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Bridge Mentorship

We rely on bridges for safe passage.
Over obstacles and unpredictable terrain, a bridge stands as a trusted ally, providing a path forward, accelerating our journey and bringing us closer to our goal.

Program

Bridge Mentorship is a structured professional development program that connects beauty and wellness entrepreneurs to recognized industry experts, leveraging their know-how and connections to accelerate meaningful personal and business growth.

Bridge Mentorship is a 6-month accelerator program aimed at helping qualified emerging growth brands become “funding ready”, a critical step in a brand’s growth path. Designed, developed, and delivered alongside True Beauty Ventures (TBV), a beauty and wellness focused investor, the program is based on a structured curriculum that provides targeted coaching and feedback via one-on-one and group learning sessions. Participants also gain access to TBV’s extensive ecosystem, which includes trusted service providers, industry thought leaders, media connections and subject matter experts.

Process

Each year, six brands will be selected to participate in the Bridge Mentorship program. Brands will be divided into two cohorts of three. The first cohort will complete the program in the first half of each calendar year (January to June), and the second cohort will complete the program in the second half of each calendar year (July – December). The curriculum will generally touch on multiple topics and focus areas that TBV believes are important to prepare beauty and wellness brands for institutional investment, including (but not limited to) brand positioning, distribution, marketing, product assortment, and organization.

Each cohort will participate in a step-by-step process which includes:

  1. Strategic Analysis – A top-down assessment of the business with a focus on key business pain points
  2. Goal Setting – Prioritizing areas of focus and establishing clear goals moving forward
  3. Action Planning – Developing a concrete plan of action with KPIs to achieve goals
  4. Monitoring – Regular ongoing contact to review progress and address any new issues

At the completion of their program, each cohort will be required to participate in a group webinar with TBV, to be hosted and moderated by Beauty Independent, and share their experience and key learnings with the broader community. Beauty Independent will also publish an article summarizing the webinar, providing participating brands with additional recognition.

Participation

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

  1. Based in North America
  2. Formally launched and on the market for ≥6 months
  3. Generated annualized sales of ≥$250,000
  4. Have marketed products in any of the following categories: fragrance, hair, makeup, nail, personal care, skincare, or wellness

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How is the program structured?

    Twice a year, a cohort of three brands will be selected for a 6-month mentorship program. The mentorship program for the first cohort will begin and end in the first half (“1H”) of each calendar year (Jan - Jun). The mentorship program for the second cohort will begin and end in the second half (“2H”) of each calendar year (Jul - Dec).

  • What are the requirements for a brand to join the Bridge program?

    Applicants must meet the following requirements:
    • Based in North America
    • Formally launched and on the market for >6 months
    • Generated annualized sales of >$250,000
    • Have marketed products in any of the following categories: fragrance, hair, makeup, nail, personal care, skincare, wellness or tools, and accessories

  • When can I apply?

    Applications for the 2H 2023 cohort open on June 1 and close on June 9. Applications for the first half of 2024 (1H 2024) open on December 7 and close on December 14. Brands must complete the application form to be considered for the program.

  • When will the candidates accepted into each cohort be announced?

    Applications for the 2H 2023 cohort will be notified in early July as to whether or not they have been selected. Brands selected for the 2H 2023 will be announced publicly in early July 2023. Applications for the 1H 2024 cohort will be notified in early January as to whether or not they have been selected. Brands selected for the 1H 2024 will be announced publicly in mid-January 2024.

  • Will there be travel required?

    At present, the program is executed entirely remotely using video conferencing. In the future, and depending on the pandemic environment, in-person meetings may be considered.

  • Is there a cost to apply or to participate?

    There is no cost to apply. All coursework material and time with experts will be provided at no charge to participants. Participants, however, will be required to cover their own costs to attend sessions (e.g. telephone or video conferencing charges) and, should at any point travel be required as part of the program, cover the cost of their own travel, lodging and meals.

  • When will this program be opened to non-US brands?

    We have currently opened up the program to include Canadian as well as US-based brands.

Applications for the First Cohort of 2024 are now closed

Stay tuned as we announce the selected brands in the early January!