ANZ L'Oréal Brandstorm
Discover how a New Zealand team reached the global top six with AI-driven fragrance.
ANZ Makes History at L'Oréal Brandstorm
Every year, L'Oréal Groupe invites young innovators to shape the future of beauty. Launched in 1992, L'Oréal Brandstorm has grown into our premier global innovation competition for talent under 30. It offers students a unique platform to tackle real-world business challenges, receive mentorship from industry leaders, and showcase their ideas on an international stage.
This year, the challenge asked participants to partner with L’Oréal Luxe and use technology to craft the future of luxury fragrance. We saw an incredible response, with 380,000 students from 64 countries stepping up to share their vision. For Australia and New Zealand, the 2026 competition marked a historic milestone, proving that our local talent can compete—and lead—on the global stage.
380k
Global Participants
64
Countries Represented
Top 6
Global Finish for ANZ
A Trans-Tasman Triumph
Our local journey began in May with the ANZ regional finals. Nearly 200 competitors pitched their concepts, bringing fresh perspectives to the luxury fragrance market. Emerging victorious was Team MNM, comprising Maadhav Arora, Nathaniel Brown, and Mihir Ojas Rallapudi.
As three talented engineering students from the University of Auckland, they brought a highly analytical and technical approach to a creative industry. By winning the regional stage, they became the first-ever New Zealand team to claim the Trans-Tasman championship, earning the right to represent Australia and New Zealand in Paris.
Their winning concept, named Mémoire, sits at the intersection of advanced technology and personal care. Mémoire is an AI-powered service designed to transform a user's personal memories into bespoke, custom-formulated fragrances. By using artificial intelligence to map emotional data to scent profiles, the team showcased exactly the kind of forward-looking, human-centric innovation we champion at L'Oréal Groupe.
Competing on the Global Stage
Following their local victory, Team MNM advanced to the global semi-finals held at Le Visionnaire in Paris. Out of 45 national winning teams, they successfully secured a spot in the global top six. This achievement made history once again, as they became the first-ever team from the ANZ region to reach the global finals.
The final pitches took place at VivaTech Paris, Europe’s largest technology and startup event. Pitching an AI-driven beauty concept at a major tech summit highlights how the cosmetics industry is evolving into a technology-first sector.
The competition at VivaTech was fierce. Our SAPMENA (South Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa) zone demonstrated exceptional strength, representing half of the top six global finalists with teams from ANZ, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Ultimately, the global victory went to Team USA for their innovation, Prada Capture—a concept featuring dissolvable, 100% biodegradable fragrance sheets. We extend our warmest congratulations to them for a well-deserved win.
Your Place to Grow
While Team MNM did not take home the final trophy, their historic run demonstrates the immense potential of talent in our region. Over the course of the programme, Maadhav, Nathaniel, and Mihir worked closely with our ANZ teams, receiving guidance and mentorship to refine their pitch and develop their professional skills.
At L'Oréal Groupe, we know that everyone’s journey is different. We do not just hire you for a specific role; we hire personalities, and we look for people who want to build the future. Whether you have a background in marketing, science, or engineering, there is a place for you to grow your career with us.
If you are a student or recent graduate ready to challenge yourself, we encourage you to explore our upcoming opportunities. Be yourself, be bold, question everything, and lead your own growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is L'Oréal Brandstorm? L'Oréal Brandstorm is an annual global innovation competition hosted by L'Oréal Groupe. It invites young people under 30 to solve real-world business challenges, offering mentorship, networking opportunities, and the chance to pitch ideas on an international stage.
Who represented Australia and New Zealand in 2026? Team MNM, consisting of engineering students Maadhav Arora, Nathaniel Brown, and Mihir Ojas Rallapudi from the University of Auckland, represented the ANZ region. They were the first New Zealand team to win the local finals and the first ANZ team to reach the global top six.
What was the ANZ team's innovation? Team MNM developed "Mémoire", an AI-powered service designed to translate personal memories into bespoke luxury fragrances, blending artificial intelligence with cosmetic science.
How can I apply for future opportunities at L'Oréal ANZ? You can discover early career programmes, internships, and future Brandstorm registrations by visiting the official L'Oréal ANZ Careers website.