From 1,000 to 3: How Creatively Squared captured L'Oréal's attention

Let’s set the scene for a second…

Nearly 1,000 startups spanning three regions – South Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and North Africa (SAPMENA) – each brought their boldest innovations to L'Oréal's doorstep this year.

The stakes? A chance to reshape the future of beauty technology.

When the spotlight finally fell on L'Oréal's Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program, only three companies stood in its glow.

Creatively Squared emerged as one of these chosen few – joining two fellow trailblazers in what is becoming an incredible journey of creativity and collaboration.

What is the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program?

The Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program isn't just another startup competition – it's L'Oréal's bold vision for the future of beauty technology.

While the trophy is beautiful (thanks for bringing it home, Yap!), the real prize goes far beyond hardware and a congratulatory handshake.

Winners have also walked away with access to a goldmine of opportunities, including:

• Commercial pilots with one of beauty's biggest players,
• Mentorship from industry veterans,
• And the chance to showcase our innovation across 35 SAPMENA markets.

L'Oréal's Big Bang initiative has cut right into the heart of beauty's digital transformation and we’re excited to be along for the ride.

How we cracked the content code

So what was it that caught L'Oréal's attention?

Our Creator Production model cracked a code that's long puzzled global brands: how do you create content that feels local everywhere, yet remains unmistakably on-brand?

Our solution is built on some game-changing pillars, including:

• A worldwide network of creators who speak the visual language of their local markets (while maintaining brand DNA).
• A data-driven feedback loop that lets brands pivot their visual strategy based on real-world performance.
• Scalable solutions that deliver measurable impact from Melbourne to Mumbai to Morocco (and beyond!).

The L'Oréal judges were hunting for "innovation that can truly enhance how consumers experience beauty" and they found it in our ability to transform brand storytelling from a one-size-fits-all approach to a dynamic, culturally-nuanced conversation.

The innovators changing the face of beauty

The company we keep in this victory speaks volumes, too.

Live2.ai is democratising professional skincare analysis through groundbreaking technology, while NeuralGarage is pushing the boundaries of visual editing in ways previously thought impossible.

As one L'Oréal spokesperson noted, “Collaborating with startups allows us to bring fresh perspectives and creative solutions into an industry that thrives on reinvention.”

Being recognised alongside these innovators makes this recognition even more meaningful because, together, we’re pushing the boundaries of what beauty tech can truly achieve.

What’s next for Creatively Squared and L'Oréal?

Winning this recognition is just the start of an exciting collaboration.

Through the program, we’ll work with L'Oréal on a commercial pilot that enables us to scale across the SAPMENA region and build on our success with global brands.

By working closely with L'Oréal’s teams, we’ll co-create content that meets the unique needs of these markets while maintaining authenticity and connection with consumers.

The partnership will also give us the chance to refine our approach further, ensuring the content performs as effectively as possible.

This collaboration isn’t just an opportunity to share what we’ve learned but also to grow through working alongside one of the most innovative brands in the world.

It’s an inspiring step in our journey of transforming how brands connect with their audiences.

The ripple effect of recognition

For our global community of creators, this win illuminates their artistry on beauty's biggest stage.

It validates what we've known all along: that authentic, creator-driven content is the future of brand storytelling.

For brands watching from the sidelines, it signals a seismic shift in how beauty companies connect with their audiences.

The old playbook of one-way communication is out. The era of dynamic, culturally-fluent content is in.

As we prepare to bring our vision to life with L'Oréal, we're excited to show how Creator Production can scale to meet the demands of the world's most ambitious beauty brands.

This isn't just the next chapter in our story. It's the beginning of a beauty content revolution.

Stay tuned. The best is yet to come.

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