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2025 Big Bang competition for Beauty Tech innovation adds new "Science for Beauty" theme, expands to Australia and New Zealand
SINGAPORE, Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- L'Oréal has launched the 2025 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program across the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) region, including Singapore. Startups will compete for the opportunity to work with L'Oréal in a commercial pilot with one of the Group's 37 international brands, tap into potential exposure in 35 markets across the SAPMENA region, and embark on a year-long mentorship program with senior executives from L'Oréal and the program partners.
The biggest Beauty Tech open innovation competition of this geographical scale, the competition expands this year to include Australia and New Zealand. Startups will address one of five challenge themes, including a new "Science for Beauty" theme introduced in 2025, alongside Consumer Experience, Content & Media, New Commerce and Tech for Good.
Vismay Sharma, President of L'Oréal SAPMENA Zone, said, "With its dynamic startup ecosystem and tech-savvy consumers, we're confident that the SAPMENA region has immense potential to be a driving force in beauty innovation. The Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program opens opportunities for us to discover, support and nurture the next generation of innovators in the beauty industry. By working with promising startups to co-create and co-develop beauty tech and science solutions, we can accelerate the pace of innovation and elevate the beauty experience for consumers in the SAPMENA region."
With its vibrant and fast-growing consumer base, SAPMENA – home to 40% of the world's population – presents massive opportunities for startups. Over 60% of the region's young, digitally native consumers shop online weekly and are driving the growth of the beauty sector. SAPMENA's startup ecosystem is also booming, with over 625,200 startups and more than 245 unicorns, making it one of the most dynamic markets for beauty innovation.
L'Oréal is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation. Fast Company named L'Oréal in its Top 50 2024 Best Workplaces for Innovators list and winner of the Beauty and Fashion category, in recognition of its commitment to encourage and develop innovation at all levels.
About the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program in SAPMENA
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, and now Australia and New Zealand.
Startups will be given the opportunity to develop their pilots in Beauty Tech innovation in one of five challenge themes: Consumer Experience, Content & Media, New Commerce, Tech for Good and Science for Beauty. The regional semi-finals will culminate in a SAPMENA Grand Finale on 5 November 2025 where up to ten finalists will vie for the top spots. Judges will comprise senior executives from L'Oréal and the program partners.
The top three SAPMENA Grand Finale winners will win a L'Oréal-funded commercial pilot opportunity and a year-long mentorship program with senior executives from L'Oréal and the program partners. In 2024, program partners had included Accenture, Google and Meta.
Startups who prove successful pilots in SAPMENA could have the opportunity to work with L'Oréal globally. With L'Oréal SAPMENA as a launchpad, startups could tap into an extensive network of partners and market insights.
Key dates:
- Submission deadline: 30 May 2025
- Regional semi-finals (online): August/ September 2025
- Middle East
- India
- Southeast Asia
- Australia and New Zealand
- SAPMENA Grand Finale in Singapore (in-person): 5 November 2025
Startups passionate about creating the future of beauty with L'Oréal are encouraged to apply now on the competition website by the submission deadline of 30 May 2025.
About L'Oréal South Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa (SAPMENA) Zone
Home to 3 billion people and 40% of the world's population, the South Asia Pacific, Middle East & North Africa (SAPMENA) Zone is a major growth engine for L'Oréal 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's most populous, young and fast-growing economies. Across 13 entities and 35 markets spanning New Zealand to Morocco, the L'Oréal 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 – the planet, the people and our products.
About L'Oréal
For 115 years, L'Oréal, the world'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 37 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our L'Oréal for the Future program, 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.
With more than 90,000 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 2024 the Group generated sales amounting to 43.48 billion euros. With 21 research centers across 13 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 8,000 Digital talents, L'Oréal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse.
More information on https://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom
2025 Big Bang competition for Beauty Tech innovation adds new "Science for Beauty" theme, expands to Australia and New Zealand
SINGAPORE, Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- L'Oréal has launched the 2025 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program across the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) region, including Singapore. Startups will compete for the opportunity to work with L'Oréal in a commercial pilot with one of the Group's 37 international brands, tap into potential exposure in 35 markets across the SAPMENA region, and embark on a year-long mentorship program with senior executives from L'Oréal and the program partners.
