good<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Vismay Sharma, President of L&#8217;Or\u00e9al SAPMENA Zone, commented:<\/b>\u00a0&#8220;SAPMENA is fast becoming a global epicentre for tech innovation. Millions of young, digitally native consumers are fuelling a rapid rise in digital commerce and redefining brand interaction. We believe this region is an important incubator for the future of beauty &#8211; a &#8216;Silicon Valley&#8217; for Beauty Tech. As AI, the creator economy, and circularity reshape our industry, we are committed to discovering and nurturing the pioneers who will co-lead this transformation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><b>INNOVATION PILOTS WITH 2025 STARTUP WINNERS<\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"PRN_ImbeddedAssetReference\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2977701\/2025_L_Oreal_SAPMENA_Big_Bang_Grand_Finale.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2977701\/2025_L_Oreal_SAPMENA_Big_Bang_Grand_Finale.jpg?p=medium600\" title=\"2025 Startup Winners: Without (India), Sravathi AI (India), Heatseeker (Australia), and Halo AI (UAE), with Wubble AI (Singapore) receiving a special mention\" alt=\"2025 Startup Winners: Without (India), Sravathi AI (India), Heatseeker (Australia), and Halo AI (UAE), with Wubble AI (Singapore) receiving a special mention\" \/><\/a><br \/><span>2025 Startup Winners: Without (India), Sravathi AI (India), Heatseeker (Australia), and Halo AI (UAE), with Wubble AI (Singapore) receiving a special mention<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Commercial pilots with L&#8217;Or\u00e9al have demonstrated unique use-cases of startup capabilities in the beauty context, proving tangible impact for both founders and L&#8217;Or\u00e9al brands.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><b>Innovation in Sustainable Materials Science: <\/b><b>Without<\/b> from India, a materials science startup using a proprietary process to transform what would previously be unrecyclable multilayer plastics into high-quality recyclable materials.\u00a0&#8220;Winning the Big Bang programme last year opened doors for us. This competition was not just about getting an award and recognition. We actually get the opportunity to do a pilot programme that can be scaled across markets,&#8221; said Anish Malpani, Founder of Without.<\/p>\n<p><b>Real-Time Customer Intelligence: Heatseeker <\/b>from Australia\u00a0is addressing the industry&#8217;s reliance on reactive market data by piloting real-time intelligence to accelerate go-to-market decisions. &#8220;Both Heatseeker and L&#8217;Or\u00e9al are obsessed with the same thing \u2013 delivering customer truth, fast \u2013 and that shared DNA has meant we&#8217;ve been able to design and validate a solution side-by-side with L&#8217;Or\u00e9al that is already shaping where Heatseeker goes globally. Partnering with L&#8217;Or\u00e9al is making us unstoppable,&#8221; said Kate O&#8217;Keeffe, CEO and co-founder of Heatseeker.<\/p>\n<p><b>AI-Powered Influencer Discovery: Halo AI <\/b>from UAE\u00a0is partnering with L&#8217;Or\u00e9al to transform influencer discovery and brand-matching at scale, solving the fragmentation of influencer marketing. &#8220;Winning Big Bang is a signal that the agentic infrastructure we&#8217;re building at Halo AI is meeting that moment, and I&#8217;m so excited to be building for that future with team L&#8217;Or\u00e9al,&#8221; said Rami Saad, Co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Halo AI.<\/p>\n<p><b>AI-Powered Circularity: Sravathi AI <\/b>from India\u00a0is applying its AI-powered chemistry platform to help L&#8217;Or\u00e9al identify active ingredients faster and more sustainably. &#8220;Through Big Bang, we gained access to L&#8217;Or\u00e9al&#8217;s global and regional teams and partners &#8211; conversations that have been instrumental in shaping how we bring our platform to the beauty industry at scale,&#8221; said Parag Tipnis, VP Commercial of Sravathi AI.<\/p>\n<p><b>Ethical Tech and IP Compliance: Wubble AI<\/b> from Singapore\u00a0integrates ethical, royalty-free music to ensure seamless IP compliance for L&#8217;Or\u00e9al&#8217;s engagements. &#8220;Being a part of the Big Bang competition has been a key milestone in the story of our young company. We have been fortunate to work with different L&#8217;Or\u00e9al teams since then, on two paid projects, and the experience has been absolutely invaluable in shaping and sharpening our product design and the user journey on our platform,&#8221; said Anand Roy, Founder and CEO of Wubble AI.<\/p>\n<p><b>SAPMENA: A REGION BUILT FOR INNOVATION<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The SAPMENA region, home to 40% of the world&#8217;s population and its emerging new consumer base, is now the primary laboratory for beauty tech innovation. With over 60% of its young, digitally native consumers shopping online weekly, the region offers unparalleled commercial opportunities for ambitious startups.