Target’s Takeoff Accelerator program culminates with showcase event
Earlier this year, Target invited 10 up-and-coming beauty start-ups to its headquarters in Minneapolis for Target Takeoff.
The event, which is a weeklong mini boot camp accelerator program, had each of the 10 startups participate in workshops with Target and industry mentors who in turn shared advice on how to scale their brands to mass retail.
Participants in the accelerator program included Adowa Beauty, Amareta, Eu’Genia Shea, Girl+Hair, Heritage1993, Hue for Every Man, Oars + Alps, Rosen Skincare, Sienna Naturals and Yuni Beauty.
During the week of April 24, the start-ups participated in the workshops and networked with industry insiders before heading back home to refine their pitches and products. Everyone then returned for closed-door business pitches to Target leaders in a “Demo Day” event and trade-show style product showcase.
After the program’s completion, the Minneapolis-based retailer announced that a formal agreement had been reached with Hue for Every Man, a multicultural men’s grooming brand, to pilot its products in select stores and online starting later this summer.
Founded and run by Jessica Estrada and Kyle Frazier, Los Angeles-based Hue for Every Man, offers hair and skin care products for men across African, Asian, Latin and Middle Eastern descent.
In recent years, Target has made their accelerator portfolio a key element of the retailer’s business innovation strategy, the company said.
The event, which is a weeklong mini boot camp accelerator program, had each of the 10 startups participate in workshops with Target and industry mentors who in turn shared advice on how to scale their brands to mass retail.
Participants in the accelerator program included Adowa Beauty, Amareta, Eu’Genia Shea, Girl+Hair, Heritage1993, Hue for Every Man, Oars + Alps, Rosen Skincare, Sienna Naturals and Yuni Beauty.
During the week of April 24, the start-ups participated in the workshops and networked with industry insiders before heading back home to refine their pitches and products. Everyone then returned for closed-door business pitches to Target leaders in a “Demo Day” event and trade-show style product showcase.
After the program’s completion, the Minneapolis-based retailer announced that a formal agreement had been reached with Hue for Every Man, a multicultural men’s grooming brand, to pilot its products in select stores and online starting later this summer.
Founded and run by Jessica Estrada and Kyle Frazier, Los Angeles-based Hue for Every Man, offers hair and skin care products for men across African, Asian, Latin and Middle Eastern descent.
In recent years, Target has made their accelerator portfolio a key element of the retailer’s business innovation strategy, the company said.