Sourcing reimagined
We bring together all the stars in the beauty universe.
Beauty Independent is the trusted voice for the founders/CEOs, suppliers, retailers and investors driving the big beauty brands of tomorrow. At Uplink Expo, we gather these stars in the same place, at the same time, and with the same goal: collective growth. Come experience the magic and source your perfect partner.
✳︎
Los Angeles, CA
✳︎
January 30, 2025
✳︎ Los Angeles, CA ✳︎ January 30, 2025
RETAILERS
SOURCE BRANDS
Engage with professional beauty entrepreneurs building the big brands of tomorrow and gain insights from the most accomplished brand-builders. REGISTER TODAY
INVESTORS
SOURCE DEALS
Build your portfolio by meeting with the most promising up-and-coming brands, and network with the most influential minds in beauty. SECURE TICKETS
BRANDS
SOURCE SOLUTIONS
Execute your brand vision by meeting best-in-class suppliers and expanding your horizons by learning from the most accomplished brand builders. SECURE TICKETS
SUPPLIERS
SOURCE Clients
Engage with the rising stars building the big brands of tomorrow, and network with the most influential minds in beauty. SECURE TICKETS
INSIGHTS
Thought leadership from top brand founders and CEOs.
Since 2017, Beauty Independent has been covering emerging beauty brands and the founders and creators leading those brands—many of whom have now blossomed into major forces in our industry.
At the Conference Hall of Uplink Expo, we have gathered the most credible and accomplished beauty entrepreneurs in the industry for candid discussions and shared learning.
Learn from the best. Find your community.
SEE YOU THERE
Magic Box LA
1933 S Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90007
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THE EXPO HALL HAS BEEN GREAT, WE’VE HAD SUCH DIALED CONVERSATIONS WITH VENDORS WE KNEW WE WANTED TO MEET. IT’S ACCELERATED OUR R&D TIMELINE JUST IN THE TIME WE’VE SPENT HERE MEETING THE RIGHT SCIENTIFIC AND MANUFACTURING PARTNERS THAT WE DIDN’T THINK WE’D HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH EVEN IN THE NEXT 2-3 YEARS.
Patrick Breeding
Founder, Marin Skincare -
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UPLINK EXPO IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOLID SUPPLIERS ACROSS SO MANY CATEGORIES THAT BEAUTY BRANDS NEED. I’VE MET SO MANY NEW SUPPLIERS THAT I OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT HAVE. I LOVE THE VIBE OF THIS SHOW AND HOW EVERYTHING IS LAID OUT FROM THE EXPO HALL AND THE CONFERENCE HALL TO THE NETWORKING AREAS. BETWEEN THE PANELS, SUPPLIERS, AND NETWORKING WITH OTHER BRAND FOUNDERS, THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT THIS SHOW.
Sandra Velasquez
Founder & CEO, Nopalera -
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THE FACT THAT A TRUSTWORTHY NAME LIKE BEAUTY INDEPENDENT CURATED ALL THESE VENDORS AND VETTED THEM, MAKES US FEEL LIKE WE GOT THE BEST OF THE BEST DURING OUR TIME SPENT AT UPLINK EXPO
Amber Boutiette
Founder, Marin Skincare -
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UPLINK EXPO HAS BEEN SO ENERGIZING. BEING HERE AROUND SO MANY BRAND FOUNDERS SHARING WITH EACH OTHER HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY MOTIVATING. THIS SHOW IS THE PERFECT SIZE, ALLOWING US TO HAVE TIME TO CONNECT WITH VENDORS WE ALREADY PARTNER WITH, AS WELL AS VENDORS WE HADN’T MET THAT ARE BRINGING INSPIRING INNOVATIONS TO THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY. IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO BRING THE RIGHT ENERGY AT A SHOW LIKE THIS, AND FOR BRANDS LOOKING TO ATTEND, EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO BRING YOUR CURIOSITY AND HEAR AND NETWORK WITH OTHER BRAND FOUNDERS AND VENDORS ON AN INTIMATE LEVEL.
Hillary Peterson
Founder, True Botanicals -
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CONNECTING WITH OTHER BEAUTY FOUNDERS AT EVENTS LIKE THIS IS SUCH A GREAT WAY TO GROW. THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY IS SUCH A CONNECTED PLACE, AND THIS EVENT ENABLES YOU TO REALLY LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR BUSINESS.
Wende Zomnir
Founder, Caliray -
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WE CHOSE TO EXHIBIT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO HAVE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH BRAND FOUNDERS, AND RIGHT AWAY ON DAY ONE, WE HAD REAL CONVERSATIONS AND A LINE AT OUR BOOTH OF BRANDS WANTING TO TALK TO US. THE SIZE OF THE SHOW IS PERFECT AND REALLY ALLOWED US TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL OF ENGAGING WITH BRAND FOUNDERS WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM OUR INNOVATIONS. WE’D LOVE TO EXHIBIT AT THE NEXT UPLINK EXPO BECAUSE OF HOW SPECIFIC AND CURATED THE EVENT WAS AND THE LEVEL OF QUALITY OF THE ATTENDEES.
Michelle Carrillo
Vice President, Actera
PAST SPEAKERS
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Laura Burget
CO-FOUNDER,
THREE SHIPS -
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Lauren Edelman
GLOBAL CMO,
VICTORIA BECKHAM BEAUTY -
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Frédéric Fekkai
CEO & FOUNDER,
FRÉDÉRIC FEKKAI -
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Priyanka Ganjoo
FOUNDER AND CEO,
KULFI BEAUTY -
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Lorne Lucree
SVP & GLOBAL INNOVATION,
TATCHA -
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Colm Mackin
CO-FOUNDER & CEO,
ACT + ACRE -
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Sochima Mbadugha
VP OF STRATEGY AND BUSINESS OPS,
TOPICALS -
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Christin Powell
CEO & FOUNDER,
KINSHIP -
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Brent Ridge
CO-FOUNDER,
BEEKMAN 1802 -
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Ju Rhyu
CO-FOUNDER,
HERO COSMETICS -
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Anncy Rowe
CMO,
STRIVECTIN -
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Suveen Sahib
CO-FOUNDER & CEO,
K18 -
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Anna Teal
CEO,
GROWN ALCHEMIST
PAST Conference Agenda
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Product development is the lifeblood of the beauty industry as innovation in this segment is the epicenter of brand building. But with an influx of new ingredients, evolving standards like MoCRA, and clinical claims becoming tablestakes, it’s becoming more complicated to operate in this space. How should brand leaders think about product development now and we discuss the ongoing question of what to outsource (or not).
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Escalating marketing expenses are squeezing already tight margins as customer acquisition and retention hinge increasingly on pay-to-play social media and advertising tactics. Leading marketers share the ways they are adapting messaging to zero in on core customer segments and how they are optimizing and amplifying content to yield the highest returns in a crowded landscape.
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If direct-to-consumer kickstarts the journey, then retail partnerships drive expansion and scale. Now, more than ever though, success hinges on cash infusion for inventory, store associate education, and marketing fuel. As the retail landscape is in flux–consolidations and bankruptcies abound– having a companion capital strategy is an imperative part of a retail strategy. Delve into the complexities of fundraising for this stage–when's the opportune moment? And post-capital injection, how does a brand strategically allocate resources for maximum impact in stores?
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For brand founders, acquisition represents the pinnacle achievement. But, the journey to exit is rife with complexities—logistical and emotional alike. Three brand founders who have taken their brands through the finish line dissect the exit process, from strategic evaluation to execution and share insights into determining the optimal path for a brand and navigating life post-acquisition.
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