| Page 89 | Kisaco Research

Show off your latest innovation at our Emerging Brand Spotlight and get noticed by top investors, retailers, and M&A execs. We’ll pick 6 finalists to take to the stage and present a 5 minute pitch to our full audience!

Apply here.

Selection Committee:

Author:

Sean Frazier

Managing Partner
1731 Management
... read more

Sean Frazier

Managing Partner
1731 Management

Author:

Deborah Benton

Founder & Managing Partner
Willow Growth Partners
... read more

Deborah Benton

Founder & Managing Partner
Willow Growth Partners

Author:

Aarti Kapoor

Partner
VMG Partners

Aarti Kapoor is a Partner at VMG Partners, a growth equity investment firm focused on partnering with high-growth consumer and retail companies, and brings 18 years of experience in high-growth consumer and retail across principal investing and M&A / capital markets advisory. Kapoor was formerly CEO of VMG-affiliated special purpose acquisition company, VMG Consumer Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:VMGA), from June 2021 to May 2023. Prior to joining VMG Partners, Kapoor was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs where she was integral to the disruptive growth effort within consumer and retail investment banking, growing the firm’s coverage of leisure, lifestyle, and wellness brands. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, she was an investment banker at Moelis & Company where she built one of Wall Street’s first coverage platforms focused on the health and wellness industry. Aarti has been recognized for her work in consumer and retail dealmaking by various publications, listed to "Forbes 30 Under 30" in Finance and Business Insider's "Rising Stars" of Wall Street, and featured in Bloomberg, CNBC, Yahoo! Finance and more. Aarti is based in New York, NY.

... read more

Aarti Kapoor

Partner
VMG Partners

Aarti Kapoor is a Partner at VMG Partners, a growth equity investment firm focused on partnering with high-growth consumer and retail companies, and brings 18 years of experience in high-growth consumer and retail across principal investing and M&A / capital markets advisory. Kapoor was formerly CEO of VMG-affiliated special purpose acquisition company, VMG Consumer Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:VMGA), from June 2021 to May 2023. Prior to joining VMG Partners, Kapoor was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs where she was integral to the disruptive growth effort within consumer and retail investment banking, growing the firm’s coverage of leisure, lifestyle, and wellness brands. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, she was an investment banker at Moelis & Company where she built one of Wall Street’s first coverage platforms focused on the health and wellness industry. Aarti has been recognized for her work in consumer and retail dealmaking by various publications, listed to "Forbes 30 Under 30" in Finance and Business Insider's "Rising Stars" of Wall Street, and featured in Bloomberg, CNBC, Yahoo! Finance and more. Aarti is based in New York, NY.

Author:

Jenna Jackson

Partner
CAVU Consumer Partners

Jenna Jackson is a Principal at CAVU Consumer Partners focusing on growth in the beauty and wellness categories. She sits on the boards of OSEA and Necessaire. Prior to joining CAVU, Jenna was Managing Director of Branded Consumer at Imperial Capital where she focused on beauty and other growth initiatives for the firm. Earlier in her career, Jenna worked in merchandising for Gap Inc and wantful.com and founded her own luxury handbag brand, august. She also leads a series of events called #mindthefundinggap, a place for underserved female founders and funders to connect in order to transform the consumer landscape. Jenna earned a B.A. in English from The University of California, Berkeley where she was a 4-year letter winner on the Women's Volleyball team.

... read more

Jenna Jackson

Partner
CAVU Consumer Partners

Jenna Jackson is a Principal at CAVU Consumer Partners focusing on growth in the beauty and wellness categories. She sits on the boards of OSEA and Necessaire. Prior to joining CAVU, Jenna was Managing Director of Branded Consumer at Imperial Capital where she focused on beauty and other growth initiatives for the firm. Earlier in her career, Jenna worked in merchandising for Gap Inc and wantful.com and founded her own luxury handbag brand, august. She also leads a series of events called #mindthefundinggap, a place for underserved female founders and funders to connect in order to transform the consumer landscape. Jenna earned a B.A. in English from The University of California, Berkeley where she was a 4-year letter winner on the Women's Volleyball team.

Seeking a financially sound path to sustainability that wins with today’s value-driven customers and retailers? Hear from the brands who’ve been there, as they discuss resourceful solutions in packaging, formulation, ingredients, and beyond, benefitting both the planet and their bottom line.

Author:

Priscilla Tsai

CEO & Founder
cocokind

In 2015, Priscilla Tsai set out to create a brand that would transform the beauty industry by empowering and celebrating people for exactly who they are. After years of not seeing her real skin reflected in the beauty industry and overpaying for a lack of results, she decided to start cocokind - a community brand rooted in transparency and accessibility.