<\/p>\n<p>This momentum is supported by a flourishing startup ecosystem. Asia Pacific recorded the strongest annual growth worldwide in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Index, with Singapore ranking 4th globally led by 44.9% growth, while Saudi Arabia leaped to 38th, fuelled by a 236.8% growth rate.<\/p>\n<p>Recognising this energy, L&#8217;Or\u00e9al is nurturing the next generation of innovators through its\u00a0Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program, encouraging development at all levels. The beauty sector is one of the most advanced in applying AI, personalisation and data-driven commerce. NielsenIQ reports that nearly half of all consumers are now receiving beauty recommendations from generative AI, the industry has become the definitive arena where new technology proves its commercial value first.<\/p>\n<p><b>ABOUT THE BIG BANG BEAUTY TECH INNOVATION PROGRAM IN SAPMENA<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The biggest Beauty Tech open innovation competition of this geographical scale, the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program seeks to discover, support and nurture promising startups from the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa region. The competition is open to startups from countries including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Startups will be given the opportunity to develop their pilots in beauty tech innovation in one of five challenge themes: Connected Brand Experience, Creators &amp; Affiliates, AI-Powered Commerce, Science for Beauty and Innovation for Good.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The top three SAPMENA Grand Finale winners will win a L&#8217;Or\u00e9al-funded commercial pilot opportunity, potential to scale multiple markets and a year-long mentorship with senior leaders from L&#8217;Or\u00e9al and the programme partners.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Startups who prove successful pilots in SAPMENA could have the opportunity to work with L&#8217;Or\u00e9al on future collaborations globally.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Key dates:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Submission deadline: <b>3 July 2026<\/b><\/li>\n<li>Regional finals: August-September 2026\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Middle East<\/li>\n<li>India<\/li>\n<li>Southeast Asia<\/li>\n<li>Australia and New Zealand<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>SAPMENA Grand Finale in Singapore (in-person): November 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Startups passionate about creating the future of beauty with L&#8217;Or\u00e9al are encouraged to apply now on the <a href=\"http:\/\/bigbang.lorealsapmena.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">competition website<\/a> by the submission deadline of 3 July 2026.<\/p>\n<p><b>ABOUT L&#8217;OR\u00c9AL SOUTH ASIA PACIFIC, MIDDLE EAST, AND NORTH AFRICA (SAPMENA) ZONE<\/b><\/p>\n<p><i>Home to 3 billion people and 40% of the world&#8217;s population, the South Asia Pacific, Middle East &amp; North Africa (SAPMENA) Zone is a major growth engine for L&#8217;Or\u00e9al and a global talent hub. The SAPMENA Zone was formed in 2021 to drive focus on consumer needs and growth in many of the world&#8217;s most populous, young and fast-growing economies. Across 13 entities and <\/i><i>35 markets spanning New Zealand to Morocco, the L&#8217;Or\u00e9al SAPMENA Zone is reinventing beauty experiences for our consumers through a portfolio of over 30 international brands and game-changing Beauty Tech innovations. Our business model is built on responsible and sustainable growth, with commitments which focus on three key areas \u2013 the planet, the people and our products.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><b><i>About L&#8217;Or\u00e9al\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i>For over 115 years, L&#8217;Or\u00e9al, the world&#8217;s leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as essential, inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 40 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our L&#8217;Or\u00e9al for the Future programme, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>With more than 95,000 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (ecommerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, perfumeries, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2025 the Group generated sales amounting to 44.05 billion euros. With 22 research centres across 9 regional hubs around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and more than 8,000 Digital, Tech and Data talents, L&#8217;Or\u00e9al is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>In 2025, L&#8217;Or\u00e9al has been named the most innovative company in Europe by Fortune magazine, out of 300 companies, in a ranking spanning 21 countries and 16 industries in Europe.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>More information on <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.loreal.com\/en\/mediaroom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i>https:\/\/www.loreal.com\/en\/mediaroom<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p>MEDIA <span>CONTACT<\/span><br \/><b>L&#8217;OR\u00c9AL<br \/><\/b>Sonia MEYER, <a href=\"mailto:sonia.meyer@loreal.