The biggest Beauty Tech open innovation competition of this geographical scale, the competition expands this year to include Australia and New Zealand. Startups will address one of five challenge themes, including a new "Science for Beauty" theme introduced in 2025, alongside Consumer Experience, Content & Media, New Commerce and Tech for Good.
Vismay Sharma, President of L'Oréal SAPMENA Zone, said, "With its dynamic startup ecosystem and tech-savvy consumers, we're confident that the SAPMENA region has immense potential to be a driving force in beauty innovation. The Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program opens opportunities for us to discover, support and nurture the next generation of innovators in the beauty industry. By working with promising startups to co-create and co-develop beauty tech and science solutions, we can accelerate the pace of innovation and elevate the beauty experience for consumers in the SAPMENA region."
With its vibrant and fast-growing consumer base, SAPMENA – home to 40% of the world's population – presents massive opportunities for startups. Over 60% of the region's young, digitally native consumers shop online weekly and are driving the growth of the beauty sector. SAPMENA's startup ecosystem is also booming, with over 625,200 startups and more than 245 unicorns, making it one of the most dynamic markets for beauty innovation.
L'Oréal is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation. Fast Company named L'Oréal in its Top 50 2024 Best Workplaces for Innovators list and winner of the Beauty and Fashion category, in recognition of its commitment to encourage and develop innovation at all levels.
About the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program in SAPMENA
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, and now Australia and New Zealand.
Startups will be given the opportunity to develop their pilots in Beauty Tech innovation in one of five challenge themes: Consumer Experience, Content & Media, New Commerce, Tech for Good and Science for Beauty. The regional semi-finals will culminate in a SAPMENA Grand Finale on 5 November 2025 where up to ten finalists will vie for the top spots. Judges will comprise senior executives from L'Oréal and the program partners.
The top three SAPMENA Grand Finale winners will win a L'Oréal-funded commercial pilot opportunity and a year-long mentorship program with senior executives from L'Oréal and the program partners. In 2024, program partners had included Accenture, Google and Meta.
Startups who prove successful pilots in SAPMENA could have the opportunity to work with L'Oréal globally. With L'Oréal SAPMENA as a launchpad, startups could tap into an extensive network of partners and market insights.
Key dates:
- Submission deadline: 30 May 2025
- Regional semi-finals (online): August/ September 2025
- Middle East
- India
- Southeast Asia
- Australia and New Zealand
- SAPMENA Grand Finale in Singapore (in-person): 5 November 2025
Startups passionate about creating the future of beauty with L'Oréal are encouraged to apply now on the competition website by the submission deadline of 30 May 2025.
About L'Oréal South Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa (SAPMENA) Zone
Home to 3 billion people and 40% of the world's population, the South Asia Pacific, Middle East & North Africa (SAPMENA) Zone is a major growth engine for L'Oréal 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's most populous, young and fast-growing economies. Across 13 entities and 35 markets spanning New Zealand to Morocco, the L'Oréal 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 – the planet, the people and our products.
About L'Oréal
For 115 years, L'Oréal, the world'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 37 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our L'Oréal for the Future program, 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.
With more than 90,000 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 2024 the Group generated sales amounting to 43.48 billion euros. With 21 research centers across 13 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 8,000 Digital talents, L'Oréal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse.
More information on https://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
L'Oréal intensifies startup focus and investment in beauty innovation across SAPMENA region
L'Oréal intensifies startup focus and investment in beauty innovation across SAPMENA region
ZHUHAI, China, Jan. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Kingsoft Office, a leading Chinese office software company, and global IT services provider, FPT, today announced the signing of a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Under the MoU, the two parties will collaborate closely on the localization of WPS 365 in Vietnam, user growth initiatives, joint solution development, and global delivery services, with the shared goal of accelerating digital transformation for organizational users in Vietnam and across global markets.
Deepening Engagement in Vietnam to Accelerate WPS 365 Localization
As one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing digital economies, Vietnam's digital economy accounted for 18.3% of GDP in 2024, growing at over 20%—more than three times the country's overall GDP growth rate. This rapid expansion positions Vietnam as a key global growth market for collaborative office solutions.
