L'Oréal USA Announces Sixth Annual Women in Digital NEXT Generation Awards for Female Entrepreneurs

NEW YORK, May 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth year in a row, L'Oréal USA is giving female entrepreneurs the chance to grow and scale their businesses through the Women in Digital NEXT Generation Awards. The program offers women business owners the chance to gain notoriety, mentorship, expand their networks, connect with venture capitalists and partner on a pilot with one of more than 30 iconic L'Oréal brands. Female entrepreneurs can apply at www.lorealwomenindigital.com today through June 17.

The top three finalists will have the opportunity to present at L'Oréal's Inspiration Day in September to more than 500 marketing executives across the company's portfolio of brands. The grand prize winner will earn the chance to collaborate with a L'Oréal USA brand to pilot their technology. Additionally, finalists will visit the L'Oréal USA headquarters in New York City, where they will meet with top executives and a professional coach to discuss how to build their businesses.

"L'Oréal is dedicated to creating opportunities for women to shape the direction of the beauty business," said Rachel Weiss, Vice President, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at L'Oréal USA. "We're proud that this program has created a strong pipeline of entrepreneurial talent and a powerful community of more than 2,000 female-operated companies, who now have a platform to network and learn new business acumen to drive their technology forward."

Finalists will be mentored along the way by an Advisory Board studded with inspirational women that include THRIVE CEO Arianna Huffington and GE Vice Chair Beth Comstock, among others. The Women in Digital program is also launching an alumni group where past winners, finalists and advisory board members can stay in touch and network, both online and in person.

Previous winners of the NEXT Generation Awards include Kathryn Minshew, Founder and CEO of The Muse; Bettina Hein, Founder and CEO of Pixability; and Rachel Tipograph, Founder and CEO of MikMak. The network of more than 15 previous winners has collectively raised more than $350 million in funding since winning the award.

Women-founded companies can apply for the 2017 L'Oréal USA Women in Digital NEXT Generation Awards at www.lorealwomenindigital.com through June 17.

ABOUT L'ORÉAL USA

L'Oréal USA is the largest subsidiary of the L'Oréal Group, the world's leading beauty company. L'Oréal USA manages a portfolio of more than 30 iconic beauty brands, including Garnier, Giorgio Armani Beauty, Kérastase, Lancôme, La Roche-Posey, L'Oréal Paris and Yves Saint Laurent Beauté. L'Oréal USA also serves as the international hub for the product development and marketing strategy for L'Oréal's American brands: Baxter of California, Carol's Daughter, Clarisonic, Dermablend, Essie, IT Cosmetics, Kiehl's, Matrix, Maybelline New York, Mizani, NYX Professional Makeup, Pureology, Ralph Lauren Fragrances, Redken, Softsheen-Carson, SkinCeuticals and Urban Decay. Generating more than $6 billion in sales annually, L'Oréal USA is committed to growth through sustainable innovation, driven by the company's Sharing Beauty With All ambition for sustainable development across the Group's value chain. The company is headquartered in New York City, employs more than 11,000 people, and operates administrative, research, manufacturing and distribution facilities across 14 states, including Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Washington. For more information, visit www.lorealusa.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @LOrealUSA.

SOURCE L'Oreal USA