Meta is partnering with beauty giant L’Oréal to launch a start-up incubator programme focused on creativity in the metaverse.
The programme will be hosted by the Station F start-up campus in Paris and supported by the incubator programme run by the HEC Paris business school.
The initiative aims to provide support for up-and-coming French businesses building creative metaverse and Web3 experiences.
Five start-ups will be chosen and mentored from January to June 2023, with applications open until 20 November 2022.
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The selected companies must be working in the fields of 3D graphics and printing, augmented reality technology and avatar design.
The incubator programme participants will receive mentoring from L’Oréal experts and attend a series of lectures held by Station F. Meta’s AI researchers.
“Creatives are at the heart of the metaverse,” L’Oréal group chief digital and marketing officer Asmita Dubey said.
“This programme aims to support and strengthen the ecosystem that will build the metaverse, paving the way to moving beyond storytelling towards branded story-living, in line with our values of inclusivity, diversity and sustainability.”
In February this year, L’Oréal USA registered several of its brand names as trademarks in the NFT and metaverse categories. The registrations included 16 of the group’s major brands, including Kiehl’s, Essie, Maybelline, Urban Decay and It Cosmetics.
