E.l.f. Beauty Backs 100 Changemakers in UK, India
The $100,000 Zero Limits initiative offers grants, mentorship and resources to emerging entrepreneurs across two countries.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Youth
Live Poll
Have you ever considered starting your own business but held back for lack of money?
E.l.f. Beauty has committed $100,000 to the Zero Limits initiative, partnering with Rivet to support 100 emerging changemakers in the UK and India. Participants are undertaking a three-month innovation sprint with grants, mentorship and practical resources.
Why it matters
Funding barriers continue to affect the next generation of business leaders. A 2026 Xero survey found 51 percent of UK students aged 16 to 21 cited lack of capital as a primary obstacle to entrepreneurship.
E.l.f. Beauty's $100,000 contribution funds grants and mentorship for 100 changemakers across the UK and India. Women under 30 accounted for 18 percent of female business loan originations in India in 2024, though the program's outcomes remain unreported.
The players
E.l.f. Beauty
E.l.f. Beauty is a cosmetics brand that has committed $100,000 to the Zero Limits initiative.
Rivet
Rivet is the partner organization working alongside E.l.f. Beauty to deliver the Zero Limits program.
Grameen Foundation
Grameen Foundation is a nonprofit that oversees execution of the program in India, with a focus on financial inclusion.
GirlDreamer
GirlDreamer is an organization that assists young women from underrepresented backgrounds in the UK.
The details
GirlDreamer assists young women from underrepresented backgrounds in the UK, while Grameen Foundation oversees execution of the program in India. The initiative pairs direct capital with structured guidance and practical resources.
Timeline
2024: Women under 30 accounted for 18 percent of India female borrower loan originations.
2026: Xero survey on UK student entrepreneurship attitudes and capital barriers was published.
Three-month: Participants complete an innovation sprint testing their concepts.
Youth Pipeline
The Zero Limits initiative responds directly to the capital barrier identified in the 2026 Xero survey, in which 51 percent of UK students aged 16 to 21 named lack of capital as a primary obstacle to entrepreneurship. Corporate-funded programs of this kind target the gap between youth interest and access to startup funding.
Young people weighing a business idea can see that grants, mentorship and practical resources are being directed to emerging founders in the UK and India. The three-month sprint format shows one way to test a concept before committing larger sums.
The takeaway
Access to capital remains the most-cited barrier for young founders, so seeking grants, mentors and structured programs early can help turn an interest in entrepreneurship into a working business.
Further reading
For more on young people building their own ventures, explore our Youth coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FashionUnited.
Live Poll
Have you ever considered starting your own business but held back for lack of money?
