Business Opportunities for L'Oréal Development

The intersection of beauty and technology to deliver hyper-personalized products.

Beauty Tech

Microphyt is a France-based biotechnology company developing microalgae-based beauty and health solutions. The company’s main beauty products include 1) Luteana, an integrative solution to rebalance the neuro-immuno-cutaneous system, 2) Luteana Scalp, an oil-based bioactive for scalp care and dandruff treatment, 3) Phycosi, a bioavailable marine silicium for skin regeneration, 4) PhycoAge, a cell communication regulator for anti-aging, and 5) Renouvellance, a biomimetic ingredient for addressing the effects of UV rays and pollution.Microphyt also offers ingestible nutrition products, including 1) BrainPhyt, for cognitive health, 2) GamePhyt, for cognitive performance, and 3) PhaeOptim, for healthy weight management. The company is also developing specialty ingredients for gut health, immunity, and joint health.In July 2021, Microphyt launched SCALE, the first fully integrated microalgae biorefinery to accommodate the roll-out of new products and cater to growing demand. SCALE was funded by a EUR 15 million grant from the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking, a partnership of the European Commission and the Bio-industries Consortium. Microphyt expects its production capacity to increase five-fold throughout the four-year project, enabling the development of over 15 new microalgae-based ingredients. SCALE’s annual capacity is expected to be over 100 tons of high-value ingredients.Key customers and partnershipsMicrophyt partnered with L’Oréal to build a technological platform, bringing together material and human resources to develop raw materials from microalgae biomass for the formulation of new cosmetic solutions (November 2022).As part of the SCALE project, Microphyt has also partnered with a consortium of 11 international players, including technology and energy solution providers like Evolys and SUNTI, end users in the nutrition and cosmetics markets like Paul Bocuse Institute, Plameca, Lallemand, and Chanel Parfums Beauté, regulatory players like Nutrasteward, consulting firms like TECNALIA and PNO Consultants, and the French Bioeconomy Cluster IAR (July 2021).Microphyt also has a distribution partnership with global developer of fragrances Premier Specialties for US distribution of its cosmetic ingredients (February 2021).Funding and financialsIn November 2022, Microphyt raised EUR 15 million (~USD 16.1 million) in a Series B funding round led by Business Opportunities for L’Oréal Development (BOLD). The funds were used to accelerate the global marketing of its microalgae-based natural solutions. L’Oréal also acquired a minority stake in the company.

Giving creators the power of content monetization and audience engagement.

Creator Economy

HUG is an NFT social marketplace founded by Randi Zuckerberg (a Facebook Live creator) that connects digital art and NFT creators with collectors and facilitates the sale of digital and physical goods. HUG provides creators with various opportunities to increase their visibility and income. They can connect with collectors interested in curated categories, share social links, accept commission requests, and showcase their work online or in physical locations chosen by the HUG team. The platform showcases diverse creators using a community-driven curation process, with a focus on those from marginalized communities.HUG offers several services for creators including curriculums and workshops on launching a brand, advisory, tech consulting, and marketing under three different programs: 1) group HUG, which provides hands-on advisory services for web3 businesses; 2) HedgeHUG, a cohort-based program aimed at pre-mint NFT projects; and 3) AirHUG, which offers artist-in-residence programs and education and growth opportunities to artists of any medium.By obtaining a HUG Pass or Meta Angels NFT (an NFT membership community), users of HUG can access additional benefits, including earning HUG Points for their contributions and interactions on the platform. The HUG Pass is an NFT that includes unique and collectible artwork by Lisa Chow (an NFT artist) and provides complete entry to HUG including exclusive perks as an authorized member of the HUG community.Key customers and partnershipsHug has worked with over 1,000 creators across art, music, theater, and entrepreneurship.Funding and financialsIn April 2023, HUG raised USD 5 million in funding; DIGITAL, a company that invests in web3 and specializes in digital identity and metaverse, led the funding round. Additionally, OKX Ventures, which is the investment division of the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange platform OKX also participated in the fundraising.It planned to use the funds to expedite the development of its products and merge business aspects that prioritize content creators with its current social curation and exploration tools.