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">sonia.meyer@loreal.com<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"PRN_ImbeddedAssetReference\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2977702\/L_Oreal_Big_Bang_Master_16x9.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2977702\/L_Oreal_Big_Bang_Master_16x9.jpg?p=medium600\" title=\"L\u2019Or\u00e9al 2026 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program\" alt=\"L\u2019Or\u00e9al 2026 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program\" \/><\/a><br \/><span>L\u2019Or\u00e9al 2026 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"PRN_ImbeddedAssetReference\">\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><!-- wp:html --><\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"10\" cellpadding=\"5\" align=\"right\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2525348\/LOREAL_Logo.jpg?p=medium600\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" title=\"logo\" hspace=\"0\" vspace=\"0\" width=\"118\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>L&#8217;Or\u00e9al has launched its 2026 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program\u00a0for startups across South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA)<\/li>\n<li>Winners secure a fully funded commercial pilot with one of L&#8217;Or\u00e9al&#8217;s 40 international brands, potential scale across 35 SAPMENA markets and year-long mentorship from L&#8217;Or\u00e9al senior leaders and programme partners<\/li>\n<li>Entering its third year, the programme has seven startup winners to date from Australia, India, Singapore and UAE.<\/li>\n<li>2026 innovation themes tap into greater potential for AI-powered commerce, creator and affiliate ecosystems, and circularity solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"legendSpanClass\">SINGAPORE<\/span>, <span class=\"legendSpanClass\">May 12, 2026<\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ &#8212; L&#8217;Or\u00e9al is officially calling for the next generation of tech pioneers in Singapore to co-create the future of beauty. Applications are now open for the <b>2026 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program<\/b>\u00a0across the SAPMENA region. \u00a0Entering its third year, the biggest beauty tech open innovation competition has become the industry&#8217;s launchpad for scale: seven startups from previous cohorts have progressed to commercial pilots with one of L&#8217;Or\u00e9al&#8217;s 40 brands.<\/p>\n<p><b>THE OPPORTUNITY: FROM COMPETITION TO COMMERCIAL SCALE<\/b><\/p>\n<p>From May to November, startups compete for the\u00a0ultimate opportunity to scale in beauty: a fully funded commercial pilot with one of L&#8217;Or\u00e9al&#8217;s 40 iconic international brands. Beyond the pilot, winners unlock potential scale\u00a0across 35 high-growth markets in the SAPMENA region and receive a year of\u00a0strategic mentorship\u00a0from L&#8217;Or\u00e9al&#8217;s senior leaders and programme partners.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 2026 edition has been updated to harness three major structural shifts shaping the industry: the rise of\u00a0AI-powered commerce, the dominance of\u00a0creator and affiliate-led ecosystems, and the critical advancement of the\u00a0circular economy.<\/p>\n<p>Startups can apply under five strategic innovation themes designed to drive both commercial growth and positive impact:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><b>Connected Brand Experience<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Creators &amp; Affiliates<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>AI-Powered Commerce<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Science for Beauty<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Innovation for Good<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Vismay Sharma, President of L&#8217;Or\u00e9al SAPMENA Zone, commented:<\/b>\u00a0&#8220;SAPMENA is fast becoming a global epicentre for tech innovation. Millions of young, digitally native consumers are fuelling a rapid rise in digital commerce and redefining brand interaction. We believe this region is an important incubator for the future of beauty &#8211; a &#8216;Silicon Valley&#8217; for Beauty Tech. As AI, the creator economy, and circularity reshape our industry, we are committed to discovering and nurturing the pioneers who will co-lead this transformation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><b>INNOVATION PILOTS WITH 2025 STARTUP WINNERS<\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"PRN_ImbeddedAssetReference\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2977701\/2025_L_Oreal_SAPMENA_Big_Bang_Grand_Finale.