With a commitment to high-quality formulas at transparent prices, cocokind develops every formula to deliver powerful results while being kind to sensitive skin. Their formulating philosophy is “a little bit often,” which means incorporating effective, clinical ingredients that can be used every day without compromising the skin barrier. Her products are accessible at every Target and Ulta in the country.

Priscilla was born and raised in Michigan and is a proud Taiwanese-American.

"I started cocokind to change the status quo of the beauty industry and break the cycle of “aspirational beauty. We are a company that doesn’t need to hide how we formulate, invests in highly effective but gentle formulas, and sets fair prices based on what’s inside the bottle. Most importantly, cocokind exists to ensure that all of us have a safe place in the beauty industry where we’re celebrated and accepted, exactly as we already are.” - Priscilla Tsai, cocokind Founder and CEO

... read more

Priscilla Tsai

CEO & Founder
cocokind

In 2015, Priscilla Tsai set out to create a brand that would transform the beauty industry by empowering and celebrating people for exactly who they are. After years of not seeing her real skin reflected in the beauty industry and overpaying for a lack of results, she decided to start cocokind - a community brand rooted in transparency and accessibility.

With a commitment to high-quality formulas at transparent prices, cocokind develops every formula to deliver powerful results while being kind to sensitive skin. Their formulating philosophy is “a little bit often,” which means incorporating effective, clinical ingredients that can be used every day without compromising the skin barrier. Her products are accessible at every Target and Ulta in the country.

Priscilla was born and raised in Michigan and is a proud Taiwanese-American.

"I started cocokind to change the status quo of the beauty industry and break the cycle of “aspirational beauty. We are a company that doesn’t need to hide how we formulate, invests in highly effective but gentle formulas, and sets fair prices based on what’s inside the bottle. Most importantly, cocokind exists to ensure that all of us have a safe place in the beauty industry where we’re celebrated and accepted, exactly as we already are.” - Priscilla Tsai, cocokind Founder and CEO

Author:

Alicia Yoon

Founder & CEO
Peach & Lily

Alicia Yoon is a world-renowned esthetician, Harvard Business School graduate, and the founder and CEO of Peach & Lily. She has studied skincare ingredients, formulas, and techniques in both Korea and the USA alongside trained chemists, researchers, and cell biologists for over 20 years. Having experienced severe eczema throughout her life, she struggled to find clinically effective skincare that wouldn’t irritate her extremely sensitive skin. In 2012, Alicia launched Peach & Lily with the now iconic Glass Skin Refining Serum, proving that you can deliver transformative results for even the most sensitive skin. Today, Peach & Lily offers groundbreaking formulas that integrate potent actives like retinoids and AHAs with soothing Korean botanicals. Alicia is credited with bringing the Glass Skin Movement to the USA and is sought after for her signature Glass Skin facials. She has been named one of WWD’s 25 Most Innovative Beauty Executives and sits on the Ulta Beauty Advisory Board for Conscious Beauty.

... read more

Alicia Yoon

Founder & CEO
Peach & Lily

Alicia Yoon is a world-renowned esthetician, Harvard Business School graduate, and the founder and CEO of Peach & Lily. She has studied skincare ingredients, formulas, and techniques in both Korea and the USA alongside trained chemists, researchers, and cell biologists for over 20 years. Having experienced severe eczema throughout her life, she struggled to find clinically effective skincare that wouldn’t irritate her extremely sensitive skin. In 2012, Alicia launched Peach & Lily with the now iconic Glass Skin Refining Serum, proving that you can deliver transformative results for even the most sensitive skin. Today, Peach & Lily offers groundbreaking formulas that integrate potent actives like retinoids and AHAs with soothing Korean botanicals. Alicia is credited with bringing the Glass Skin Movement to the USA and is sought after for her signature Glass Skin facials. She has been named one of WWD’s 25 Most Innovative Beauty Executives and sits on the Ulta Beauty Advisory Board for Conscious Beauty.

Author:

Randi Christiansen

Co-Founder
Nécessaire

During Randi’s 15-year career at Estee Lauder Companies, she was instrumental in building and scaling brands across the portfolio (La Mer, Estee Lauder, ELC Ventures.) A native of Denmark, Randi holds a MSc in Economics and Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School. In 2023, she was recognized by Goldman Sachs as one of the most exceptional entrepreneurs of the year. She lives with her husband and three daughters in Rolling Hills, CA.
 
At Necessaire, we design the personal care we need - The Necessary™ -  that supports our health and wellness.  We use our business to make a positive environmental impact everywhere we can.

