E.l.f. Beauty partners with Rivet to back emerging entrepreneurs in UK and India

Cosmetics company E.l.f. Beauty has partnered with US nonprofit organisation Rivet to support 100 emerging changemakers across the UK and India. Through the collaborative ‘Zero Limits’ initiative, the cosmetics brand has committed a 100,000 dollars contribution to provide grants, mentorship and practical resources. The programme aims to assist young innovators in developing solutions to social and economic challenges within their local communities.

Funding barriers continue to affect the next generation of business leaders. According to a 2026 survey by accounting platform Xero, 72 percent of students aged 16 to 21 in the UK were attracted to entrepreneurship, yet 51 percent identified a lack of capital as a primary obstacle. In India, women under the age of 30 accounted for 18 percent of business loan originations among female borrowers in 2024, according to public policy think tank Niti Aayog.

“Democratizing access is at the heart of who we are at e.l.f. Beauty, and our commitment to Zero Distance between our community and our company is how we ensure we are listening, learning and showing up,” said E.l.f. Beauty vice president of corporate communications, Samantha Critchell. “We believe the best people to identify opportunities to make direct positive impacts are the people who know their communities best. That’s what makes our partnership with RIVET so meaningful. We are there, on the ground, with 100 changemakers across the UK and India who are developing their own solution to challenges they see every day.”

Supporting young women as they build what's next

Participants are undertaking a three-month innovation sprint intended to test concepts and develop practical operational skills. Alongside direct capital, the initiative delivers structured guidance to help founders refine approaches for long-term venture viability.

The project operates in collaboration with two regional organisations. UK nonprofit group GirlDreamer assists young women from underrepresented backgrounds through leadership and social entrepreneurship, while US global nonprofit Grameen Foundation oversees execution in India.

“An important part of innovation is having the opportunity to try something, learn from it, and make it better,” said Rivet chief executive officer and co-founder, Eric Dawson. “That's what we're working to provide through this partnership. These young women are bringing their own ideas and ambitions to the program, and the sprint gives them a chance to test those ideas, build practical skills, and decide what comes next for their projects.”

Changemakers behind ‘Zero Limits’

Selected participants are creating initiatives across education, public health, digital infrastructure and economic inclusion. In the UK, Girls Into Coding founder Avye Couloute is producing a refillable hygiene science, technology, engineering and mathematics kit that enables girls to assemble and code automated hand-gel dispensers. Couloute originally established the enterprise at age 10 to expand technical learning access for young female students.

UK social enterprise Sickle Synced CIC founder, Shorna Besa, is applying her background in the UK National Health Service to build a community-oriented support network for individuals living with sickle cell disease. Besa aims to deliver peer guidance and local healthcare navigation outside traditional hospital environments.

In India, Gyan Deep Stationery and Learning Hub founder, Parmar Payalben Manubhai, is establishing a village learning facility to provide educational supplies, printing and digital services. Manubhai initiated the project to eliminate regional travel burdens after observing local students travel nearly 10 kilometres to secure basic materials for school projects.