Metaverse Platforms

VLGE (formerly known as Digital Village) is a social metaverse platform powered by Unity. Users can create virtual worlds via “V-Suite,” a browser-based no-code platform. Other platform features include analytics tracking, building templates, and an asset content management system (CMS). In January 2024, the company announced a new opt-in system, which provides users with a GenAI-powered copilot to create metaverse experiences in real time, via text-based prompts. Users can personalize their AI agents by changing data inputs, which could consist of social media feeds or other user-specific data.As of August 2023, the company was exploring options for creators to monetize their experiences in the form of NFTs.Key customers and partnershipsIn July 2022, the company partnered with Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) to create the WWD Metaverse in VLGE, which was the first global media company to sell ad spaces as storefronts in its metaverse. Partner companies are able to build stores and connect them to their websites and ecommerce platforms.The company was also a part of BlockStart’s Acceleration Programme to improve various aspects of its product offering and received the BlockStart Grant to further develop its blockchain network. As part of the program, VLGE collaborated with four SME adopters, which included robotics technology company VERTLINER, applied R&amp;D company for safety and security D-Visor, industrial IoT provider Binaré, and digital art museum Harddiskmuseum.VLGE is a member of the Blockchain Game Alliance, an organization that promotes blockchain technology within the gaming industry. Other partners on the platform include design studio Clouds AO, blockchain consultancy company Block Rocket, interior design studio company Studio Symbiosis, and VR experiences company Theia Interactive.Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15729">January 2023</a>, the company raised USD 4 million in a seed funding round led by L’Oréal’s corporate venture capital fund, BOLD. Funds were set to be utilized for the addition of power 3D world development, avatar customization, and virtual store creation in the company’s metaverse platform.

Abolis is a French company delivering high-impact innovations in biotechnologies that supports industries in their transition to build a better future in collaboration with Nature. We provide tailor-made industrial solutions based on micro-organisms. Founded in 2014, Abolis is made up of a team of over 54 people, sharing a scientific and humanist ambition. Determined to become a key player in the transformation of manufacturing, we combine our expertise in biology, fermentation, IT, robotics, analytics and industrial property to reinvent the future of numerous industries - from food to healthcare, cosmetics and chemicals. We help industries make the ecological transition by rethinking their production models  We rely on biotechnologies and the untapped potential of micro-organisms to develop new bioproduction solutions that are economically and ecologically sustainable alternatives to petrochemical products and chemical ingredients.  We take up the industry's current challenges by:  ·      Using renewable raw materials  ·      Relocate essential production and secure supply chains ·      Designing biocompatible products less toxic for the environment  ·      Reducing greenhouse gas emissions  Abolis is providing tailor-made industrial solutions, based on microorganisms We are… independent in thought and action rigorous in our approach and the way we work creative because we never stop innovating, while remaining pragmatic ambitious because we are passionate and determined to make a difference

Timeline is an operator of a life science company aimed to sell goods that target mitochondrial health for enhanced nutrition.

Zuvi manufactures and sells hair dryers and accessories.

Debut is an unconventional innovation company that integrates breakthrough biotechnology and brand creation to build businesses that represent the next generation of sustainable wellness. With proprietary screening, testing, and cell-free biomanufacturing technology, we unlock novel activities to power global personal care and health brands. Their mission is to set a new standard for big business through a dynamic intrapreneurial model and to create purposeful brands that push humanity forward. The company creates sustainable novel ingredients, products, and brands that will accelerate the transformation of the industry.

HUG is a social marketplace that links artists with current and prospective collectors by allowing them to sell digital and tangible goods. HUG highlights various creators, including and especially those from underprivileged and marginalised populations, through a community-driven, decentralised selection process, it offers educational and advisory programs for Web3 startup founders and creative entrepreneurs.

We enable our users to build interoperable, hyper-personalized and gamified 3D worlds in minutes.  Our GenAI-powered no-code software empowers users to build uniquely tailored and engaging immersive environments with remarkable realism. Our vision is to lead the transformation of online interactions and experiences into more meaningful, hyper-personalized, and engaging connections.

Rembrand offers online marketing, social media marketing, newsletter, display advertising, content marketing, digital annual report, digital couponing, brand strategy, brand creation, brand revitalization, brand design, brand experience, employer branding, SEM, SEO, SEA, and more services.

Microphyt researches, develops, produces, and markets natural algae-based products that contribute to weight loss and to brain health.

Gjosa is believe even the simplest idea has the potential to meaningfully move the world forward.An environmental innovation company that believes in technology as a driving force into building a more sustainable tomorrow.

Replika is a developer of an engagement platform used to market products to the consumer using social media. Its software suite includes tools that allow social sellers to curate directly on their brand's website and generate trackable links to their curations from the brand's site and facilitates the creation of newsletters that enable businesses to improve their brand and influencers to increase sales and customer loyalty. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in New York.

Functionalab offers professional skincare solutions that combine nutricosmetics and cosmeceuticals. Its objective is to provide effective professional skincare solutions, formulated with active ingredients supported by scientific research

BOLD (Business Opportunities for L'Oréal Development) is a venture fund of L'Oréal.

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