BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) Reveals 2024 Women Entrepreneur Grant Recipients

For The Second Year, 20 Women Entrepreneurs Will Each Receive $25,000 In Funding, Plus Access to Mentorship and Community—Helping to Close the Confidence Gap

IRVINE, Calif., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company (NYSE: ABBV) revealed this year's 20 BOTOX^® Cosmetic grant recipients. Each inspiring woman entrepreneur will receive a $25,000 grant, mentorship, and access to community through the BOTOX^® Cosmetic grant program in partnership with IFundWomen. The winners were hand-selected by a dedicated panel of experts with support from IFundWomen, aesthetic provider entrepreneurs, and Allergan Aesthetics executive leadership.

From almost 11,000 applications, 20 women-owned businesses were selected to each receive a $25,000 grant and year-long coaching, mentorship, and access to community.

"We were overwhelmed with the response to this year's program, receiving nearly 11,000 applications, which is almost double what we received in 2023," said Carrie Strom, President, Allergan Aesthetics and Senior Vice President, AbbVie. "This influx of applications further reinforces the need for this program, and we are thrilled to support extraordinary women entrepreneurs. Last year's recipients inspired us to continue to empower confidence among women entrepreneurs. Based on their feedback, we are offering enhanced coaching and greater opportunities for networking."

While the number of women-owned businesses in the country continues to grow, less than three percent of venture capital (VC) funding goes to these businesses, with less than one percent of VC funding going to Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) women entrepreneurs^1,2. Additionally, women entrepreneurs report higher levels of burnout due to various reasons including feelings of isolation, reinforcing the need for community among these women. These disparities create ample opportunity for the BOTOX^® Cosmetic grant program to further help bridge the Confidence Gap in the workplace.

Support for the 2024 grant recipient class kicked off on June 6 in New York City with an entrepreneur bootcamp hosted by BOTOX^® Cosmetic featuring entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Live Tinted, Deepica Mutyala. The event featured additional executive-level coaches, including 2023 BOTOX^® Cosmetic grant recipients: Talia Boone, CEO, and founder of Postal Petals^®; Erica Cole, founder of No Limbits; Chrishon Lampley, CEO and founder of Love Cork Screw; and Maria Palacio co-founder and CEO of Progeny Coffee.

The 2024 grant winners and their businesses are:

Bo & Mei – Mai Truong (New York, N.Y.) – @boandmei
Ellavate Wagon – Megan Lancaster (Newport Beach, Calif.) – @ellavate_wagon
EQWAL Footing – Natasha Standard (New York, N.Y.) – @eqwalfooting
Esōes Cosmetics – Joy Hoover (Las Vegas, Nev.) – @esoescosmetics
Floof Cotton Candy – Hannah Perry (Auburn, Calif.) – @floof.cottoncandy
Girlie Garage – Talena Handley (San Diego, Calif.) – @girliegarage
GOALS Sports LLC – Caroline Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh, Pa.) – @goals_sports_
Guardian Lane – Kristina Jones (Los Angeles, Calif.) – @guardianlane
Iwi Nails – Līhau Willing (Kaunakakai, Hawaii) – @iwi.nails.hi
Le Village Cowork – Daniella Cornue (Chicago, Ill.) – @levillagecowork
OCOA Beauty – Cory & Nicol Varona (Reading, Pa.) – @ocoabeauty
Ourside – Keta Burke-Williams (New York, N.Y.) – @ourside.nyc
Pippy Sips – Amberlee Venti (Philadelphia, Pa.) – @pippysips
PuffCuff LLC – Ceata E. Lash (Marietta, Ga.) – @thepuffcuff
Rose Cat Coffee Company LLC – Brenda Kasaty (Lincoln, Neb.) – @rosecatcoffee
SALUBATA – Yewande Akinse (Los Angeles, Calif.) – @salubata
ShampooTime^® – Kia-Shun Voltz (Red Oak, Texas) – @loveshampootime
SPRHRA – Marina Paul (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) – @shopsuperhera
Vontélle LLC – Nancey Harris (New York, N.Y.) – @vontelleeyewear
Wukkout!^® LLC – Krista Martins (New York, N.Y.) – @wukkout

"Watching the 2023 recipients receive so much more than just funding inspired me to apply for the 2024 BOTOX^® Cosmetic grant program. As a BIPOC woman entrepreneur, I face systemic barriers that impact access to capital, networking opportunities, representation, and more," said Natasha Standard, founder of EQWAL Footing. "Seeing the platform and resources BOTOX^® Cosmetic provided to the 2023 grant recipients inspired me to trust them with my story and my business and apply for the 2024 grant. I want to thank the selection panel for choosing me as one of the 20 women offered this amazing opportunity."

