Maesa Magic Incubator Announces 2027 Cohort for Beauty Entrepreneurs

This year's cohort consists of three innovative brands: Beame, founded by Eniye Okah; gemi, co-founded by Hau Yeung and Erin Choi; and Sugar Standard, founded by Monique Claiborne Cardwell.

Piyush Jain, CEO of Maesa, remarked on the founders' potential, stating that they distinguished themselves through the strength of their ideas and their dedication to building their businesses. He emphasized Maesa's belief that successful brands emerge from founders who understand their consumers and are committed to addressing unmet needs. Jain expressed enthusiasm for providing these entrepreneurs with expert guidance, mentorship, and valuable connections to foster their growth.

### Meet the 2027 Class

**Eniya Okah, Founder of Beame**

Beame focuses on sun care, aiming to simplify SPF reapplication. Their product range features color-changing UV Detection Stickers that indicate when to reapply sunscreen and transparent UPF 50+ UV Protection Patches.

**Hau Yeung & Erin Choi, Co-Founders of gemi**

gemi is a female-founded brand that incorporates K-beauty elements into hand care products. Their signature Hand Sanitizer + Serum combines the benefits of facial-grade serum with pleasant scents and innovative design, effectively eliminating 99.99% of bacteria while nurturing the skin.

**Monique Claiborne Cardwell, Founder of Sugar Standard**

Sugar Standard is redefining press-on nails for a younger audience. Catering to kids and tweens, their sets feature trendy designs and 3D elements, allowing young users to express their personal style easily without the mess of salons.

Each founder will receive a grant of $35,000, bringing the total funding for the cohort to $105,000. Throughout the program, they will collaborate with Maesa's experts and an advisory board to address their businesses' unique challenges and build a foundation for long-term growth.

Founders are required to identify a “Major” and “Minor” challenge facing their businesses, which will guide their mentorship and tailored support. Customized learning tracks will be complemented by educational sessions and discussions with industry leaders.

Beyond classroom learning, participants will have access to an executive education program at the Harvard Faculty Club, focusing on the evolving consumer landscape, as well as opportunities to attend Cosmoprof North America Miami for networking and educational activities.

The MMI program will conclude in January 2027 with a capstone presentation to the advisory board, where founders will present their progress and future business plans.