Maesa

Maesa

Incubates and scales inclusive beauty brands

Overview

Maesa is a beauty incubator that identifies and grows brands aimed at making prestige beauty accessible to a broader audience. It works by incubating and scaling brands, offering mentorship, grants, and hands-on support from industry practitioners to underserved entrepreneurs. The process combines opportunity spotting with practical development, helping founders navigate product development, branding, and go-to-market strategies so their brands can reach mass and prestige segments. What sets Maesa apart is its emphasis on inclusivity, agility, and real-world guidance; it not only funds ideas but provides practical, ongoing mentorship and resources to turn them into viable brands across both mass and prestige markets. The company’s goal is to transform the mass market by building meaningful beauty brands that democratize access to higher-end products.

About Maesa

Simplify's Rating
Why Maesa is rated
C+
Rated C on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Consulting

Design

Consumer Goods

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Levallois-Perret, France

Founded

1997

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Scents Unearth'd launched at Target nationwide on February 17, 2026, expanding fragrance breadth.
  • Ontu and Party of You launched in February 2026, showing rapid category expansion.
  • Fine'ry kept adding Target-exclusive scents in 2026, signaling strong retailer demand and repeat velocity.

What critics are saying

  • Target concentration is severe; Scents Unearth'd, Ontu, and Fine'ry all depend on one retailer.
  • Retail-execution failure would strand 2026 launches, since Target exclusivity blocks channel diversification.
  • Brand proliferation risks cannibalizing internal attention across fragrance, bodycare, skincare, and incubator programs.

What makes Maesa unique

  • Target-exclusive incubator launches like Scents Unearth'd, Ontu, and Party of You in 2026.
  • Maesa Magic Incubator backs underrepresented founders with $35,000 grants and mentorship.
  • Maesa sold EMEA in February 2025, concentrating on U.S.-led brand building.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Wellness Program

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Hybrid Work Options

401(k) Retirement Plan

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

↑ 3%

1 year growth

↑ 3%

2 year growth

↑ 3%
Happi
Sep 21st, 2026
Kristin Ess Hair makes debut at Revolve.

Kristin Ess Hair makes debut at Revolve. The expansion brings an assortment of more than 30 products to the retailer. September 21, 2026 Associate Editor, Happi The expansion brings an assortment of over 30 bestselling and new Kristin Ess Hair products across wash and care, hair treatments, styling and glosses into Revolve, including the TikTok-viral Signature Hair Gloss; One Signature Shampoo and Conditioner; and Dry Finish Working Texture Spray. "We've always believed that beauty should feel effortless, approachable and deeply connected to personal style, so partnering with Revolve felt like the next step," said Molly Kennedy, SVP of brand marketing at Maesa. "Revolve has built an incredibly engaged community of fashion-forward consumers who look to the platform not just to shop, but to discover what's next. Together, we're expanding the role haircare can play within a broader lifestyle and creating new points of discovery for the next generation of beauty consumers." For more on Maesa, look here. Add us as a preferred source on Google. Get the latest Happi news, insights and analysis in your Google Search and AI experiences.

BeautyNewsDaily
Feb 17th, 2026
New Fragrance Brand Scents Unearth'd Launches at Target