Nécessaire is recognized as a steward of responsible luxury with the planet as key stakeholder. Nécessaire is a Certified B Corp, 1% For The Planet Member, Climate Neutral Certified, Plastic Neutral Certified, FSC Certified and partners with How2Recycle to deliver verified recycling claims in the US/CAN.  By the end of this year Nécessaire will have planted 300,000 Trees+ and will have supported several non profits fighting to defend our air, land, water and wild-life world-wide. #careforyourbody #careforyourplanet #necesaire

 

... read more

Randi Christiansen

Co-Founder
Nécessaire

During Randi’s 15-year career at Estee Lauder Companies, she was instrumental in building and scaling brands across the portfolio (La Mer, Estee Lauder, ELC Ventures.) A native of Denmark, Randi holds a MSc in Economics and Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School. In 2023, she was recognized by Goldman Sachs as one of the most exceptional entrepreneurs of the year. She lives with her husband and three daughters in Rolling Hills, CA.
 
At Necessaire, we design the personal care we need - The Necessary™ -  that supports our health and wellness.  We use our business to make a positive environmental impact everywhere we can.

Nécessaire is recognized as a steward of responsible luxury with the planet as key stakeholder. Nécessaire is a Certified B Corp, 1% For The Planet Member, Climate Neutral Certified, Plastic Neutral Certified, FSC Certified and partners with How2Recycle to deliver verified recycling claims in the US/CAN.  By the end of this year Nécessaire will have planted 300,000 Trees+ and will have supported several non profits fighting to defend our air, land, water and wild-life world-wide. #careforyourbody #careforyourplanet #necesaire

 

Strategically scale your beauty brand and pave the way for acquisition. Exiting experts cover the common mistakes to avoid and the crucial steps to attract the right buyers: hitting EBITDA goals, smart financial planning, and leveraging key partnerships for a seamless and successful sale.

Author:

Michael Pihowich

Partner
Baker Tilly

Michael advises private equity and corporate clients on buy- and sell-side transactions. His experience covers a broad range of industries with a current focus on manufacturing and distribution and consumer products (beauty, personal care, food and beverage, and apparel) sold through channels including e-commerce, multiunit retail, wholesale, and specialty. He also advises on transactions for restaurants, franchises, and hospitality.

Prior to his work in TAS, for over 10 years, Michael held positions in business finance, global product management and corporate development at large multinational companies. He began his career at a Big Four firm in Toronto, Canada in the assurance and consulting practices.

 

... read more

Michael Pihowich

Partner
Baker Tilly

Michael advises private equity and corporate clients on buy- and sell-side transactions. His experience covers a broad range of industries with a current focus on manufacturing and distribution and consumer products (beauty, personal care, food and beverage, and apparel) sold through channels including e-commerce, multiunit retail, wholesale, and specialty. He also advises on transactions for restaurants, franchises, and hospitality.

Prior to his work in TAS, for over 10 years, Michael held positions in business finance, global product management and corporate development at large multinational companies. He began his career at a Big Four firm in Toronto, Canada in the assurance and consulting practices.

 

Author:

Nicolas Geiger

Group Business Development Executive Americas
L’Occitane

Nicolas GEIGER is CEO for L’Occitane au Bresil brand, Managing Director of the Brazilian Business Unit and Group Business Development Executive based in New York.

Prior to that Nicolas was the President for L’OCCITANE GROUP in Japan for 5 years where he operated a turnaround plan for of the largest operation of the group. He first joined the company as a Marketing Director in Brasil, and was then 3 years later promoted General Manager of the subsidiary for 3 more years before leaving for Japan.


Before joining the L’OCCITANE GROUP, Nicolas started his career in the Teach First program (a spin-off of the Teach for America program in the UK), teaching mathematics for two years in a challenging school in North East London.  After the program, he joined joined Angel des Montagnes, a small decoration company based in Geneva that he contributed to develop internationally before joining the INSEAD MBA program.In addition to his MBA from INSEAD and a certification in Business Sustainability Management from Cambridge  Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Nicolas also holds a degree in Engineering Economics and Management from Oxford University and a Qualified Teacher Status for mathematics in the UK.

 

... read more

Nicolas Geiger

Group Business Development Executive Americas
L’Occitane

Nicolas GEIGER is CEO for L’Occitane au Bresil brand, Managing Director of the Brazilian Business Unit and Group Business Development Executive based in New York.

Prior to that Nicolas was the President for L’OCCITANE GROUP in Japan for 5 years where he operated a turnaround plan for of the largest operation of the group. He first joined the company as a Marketing Director in Brasil, and was then 3 years later promoted General Manager of the subsidiary for 3 more years before leaving for Japan.