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2977701\/2025_L_Oreal_SAPMENA_Big_Bang_Grand_Finale.jpg?p=medium600\" title=\"2025 Startup Winners: Without (India), Sravathi AI (India), Heatseeker (Australia), and Halo AI (UAE), with Wubble AI (Singapore) receiving a special mention\" alt=\"2025 Startup Winners: Without (India), Sravathi AI (India), Heatseeker (Australia), and Halo AI (UAE), with Wubble AI (Singapore) receiving a special mention\" \/><\/a><br \/><span>2025 Startup Winners: Without (India), Sravathi AI (India), Heatseeker (Australia), and Halo AI (UAE), with Wubble AI (Singapore) receiving a special mention<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Commercial pilots with L&#8217;Or\u00e9al have demonstrated unique use-cases of startup capabilities in the beauty context, proving tangible impact for both founders and L&#8217;Or\u00e9al brands.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><b>Innovation in Sustainable Materials Science: <\/b><b>Without<\/b> from India, a materials science startup using a proprietary process to transform what would previously be unrecyclable multilayer plastics into high-quality recyclable materials.\u00a0&#8220;Winning the Big Bang programme last year opened doors for us. This competition was not just about getting an award and recognition. We actually get the opportunity to do a pilot programme that can be scaled across markets,&#8221; said Anish Malpani, Founder of Without.<\/p>\n<p><b>Real-Time Customer Intelligence: Heatseeker <\/b>from Australia\u00a0is addressing the industry&#8217;s reliance on reactive market data by piloting real-time intelligence to accelerate go-to-market decisions. &#8220;Both Heatseeker and L&#8217;Or\u00e9al are obsessed with the same thing \u2013 delivering customer truth, fast \u2013 and that shared DNA has meant we&#8217;ve been able to design and validate a solution side-by-side with L&#8217;Or\u00e9al that is already shaping where Heatseeker goes globally. Partnering with L&#8217;Or\u00e9al is making us unstoppable,&#8221; said Kate O&#8217;Keeffe, CEO and co-founder of Heatseeker.<\/p>\n<p><b>AI-Powered Influencer Discovery: Halo AI <\/b>from UAE\u00a0is partnering with L&#8217;Or\u00e9al to transform influencer discovery and brand-matching at scale, solving the fragmentation of influencer marketing. &#8220;Winning Big Bang is a signal that the agentic infrastructure we&#8217;re building at Halo AI is meeting that moment, and I&#8217;m so excited to be building for that future with team L&#8217;Or\u00e9al,&#8221; said Rami Saad, Co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Halo AI.<\/p>\n<p><b>AI-Powered Circularity: Sravathi AI <\/b>from India\u00a0is applying its AI-powered chemistry platform to help L&#8217;Or\u00e9al identify active ingredients faster and more sustainably. &#8220;Through Big Bang, we gained access to L&#8217;Or\u00e9al&#8217;s global and regional teams and partners &#8211; conversations that have been instrumental in shaping how we bring our platform to the beauty industry at scale,&#8221; said Parag Tipnis, VP Commercial of Sravathi AI.<\/p>\n<p><b>Ethical Tech and IP Compliance: Wubble AI<\/b> from Singapore\u00a0integrates ethical, royalty-free music to ensure seamless IP compliance for L&#8217;Or\u00e9al&#8217;s engagements. &#8220;Being a part of the Big Bang competition has been a key milestone in the story of our young company. We have been fortunate to work with different L&#8217;Or\u00e9al teams since then, on two paid projects, and the experience has been absolutely invaluable in shaping and sharpening our product design and the user journey on our platform,&#8221; said Anand Roy, Founder and CEO of Wubble AI.<\/p>\n<p><b>SAPMENA: A REGION BUILT FOR INNOVATION<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The SAPMENA region, home to 40% of the world&#8217;s population and its emerging new consumer base, is now the primary laboratory for beauty tech innovation. With over 60% of its young, digitally native consumers shopping online weekly, the region offers unparalleled commercial opportunities for ambitious startups.<\/p>\n<p>This momentum is supported by a flourishing startup ecosystem. Asia Pacific recorded the strongest annual growth worldwide in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Index, with Singapore ranking 4th globally led by 44.9% growth, while Saudi Arabia leaped to 38th, fuelled by a 236.8% growth rate.<\/p>\n<p>Recognising this energy, L&#8217;Or\u00e9al is nurturing the next generation of innovators through its\u00a0Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program, encouraging development at all levels. The beauty sector is one of the most advanced in applying AI, personalisation and data-driven commerce. NielsenIQ reports that nearly half of all consumers are now receiving beauty recommendations from generative AI, the industry has become the definitive arena where new technology proves its commercial value first.<\/p>\n<p><b>ABOUT THE BIG BANG BEAUTY TECH INNOVATION PROGRAM IN SAPMENA<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The biggest Beauty Tech open innovation competition of this geographical scale, the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program seeks to discover, support and nurture promising startups from the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa region. The competition is open to startups from countries including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Startups will be given the opportunity to develop their pilots in beauty tech innovation in one of five challenge themes: Connected Brand Experience, Creators &amp; Affiliates, AI-Powered Commerce, Science for Beauty and Innovation for Good.