New fragrance brand Scents Unearth'd launches at Target. If you've been looking for an affordable fragrance that feels anything but generic, your next Target run is about to get a lot more interesting. Beauty incubator Maesa has officially launched Scents Unearth'd, a brand that trades predictable fragrance blends for more nuanced olfactory storytelling. Forget the overly familiar scents lining department store counters. This collection centres on distinctive fragrance narratives that celebrate global cultures and heritage-rich ingredients. Whether you're dreaming of the mountains of Colombia or the bustling markets of India, each bottle is designed to act as a passport for the senses. While masstige perfumes can sometimes feel a little samey, Scents Unearth'd leans into intentionality. The brand was built to bridge the gap between elevated perfumery and the accessibility of your local shopping aisle. "Scents Unearth'd represents a new way of thinking about fragrance at mass - one that honors culture, curiosity, and thoughtful expression," says Nadia Khan, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing at Maesa. "From the beginning, our goal was to build a brand that feels intentional and differentiated, while remaining accessible." For the creators of Scents Unearth'd, this move isn't about launching just another product - it's about visibility, representation, and connection to one's roots. "This brand was born from a deep desire to see my own cultures represented in the fragrance category," explains Shana Finkelstein Turano, Vice President of Brand Incubation & Product Innovation at Maesa. "We wanted to fill an unmet consumer need and want for more connection to heritage through scent. Each fragrance is an homage and olfactive expression of the communities, people, and ingredients that make a culture come to life." The debut collection features five Eau de Parfums ($34.99), each paired with a matching Body Mist ($16.99). There's also a Scent Discovery Set priced at $24.99 for those who prefer to explore before committing. Inspired by Papantla, Mexico, Vanilla Crown honours the history of the vanilla orchid in its native homeland, layering vanilla orchid and vanilla absolute with the gentle warmth of cardamom oil. Floradise draws from Colombia's lush flora. It pairs passionfruit and rose nectar with a subtle nod to one of the region's most iconic exports via coffee extract. Deeper and more atmospheric, Oro Tonka channels the woody richness of the Amazon rainforest through tonka bean absolute, golden amber, and cocoa woods. Elsewhere, Royal Milk draws from ancient Egyptian beauty rituals, unfolding as a creamy blend of almond milk, blue chamomile oil, and vanilla honey. Jasmine Candy, a playful interpretation of India's Jasmine City, combines jasmine absolute and sandalwood crème, and is finished with a hit of candied bergamot. The launch builds on Maesa's momentum in bringing niche-inspired concepts to a broader audience through exclusive retail partnerships. It also marks the incubator's third brand debut this month, following bodycare brand Ontu and skincare brand Party For You. Scents Unearth'd is available now exclusively at Target stores nationwide and online at target.com. The brand is not yet available in the UK.

PR Newswire
Oct 2nd, 2025
Empowering Entrepreneurs: Maesa Announces Third Class of Maesa Magic Incubator program

Selected from hundreds of applicants, three founders redefining beauty and wellnessearn $35K funding and hands-on mentorshipNEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Maesa, the Next-Gen Beauty Company, is thrilled to announce the winners of its annual Maesa Magic Incubator program. Now in its third year, the initiative is dedicated to closing the entrepreneurial access gap by championing early-stage beauty and wellness founders from underrepresented communities, including women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, differently abled entrepreneurs, low-income individuals, and seniors over 65.2026 MMI WinnersFrom a highly competitive pool of applicants, three inspirational entrepreneurs were selected. Each impressed the Maesa Leadership Team with bold ideas that address critical gaps in the market while resonating with today's consumers who are seeking both inclusivity and innovative solutions."We started the Maesa Magic Incubator to bridge the access gap for beauty and wellness entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. I feel great pride that, for three years now, we have identified and helped winners who are redefining established categories and opening entirely new ones," said Piyush Jain, CEO of Maesa. "We know the impact of this program is real, and that access to the right resources and mentorship can fuel the next chapter of these beautiful brands

PR Newswire
Jun 25th, 2025
Maesa Launches Year 3 of the Maesa Magic Incubator Program, Empowering Emerging Beauty & Wellness Entrepreneurs

Maesa launches Year 3 of the Maesa Magic Incubator program, empowering emerging beauty & wellness entrepreneurs.

PR Newswire
Apr 7th, 2025
Introducing Niches Nooks: Fresh, Innovative Intimate Care Brand Turning Whispers Into Conversations

The Science-Backed Collection Powered by Microbiome-Friendly Scents Launches Nationwide with Brand Ambassadors Serena Kerrigan and Dr. FranNEW YORK, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Niches Nooks, a fresh and witty approach to intimate care, launches today with a range of pH-balanced essentials in innovative product formats with microbiome-friendly scents. Designed to refresh, cleanse, and care for your most overlooked nooks, the brand is putting intimate care into the spotlight with a witty tone of voice and comedy spin to the topic that historically has been considered a taboo. Incubated by Maesa, the leading disruptor in beauty and wellness, the brand is the company's first foray into the intimate care category

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