With digital transformation elevated to a national priority by the Vietnamese government, demand for intelligent and integrated workplace tools continues to rise. This strategic partnership is well aligned with Vietnam's market-specific localization requirements and evolving enterprise needs.
Pursuant to the MoU, Kingsoft Office and FPT will jointly advance the deep localization of WPS 365 in Vietnam, including Vietnamese language optimization and the development of localized features. Leveraging their respective product, technology, and solution capabilities, the two parties will pursue functional integration and co-develop joint solutions.
Through joint go-to-market and marketing initiatives, the partners aim to deliver co-branded, end-to-end intelligent office solutions tailored to the Vietnamese market, accelerating adoption across industries and driving user growth among enterprise, government, and individual segments.
Kingsoft Office has previously established a strong user base in Vietnam, with nearly 5 million monthly active devices achieved through the Vietnamese version of WPS Office. This has laid a solid foundation for the localization and market expansion of WPS 365.
Building on WPS Office, WPS 365 integrates core workplace applications, including messaging, meetings, calendars, email, and task management into a unified platform. With features such as compatibility with mainstream Office formats, intelligent productivity capabilities, seamless cross-device synchronization, and real-time multi-user collaboration, WPS 365 enables Vietnamese users to manage end-to-end work processes within a single platform, significantly enhancing productivity and collaboration efficiency.
This partnership is expected to further strengthen both parties' combined capabilities in Vietnam's digital workplace and delivery ecosystem, injecting new momentum into the digital transformation of organizational users nationwide.
Expanding Global Reach Through Professional Delivery Service
The MoU also reflects a shared commitment by both parties to jointly expand into global markets. Under the partnership, FPT will serve as Kingsoft Office's global delivery partner, providing WPS 365 implementation, training, and technical support in international markets, including Vietnam and Japan.
Kingsoft Office will provide product, technical, and enablement support, while both parties will work together to enhance customer success and overall service delivery capabilities across overseas markets. In parallel, Kingsoft Office will leverage its local ecosystem resources to support FPT's expansion in China, jointly empowering the global growth of Chinese enterprises.
Mr. Jiang Zhiqiang, Senior Vice President of Kingsoft Office, commented: "Since 1988, Kingsoft Office has been committed to the development and innovation of office software and has built a strong global user base. We look forward to working closely with our partners to combine our respective strengths and bring WPS 365 to global markets, delivering secure, efficient, and intelligent one-stop collaborative office solutions to users worldwide."
Mr. Phạm Thanh Tuấn, CEO of FPT China, FPT Corporation, added: "With our experienced expert teams and extensive global customer network, FPT is pleased to deepen its strategic cooperation with Kingsoft Office. Together, we aim to build a comprehensive and sustainable partnership that creates long-term business value for both parties and supports our joint expansion into international markets."
About Kingsoft Office
Kingsoft Office is a leading Chinese provider of office software products and services. With a comprehensive and diversified product portfolio, the company offers WPS Office, the WPS 365 collaborative office platform, and WPS AI applications, collectively addressing a full spectrum of needs ranging from individual productivity to enterprise-level collaboration.
Leveraging its strong product capabilities and long-term technology expertise, Kingsoft Office now serves users in more than 220 countries and regions worldwide. As of September 2025, its major products recorded 669 million monthly active devices and are available across a wide range of mainstream platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, and HarmonyOS.
About FPT Corporation
FPT Corporation (FPT) is a globally leading technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam, operating in three core sectors: Technology, Telecommunications, and Education. Over more than three decades, FPT has consistently delivered impactful solutions to millions of individuals and tens of thousands of organizations worldwide. As an AI-first company, FPT is committed to elevating Vietnam's position on the global tech map and delivering world-class AI-enabled solutions for global enterprises. FPT focuses on three critical transformations: Digital Transformation, Intelligence Transformation, and Green Transformation. In 2024, FPT reported a total revenue of USD 2.47 billion and a workforce of over 54,000 employees across its core businesses. For more information about FPT's global IT services, please visit https://fptsoftware.com.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Kingsoft Office and FPT Enter Strategic Partnership to Accelerate WPS 365 and Global Delivery Collaboration
