RODAN + FIELDS, INVESTS $350,000 TO ADVANCE A NEW GENERATION OF FEMALE STEM FOUNDERS THROUGH LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP WITH GIRLS INC.

$100,000 Future Founders Scholarship and $250,000 Project Accelerate Investment Positions Rodan + Fields As A Strategic Partner In Advancing Women-Led STEM Businesses

NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- From Rodan & Fields, Beauty, LLC: Today, Rodan + Fields, the #1 female dermatologist-founded skincare brand in the US*, announced a $350,000 partnership with Girls Inc., the preeminent girls' leadership organization in the US and Canada, to invest directly in the new generation of female founders and STEM innovators. The initiative includes a $100,000 investment in the Rodan + Fields Future Founders Scholarship and a $250,000 commitment to Girls Inc.'s college and career readiness program, Project Accelerate. Collectively the investment creates a pathway of funding, mentorship and real-world opportunity for young women pursuing STEM-driven entrepreneurship. The initiative marks the beginning of a year-long commitment, with scholarship announcements, mentorship milestones and participant stories to follow throughout 2026 and beyond.

Young women remain critically underrepresented in STEM entrepreneurship, as only 28% of startups include a female founder, and just 1% of leading skincare brands are founded by female dermatologists, the very category Rodan + Fields helped define. This Rodan + Fields contribution directly impacts future change, starting with the young women building the new generation of science-driven businesses. Founded by Stanford-trained dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields, Rodan + Fields was built on the belief that women belong at the forefront of science, innovation and entrepreneurship. The Girls Inc. partnership extends that legacy by creating new pathways for young women pursuing careers in STEM, business and leadership.

"Rodan + Fields was built by women who believed that science could be a vehicle for independence, confidence, and opportunity. We know firsthand what's possible when young women are given access to STEM education, mentorship, and real investment," said Dimitri Haloulos, Chief Executive Officer, Rodan + Fields. "We're proud of this to support Girls Inc. and power forward tangible funding and access to the new generation of female founders and to stand alongside the young women who will define the future."

Project Accelerate, launched by Girls Inc. in 2021 serves more than 5,900 young women across 76 affiliate networks nationwide. The program provides mentorship, internship placements, college application support and career development beginning in high school, and is on track to place approximately 1,000 participants directly into the workforce by 2030. The Rodan + Fields $250,000 investment will deepen the program's reach and expand access to professional development opportunities across the Girls Inc. network.

Beyond funding, Rodan + Fields is opening its doors to Project Accelerate participants through exclusive "From Lab to Leadership" experiences. In November and February, girls from local Girls Inc. affiliates will visit the company's Berkeley innovation lab for behind-the-scenes access to the science and business of beauty entrepreneurship. Participants will meet the scientists, innovators and leaders behind the brand, explore how products move from concept to commercialization and gain firsthand exposure to careers in STEM, product development and entrepreneurship. By connecting young women directly with female role models working across science and business, Rodan + Fields aims to make STEM careers more tangible, attainable and inspiring.

"Creating lasting change for girls requires partners who are willing to invest in their potential in meaningful ways," said Dr. Stephanie J. Hull, President & CEO, Girls Inc. "Rodan + Fields is doing more than funding a program—they're helping expand access to mentorship, career exploration, and opportunities that prepare girls to lead in STEM and beyond. "

The Rodan + Fields Future Founders Scholarship, funded at $100,000, will provide direct financial support to young women pursuing STEM-focused education and entrepreneurship pathways. It reflects the brand's own origin as a company founded by women in science, and is intended to help open the same path for the new generation of women founders.

For more information on the Rodan + Fields Future Founders Scholarship and Project Accelerate, visit rodanandfields.com and girlsinc.org.

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About Rodan + Fields
Founded by Stanford-trained dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields, Rodan + Fields creates science-backed, dermatologist-developed skincare and haircare designed to deliver clinically proven results.As the #1 Female Dermatologist-founded Skincare Brand in the U.S.*, the company is committed to expanding opportunities for the new generation through science, innovation, and philanthropy. To date, Rodan + Fields has contributed more than $18 Million to programs that empower young people to succeed in school, work, and life. For more information on the brand, please visit rodanandfields.com

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About Girls Inc.

Girls Inc. is a network of local organizations that works with schools and in communities across the United States and Canada. Through direct service and advocacy, Girls Inc. equips girls with the knowledge and skills to effect positive changes in their lives and to become leaders who will change the world. Professionally trained staff and volunteers provide mentorship, supportive spaces, and research-informed programming that address the challenges girls face and are proven to help them succeed. Together with partners and supporters, Girls Inc. is building the new generation of leaders. Join us at girlsinc.org.

About Project Accelerate 

Girls Inc.'s Project Accelerate is a college and career readiness program providing mentorship, internship placements, educational support and career development for young women beginning in high school. Project Accelerate has served more than 8,400 young women since its launch in 2021.

SOURCE Rodan + Fields