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The top three SAPMENA Grand Finale winners will win a L&#8217;Or\u00e9al-funded commercial pilot opportunity, potential to scale multiple markets and a year-long mentorship with senior leaders from L&#8217;Or\u00e9al and the programme partners.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Startups who prove successful pilots in SAPMENA could have the opportunity to work with L&#8217;Or\u00e9al on future collaborations globally.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Key dates:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Submission deadline: <b>3 July 2026<\/b><\/li>\n<li>Regional finals: August-September 2026\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Middle East<\/li>\n<li>India<\/li>\n<li>Southeast Asia<\/li>\n<li>Australia and New Zealand<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>SAPMENA Grand Finale in Singapore (in-person): November 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Startups passionate about creating the future of beauty with L&#8217;Or\u00e9al are encouraged to apply now on the <a href=\"http:\/\/bigbang.lorealsapmena.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">competition website<\/a> by the submission deadline of 3 July 2026.<\/p>\n<p><b>ABOUT L&#8217;OR\u00c9AL SOUTH ASIA PACIFIC, MIDDLE EAST, AND NORTH AFRICA (SAPMENA) ZONE<\/b><\/p>\n<p><i>Home to 3 billion people and 40% of the world&#8217;s population, the South Asia Pacific, Middle East &amp; North Africa (SAPMENA) Zone is a major growth engine for L&#8217;Or\u00e9al and a global talent hub. The SAPMENA Zone was formed in 2021 to drive focus on consumer needs and growth in many of the world&#8217;s most populous, young and fast-growing economies. Across 13 entities and <\/i><i>35 markets spanning New Zealand to Morocco, the L&#8217;Or\u00e9al SAPMENA Zone is reinventing beauty experiences for our consumers through a portfolio of over 30 international brands and game-changing Beauty Tech innovations. Our business model is built on responsible and sustainable growth, with commitments which focus on three key areas \u2013 the planet, the people and our products.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><b><i>About L&#8217;Or\u00e9al\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i>For over 115 years, L&#8217;Or\u00e9al, the world&#8217;s leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as essential, inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 40 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our L&#8217;Or\u00e9al for the Future programme, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>With more than 95,000 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (ecommerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, perfumeries, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2025 the Group generated sales amounting to 44.05 billion euros. With 22 research centres across 9 regional hubs around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and more than 8,000 Digital, Tech and Data talents, L&#8217;Or\u00e9al is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>In 2025, L&#8217;Or\u00e9al has been named the most innovative company in Europe by Fortune magazine, out of 300 companies, in a ranking spanning 21 countries and 16 industries in Europe.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>More information on <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.loreal.com\/en\/mediaroom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i>https:\/\/www.loreal.com\/en\/mediaroom<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p>MEDIA <span>CONTACT<\/span><br \/><b>L&#8217;OR\u00c9AL<br \/><\/b>Sonia MEYER, <a href=\"mailto:sonia.meyer@loreal.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">sonia.meyer@loreal.com<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"PRN_ImbeddedAssetReference\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2977702\/L_Oreal_Big_Bang_Master_16x9.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2977702\/L_Oreal_Big_Bang_Master_16x9.jpg?p=medium600\" title=\"L\u2019Or\u00e9al 2026 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program\" alt=\"L\u2019Or\u00e9al 2026 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program\" \/><\/a><br \/><span>L\u2019Or\u00e9al 2026 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"PRN_ImbeddedAssetReference\">\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- \/wp:html --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cision-pr-newswire","category-cision-pr-newswire-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=55389"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55389\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=55389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=55389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=55389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}