Our Focus on Mentorship

We seek to provide value not only to our founders, but to the industry as a whole. We enjoy giving back to the indie beauty community through initial feedback on decks, comments on planned distributions strategy and our indie beauty mentorship program.

 
 

“It’s not just about gaining access to capital. It’s important to understanding how you navigate the politics, get contract manufacturers, and negotiate with manufacturers, vendors, and investors. You need people who can provide insight to the fuller ecosystem.”
- Black representation in the beauty industry by McKinsey and Company

Bridge Mentorship Program

True Beauty Ventures has partnered with Beauty Independent to develop the Bridge Mentorship, a 6-month accelerator program aimed at helping qualified emerging growth brands become “funding ready.” The program is based on a structured curriculum that provides targeted coaching and feedback via one-on-one and group learning sessions. Participants also gain access to our extensive ecosystem, which includes trusted service providers, industry thought leaders, media connections and subject matter experts. FAQS

Bridge Mentorship 2022 Cohort 1
Nette, Nopalera and Youthforia

Bridge Mentorship 2022 Cohort 2
World of Chris Collins, nature of things, Plantkos

Bridge Mentorship 2023 Cohort 1
Rose MD Skincare, Lendava, Squigs Beauty

Bridge Mentorship 2023 Cohort 2
DAMDAM, Viktor Michael, Salwa Petersen

Bridge Mentorship 2024 Cohort 1
Prakti, Sofie Pavitt Face, Dr. Idriss

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From Our Community

  • “Rich and Cristina make for an exceptional beauty investing combo. Their belief in purpose-led businesses and in unique insights that challenge the status quo — besides a continued focus on founders' strength versus weakness — makes them an ideal partner particularly for ego-free founders driven by impact and outcomes. Rich is also an amazing mentor and hugely impacted my own professional evolution in the past twelve months. We could not be more thrilled to be their first investee!”

    Suveen Sahib
    Co-Founder & CEO, AQUIS & K18 Hair

  • “We’ve wanted Rich Gersten as an investor for years given his savviness at building meaningful beauty brands, we first stalked him at the WWD CEO Beauty Summit. We are beyond thrilled that the timing aligned for us to work together at last, when he started True Beauty Ventures along with his partner Cristina Nunez just when we were also launching our interruptive K18 Biomimetic Science brand and products. Together Rich and Cristina bring a wealth of knowledge and know-how, they have unique insights and actively roll up their sleeves to help execute on critical path objectives.”

    Britta Cox
    Co-Founder, AQUIS & K18 Hair

  • "True Beauty fundamentally understands both the art and the science to building impactful, world-changing brands. Cristina and Rich's thoughtful approach and deep expertise in beauty and personal care make them additive and unparalleled partners throughout the journey of building the business and maude is proud to have them leading the way with us.”

    Eva Goicochea
    Founder & CEO, maude

  • “Cristina, Rich, and the True Beauty Ventures team have created something truly special. I’ve connected with more than a hundred investors over the couple years as we’ve raised capital for Crown Affair, and within the first meeting I knew they were unique in their expertise and approach to this category. Their depth of experience and knowledge made it clear that they would be an incredible investor and partner to guide our business into the next phase of growth. Cristina and Rich are not only thoughtful and smart, but they’re compassionate and understand the importance of a founder’s vision. They love the beauty category and they care about the people behind the brands. I’m honored to build with True Beauty Ventures and to be included in their remarkable portfolio of brands and founders.”

    Dianna Cohen
    Founder & CEO, Crown Affair

  • “The collaborative relationship Rich forges with his CEO’s is one based on respect, trust and confidence in their ability to lead and perform. Rich’s unique approach is a mixture of deep strategic involvement and alignment, coupled with remaining “hands off ” on tactical execution...He has a fierce sense of loyalty and is the rare investor who actualizes his own professional accomplishments by helping his brands and teams realize their personal and professional goals...He is a rare mix of “head and heart” and has been the ideal partner.“

    Elana Drell Szyfer
    CEO, RéVive Skincare and Laura Geller Beauty

  • “Rich Gersten has proven again and again that he has a crystal-ball ability to predict the market. But with his keen intelligence, unique insights, and deep industry relationships, he doesn't simply predict the future of the beauty, he shapes it. ”

    Emily Dougherty
    Former Editor-in-Chief, NewBeauty and Elle