MIAMI, Feb. 29, 2024 -- Nancy Twine, entrepreneur, executive, investor, and philanthropist, has launched the Dream Makers Founder Grant, an innovative initiative aimed at empowering and supporting female entrepreneurs. The grant, which spans four years, from 2024 to 2027, will distribute $250,000 annually to selected recipients, specifically focusing on Black and BIPOC founders in the consumer goods industry.
Twine's inspiration for the grant stems from her experience navigating the challenges of early-stage business funding while building Briogeo over the past decade. She understands the importance of providing critical, early-stage funding to underrepresented female founders, which led her to create a grant that doesn't require surrendering rights or equity or entail payback obligations. This structure allows founders to focus on their vision while receiving initial funding to bridge crucial startup needs.
In its inaugural year, the Dream Makers Founder Grant will collaborate with Sephora's 2024 Accelerate program and the Fifteen Percent Pledge, both known for supporting diverse entrepreneurship.
Priya Venkatesh, Sephora’s Global Chief Merchandising Officer, expressed the company’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and supporting underrepresented beauty entrepreneurs through its partnership with Twine's initiative.
Aurora James, founder of the Fifteen Percent Pledge, highlighted the importance of direct investment in the growth of Black-owned businesses, emphasizing the impact the Dream Makers Founder Grant will make in overcoming barriers entrepreneurs of color face.
Twine expressed her gratitude for her opportunities and desire to pay it forward by inspiring and empowering underrepresented female founders through mentorship and the Dream Makers Founder Grant.
For more information about the grant, including eligibility and deadlines, visit https://nancytwine.com/thegrant/
ABOUT NANCY TWINE
ENTREPRENEUR, EXECUTIVE, INVESTOR, ADVISOR & PHILANTHROPIST
Nancy Twine has carved her unique path in the business world. Pivoting from her first career as a VP at Goldman Sachs, she sought a different life filled with inspiration and purpose. Tapping into her mother's roots in natural product formulation, Nancy created Briogeo — the clean, high-performance hair care line that pioneered the "skinification" of hair movement. At the age of 29, Nancy became the then-youngest Black woman to launch a product line at Sephora, and the brand has gone on to win dozens of awards for innovation, including one of the highest number of Allure Beauty Awards in the prestige hair care space.
In 2022, less than ten years after launch, Nancy sold Briogeo to The Wella Company. Nancy is one of the few Black CEOs and businesswomen who have launched & scaled a global business, raised over $20M of Private Equity Funding and sold her company in a strategic M&A process – all before age 40.
While Nancy continues in her role as Founder & CEO of Briogeo globally, she is now evolving once again, harnessing the power of her business expertise and life experience to enrich the lives of her community. By providing meaningful connections to information, tools, and resources on NancyTwine.com and through her upcoming podcast, Makers Mindset, Nancy is helping open up a world of possibilities for others and empowering everyone to create a well-lived life.
Today, Nancy is an active investor in multiple startups across the Beauty, Wellness, Food & Beverage, Tech, and Real Estate industries. She is also considered a leading expert in entrepreneurship, growth mindset, and female leadership. She has been sought out for profiles and opinions from publications such as Inc., Forbes, WWD, NPR, Allure, and Vogue. Nancy receives the Goldman Sachs Builders + Innovators Award, Entrepreneur's 100 Women of Impact, Inc.'s Female Founders 100, Essence Magazine Power 40, Black Enterprise 40 Under 40, and Gold Stevie Awards for Best Female Solo Entrepreneur. Nancy serves on the board of Cosmetic Executive Women and the philanthropic organization Room to Grow.
For more information, visit nancytwine.com or @NancyTwine on social media.