Before joining the L’OCCITANE GROUP, Nicolas started his career in the Teach First program (a spin-off of the Teach for America program in the UK), teaching mathematics for two years in a challenging school in North East London.  After the program, he joined joined Angel des Montagnes, a small decoration company based in Geneva that he contributed to develop internationally before joining the INSEAD MBA program.In addition to his MBA from INSEAD and a certification in Business Sustainability Management from Cambridge  Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Nicolas also holds a degree in Engineering Economics and Management from Oxford University and a Qualified Teacher Status for mathematics in the UK.

 

Author:

Tara Hyland

Principal
Main Post Partners

Tara Hyland is a Principal at Main Post Partners, a growth equity firm focused on investing in high-growth consumer businesses. Within the consumer industry, Tara focuses on investing in and advising differentiated beauty and personal care companies such as Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, Sugared + Bronzed and Not Your Mother’s, supporting management as they build enduring lifestyle brands.  Prior to joining Main Post Partners, she was a Vice President at Swander Pace Capital, which she joined in 2015 after working in the Consumer & Retail Investment Banking group within KeyBanc Capital Markets. Tara earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Miami University of Ohio.

... read more

Tara Hyland

Principal
Main Post Partners

Tara Hyland is a Principal at Main Post Partners, a growth equity firm focused on investing in high-growth consumer businesses. Within the consumer industry, Tara focuses on investing in and advising differentiated beauty and personal care companies such as Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, Sugared + Bronzed and Not Your Mother’s, supporting management as they build enduring lifestyle brands.  Prior to joining Main Post Partners, she was a Vice President at Swander Pace Capital, which she joined in 2015 after working in the Consumer & Retail Investment Banking group within KeyBanc Capital Markets. Tara earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Miami University of Ohio.

Founders at all stages, this is your opportunity to engage directly with investors during a relaxed breakfast focused on funding. Come prepared with your questions and leave with actionable insights tailored to your brand's growth journey.

Quick Box // Leaders in Marketing Excellence // Leaders in Operational Excellence

Our awards elevate visionary brands, disruptors, and sustainability heroes, hosting a celebration that empowers the entire beauty community.

Enter here.

Nominate a brand here.

Awards Committee:

Author:

Akshay Talati

Chief Innovation Officer
Supergoop!
... read more

Akshay Talati

Chief Innovation Officer
Supergoop!

Author:

Carla Ruiz

Senior Vice President, Global M&A
Shiseido Group

Carla Ruiz, SVP of Global M&A at Shiseido, brilliantly merges financial expertise with her passion for beauty. With an MBA from Columbia and a background in investment banking and global business development at Johnson & Johnson, she brings deep industry insight.

At Shiseido, Carla has spearheaded pivotal deals like the Drunk Elephant acquisition and the Tory Burch beauty license partnership. She leads her M&A team with a collaborative, founder-centric approach, seeing the industry's rapid change as an opportunity for respectful, accelerated growth. Beyond deals, Carla champions mentorship at Shiseido and supports first-generation college students through America Needs You.

... read more

Carla Ruiz

Senior Vice President, Global M&A
Shiseido Group

Carla Ruiz, SVP of Global M&A at Shiseido, brilliantly merges financial expertise with her passion for beauty. With an MBA from Columbia and a background in investment banking and global business development at Johnson & Johnson, she brings deep industry insight.

At Shiseido, Carla has spearheaded pivotal deals like the Drunk Elephant acquisition and the Tory Burch beauty license partnership. She leads her M&A team with a collaborative, founder-centric approach, seeing the industry's rapid change as an opportunity for respectful, accelerated growth. Beyond deals, Carla champions mentorship at Shiseido and supports first-generation college students through America Needs You.

Author:

Malena Higuera

CEO
NOYZ

Malena Higuera is a recognized leader in product innovation, culture and community-first marketing, and digitally-forward strategic vision, blending creative brand development, operational excellence with a passion for fostering diverse and inclusive cultures. With 25 years of experience on multiple brands at L’Oréal across all channels, key markets and categories, Higuera has built a reputation for fostering strong connections with consumers, retailers, and stakeholders, while always keeping a pulse on fast-paced business needs.

... read more

Malena Higuera

CEO
NOYZ

Malena Higuera is a recognized leader in product innovation, culture and community-first marketing, and digitally-forward strategic vision, blending creative brand development, operational excellence with a passion for fostering diverse and inclusive cultures. With 25 years of experience on multiple brands at L’Oréal across all channels, key markets and categories, Higuera has built a reputation for fostering strong connections with consumers, retailers, and stakeholders, while always keeping a pulse on fast-paced business needs.