Hair & Beauty Innovation Challenge

The Hair & Beauty Innovation Challenge is a specialized initiative under the broader Bharat Startup Grand Challenge, spearheaded by MASA Forum. Its core mission is to redefine the future of personalized beauty innovation across India.

This program actively invites startups and individual innovators to develop groundbreaking solutions in diverse areas. These include beauty biotechnology, advanced dermatology, the creation of organic and sustainable beauty products, and innovative salon-tech platforms. The challenge specifically aims to bridge existing gaps in crucial areas such as effective scalp care, solutions for hair regrowth, ensuring product safety, enhancing personalization in beauty, and evolving digital beauty experiences.

Successful applicants will receive significant financial grant support, alongside structured mentorship and comprehensive incubation resources. This holistic support is designed to help refine, validate, and ultimately scale their innovative beauty solutions, ensuring they are not only safe and scalable but also truly consumer-centric.

• Grant funding up to ₹5,00,000 available.
• Focus on personalized hair and beauty innovation in India.
• Open to Indian startups, MSMEs, and individual innovators.
• Supports solutions across beauty biotech, dermatology, organic products, and salon-tech.
• Includes structured mentorship and incubation support.
• Application deadline is January 31, 2026.

The Hair & Beauty Innovation Challenge is open to a broad spectrum of innovators dedicated to advancing the beauty sector in India.

• The program welcomes applications from Indian startups, MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), and individual innovators.
• All applicants, whether companies or individuals, must be either incorporated or registered within India. While DPIIT/Startup India recognition is preferred, it is not a mandatory requirement at the time of application.
• Startups at various development stages are eligible to apply, including those with just an idea, a prototype, a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), those conducting a pilot project, or those in early commercialization.
• Solutions submitted must clearly demonstrate qualities of innovation, safety, scalability, and direct relevance to current challenges in hair, beauty, or personal care.
• Individual innovators who are selected for incentives must be prepared and willing to register an official entity.

Hair & Beauty Innovation Challenge is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for Hair & Beauty Innovation Challenge closed on 31 Jan 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

Selected participants in the Hair & Beauty Innovation Challenge receive financial grant support of up to ₹5,00,000. Beyond the monetary assistance, the program also provides comprehensive mentorship and incubation support. This structured guidance helps refine, validate, and scale innovative beauty solutions, ensuring they are safe, scalable, and consumer-centric.

Hair & Beauty Innovation Challenge is offered by MASA Forum, a startup platform. It is delivered directly by MASA Forum as a grant. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Before you apply to Hair & Beauty Innovation Challenge, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

Hair & Beauty Innovation Challenge is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹5L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.