The entrepreneur healthcare professionals who aided in the grant recipient selection included Amy Shecter, CEO of Cast Jewelry and former CEO of Ever/Body; Carmen Kavali, MD, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon and Owner at Monarch Plastic Surgery and Skin Renewal Center; Caroline Robinson, MD, FAAD, Board-Certified Dermatologist and Founder of Tone Dermatology; Kavita Mariwalla, MD, FAAD, Double Board-Certified Dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon and Founder of Mariwalla Dermatology; Nicci Levy, Entrepreneur and the CEO and Founder at ALCHEMY 43; Sarmela Sunder, MD, Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon and Founder of Sunder Plastic Surgery; Shawna Chrisman, Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner and Founder of Destination Aesthetics Medical Spa™; Young Cho, MD, PhD, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon and Co-Founder at Integrated Aesthetics.

In the coming months, BOTOX^® Cosmetic and IFundWomen will host an immersive ten-week Crowdfunding Coaching Accelerator program for the 20 grant recipients. The program will offer them educational courses led by experts across various industries, while helping them build a network among their fellow women entrepreneurs. Recipients will have access to these experts as they launch their crowdfunding campaigns and will be provided with a range of educational and networking opportunities.

Visit BotoxCosmetic.com/RealImpact learn more about the partnership, the grant recipients, and to explore how you can lend your support when crowdfunding initiatives launch. Follow along on the @botoxcosmetic Instagram and YouTube channels, where each of the 20 founders and their businesses will be spotlighted throughout the year.

About Allergan Aesthetics
At Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, we develop, manufacture, and market a portfolio of leading aesthetics brands and products. Our aesthetics portfolio includes facial injectables, body contouring, plastics, skin care, and more. Our goal is to consistently provide our customers with innovation, education, exceptional service, and a commitment to excellence, all with a personal touch. For more information, visit www.allerganaesthetics.com.

About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas – immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.

About IFundWomen
IFundWomen is the go-to funding marketplace for entrepreneurs, with a mission to close the money gap for women-owned businesses through its proprietary mix of capital, coaching, and connections. Since its founding, IFundWomen has empowered its members to raise $278M in early-stage capital and to create 55,000 new jobs, helping fuel the small businesses economy. IFundWomen's marketplace offers its members multiple access points to capital, including crowdfunding, enterprise-brokered grants, collateral-free loans, and the best funding of all – revenue, through its newest product, IFundWomen ServicesX, a marketplace connecting independent business services experts to customers. To learn more about IFundWomen, please visit www.ifundwomen.com. Follow @ifundwomen on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok.

BOTOX^® COSMETIC IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND APPROVED USES

Approved Uses
BOTOX^® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe forehead lines, crow's feet lines, and frown lines between the eyebrows in adults.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

BOTOX^® Cosmetic may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening. Get medical help right away if you have any of these problems any time (hours to weeks) after injection of BOTOX^® Cosmetic:

Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months.
Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice, trouble saying words clearly, loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, and trouble swallowing.

BOTOX^® Cosmetic dosing units are not the same as, or comparable to, any other botulinum toxin product.

There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect when BOTOX^® Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines, crow's feet lines, and/or forehead lines.

BOTOX^® Cosmetic may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, vision problems, or dizziness within hours to weeks of taking BOTOX^® Cosmetic. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.

Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported. They include: itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.

Do not receive BOTOX^® Cosmetic if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX^® Cosmetic (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc^® (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport^® (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin^® (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site.

Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions, such as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects including difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing from typical doses of BOTOX^® Cosmetic.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including: plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; have trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if BOTOX^® Cosmetic can harm your unborn baby); are breast-feeding or plan to (it is not known if BOTOX^® Cosmetic passes into breast milk).

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using BOTOX^® Cosmetic with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX^® Cosmetic in the past.

Tell your doctor if you have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin such as Myobloc^®, Dysport^®, or Xeomin^® in the past (tell your doctor exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; take a sleep medicine; take aspirin-like products or blood thinners.

Other side effects of BOTOX^® Cosmetic include: dry mouth; discomfort or pain at the injection site; tiredness; headache; neck pain; and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids and eyebrows, swelling of your eyelids and dry eyes.

For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.

To report a side effect, please call Allergan at 1-800-678-1605.

Please see BOTOX^® Cosmetic full Product Information including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide.

References:

PitchBook. US VC Female Founders Dashboard. 2024.
Biz2Credit. Annual Women-Owned Business Study. 2022.

Meet the 20 grant recipients receiving funding, coaching, mentorship and access to community through the 2024 BOTOX® Cosmetic and IFundWomen partnership.

Allergan Aesthetics (PRNewsfoto/AbbVie)

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