L'Oréal opens 2026 beauty tech contest for ANZ startups

L'Oréal has opened applications for its 2026 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program for startups in Australia and New Zealand. The competition forms part of the company's wider South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa programme.

The initiative offers selected startups a funded commercial pilot with one of L'Oréal's brands, plus a year of mentorship from senior executives. It targets founders working in areas including AI-led commerce, creator and affiliate tools, customer experience, science-led beauty products and circular business models.

The programme is now in its third year across the SAPMENA region and its second year in Australia. Seven startups from earlier cohorts have already progressed to paid pilot projects with L'Oréal brands, including Australian market research platform Heatseeker.

Regional push

L'Oréal is positioning the scheme as part of a broader effort to work with younger technology firms as beauty groups rely more heavily on data, online sales tools and creator-led marketing. Startups from across the region, including Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are eligible to apply.

Winners can test their products in a commercial setting and, if pilots succeed, expand into other markets. That structure gives smaller firms access to a global consumer brand portfolio that would otherwise be difficult to reach.

Vismay Sharma, Zone President for SAPMENA at L'Oréal, said the company sees the region as a significant source of beauty technology ideas. "SAPMENA is fast becoming a global epicentre for tech innovation. With digitally native consumers redefining how beauty is discovered, experienced and purchased, the region is emerging as a true laboratory for Beauty Tech. As AI, the creator economy and circularity reshape our industry, we are committed to discovering and nurturing the pioneers who will help lead this transformation with us," Sharma said.

ANZ focus

In Australia and New Zealand, the competition reflects growing interest from large multinationals in sourcing technology from local startup ecosystems rather than developing every tool in-house. L'Oréal is working with HEC Paris Incubation & Acceleration Centre and Australian innovation network Stone & Chalk to identify founders whose products fit its needs.

Stone & Chalk supports more than 2,000 ventures each year through hubs in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, according to L'Oréal. The partnership gives the beauty group a local channel into startup networks while giving founders a route into a multinational customer.

Georgia Hack, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer for L'Oréal Australia and New Zealand, said the company was looking for a range of technology-led ideas from the local market. "Australia and New Zealand is home to incredible talent when it comes to technology and innovation. With that, I am excited to announce the return of Big Bang Innovation Program for another year in ANZ. This program is the perfect launchpad for startups to bridge the gap between digital ideas and real-world beauty experiences. We are looking for AI powered commerce solutions, technology to enhance the connected brand experience, the next frontier platforms for creators, science solutions for beauty and innovation for good. By bringing these local breakthroughs to the L'Oréal global stage, we can help propel L'Oréal's beauty tech ambition to greater heights," Hack said.

Heatseeker pilot

One example from the previous intake is Heatseeker, an Australian startup that won the 2025 edition and is now working with L'Oréal Australia and New Zealand on a pilot project. Its platform focuses on real-time customer intelligence and aims to measure what consumers do in market rather than what they say in surveys.

According to L'Oréal, the pilot is designed to inform product development and go-to-market decisions. The arrangement offers a glimpse of what the programme can deliver for founders that secure a place and turn that opportunity into an active commercial relationship.

Kate O'Keeffe, chief executive and co-founder of Heatseeker, described the value of endorsement from a multinational customer. "Everybody knows that L'Oréal is a beauty icon, but they're also incredible tech innovators," O'Keeffe said.

She said the fit between the two companies had helped validate Heatseeker's direction. "Our vision, which is all about serving customers and understanding consumers, aligns so beautifully with how passionate L'Oréal is about its consumers. Being recognised by L'Oréal, a brand that really is the best in the world at this, is a signal that our business is really on the right track," O'Keeffe said.

The five challenge areas for this year's competition are Connected Brand Experience, Creators & Affiliates, AI-Powered Commerce, Science for Beauty and Innovation for Good. Applications close on 3 July, with finalists from Australia and New Zealand to be selected later in the year.