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10 Creator Funding & Accelerator Programs Content Creators Can Apply For in 2026
- Santeka Grigley
- Jan 20
- 3 min read
Whether you’re building your first audience or scaling a creator business, opportunities now exist that provide funding, community, mentorship, and even brand exposure. From beauty brand collabs to platform-run accelerators, these resources can help you grow your creative career and monetize your influence.
Below are 10 programs content creators can explore in 2026 — spanning brand initiatives, platform accelerators, and mentorship opportunities.
15 Creator Funding & Accelerator Programs
1. Sephora Squad
Sephora Squad is Sephora’s annual creator program that partners diverse beauty influencers with the brand to collaborate on campaigns and feature content across Sephora’s platforms. Participants gain mentorship, exclusive opportunities, and a chance to grow their audience within the beauty community.
2. Ulta Beauty Collective
The Ulta Beauty Collective connects beauty creators with Ulta Beauty for collaborative content and partnership opportunities. Members receive access to new product launches, creative support, and networking opportunities with beauty brands.
3. Pinterest Inclusion Fund (formerly “Creator Fund”)
The Pinterest Inclusion Fund is a creator accelerator program that provides financial resources, mentorship, and education to underrepresented content creators and small business owners looking to grow their presence and impact on Pinterest. Participants gain access to expert coaching, training sessions, and potential cash or ad credit stipends to help optimize their content and expand their audience globally.
4. The LIONS Scholarship
The LIONS Scholarship is designed to support the next generation of talent, placing an emphasis on diversity of location, gender, race, class, preference and perspective. With five places available in the Brand Marketers Academy and five in the Creative Academy, a total of 10 under-30s from 10 countries will be accepted for the Scholarship.
5. DBA (Digital Brand Architects) Mentorship Program
DBA’s mentorship program was created in 2021 to provide knowledge, resources and tangible skills to rising Black creators. The multi-week program is presented in partnership with DBA’s leading platform partners including Meta, TikTok, YouTube and more to help mentees grow their digital footprints and online businesses, and also amplify their unique individual voices.
DBA’s mission is to level the playing field for all creators by bridging the racial pay gap within the creator economy.
6. Paula’s Choice On the Rise Program
Paula’s Choice On The Rise Program is a year-long, paid influencer initiative designed to support and amplify the voices of Black beauty content creators with under ~20K followers through paid collaborations and ongoing mentorship. Participants receive financial compensation for content, early access to product launches, brand amplification, educational support, and engagement opportunities with the Paula’s Choice team.
7. Walmart Start
Walmart Start is Walmart’s beauty brand accelerator designed to help emerging beauty companies scale their businesses and prepare for potential product launches in Walmart stores and online. The program provides selected brands with access to educational resources, mentorship from Walmart merchants, operational support, and networking opportunities to help them grow and succeed in mass retail.
8. YouTube Creator Community
The YouTube Creator Community lets creators get a chance to meet, engage with and learn from other creators who will serve as their network on YouTube. Creators will also get support from a YouTube Community Partner Manager (CPM), who serves as their guide in navigating YouTube.
9. Tower 28 Clean Beauty Summer School
Tower 28’s Clean Beauty Summer School is a 10-week professional development program that gives minority-owned clean beauty brands and selected content creators access to expert-led virtual classes, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Creators in the program receive industry coaching and the chance to compete for a year-long collaboration contract and legal support to help advance their career and visibility.
10. LinkedIn Creator Accelerator Program
The LinkedIn Creator Accelerator Program is a 6-week incubator-style initiative that supports creators in building their audience, sparking meaningful conversations, and growing an engaged community on LinkedIn through coaching, early access tools, and networking opportunities. Participants also receive a financial award and personalized support from the LinkedIn team to help bring new concepts and content to life on the platform.
Additional Platform Funds & Programs
Beyond these marquee opportunities, platforms like LTK Creator Platform and Accelerator Programs, TikTok Creator Fund, and Twitch partner programs offer monetization and growth support to creators at scale.
Final Thoughts: Choose the Right Opportunity for You
Each creator program differs in focus, eligibility, and benefits — from beauty industry accelerators to platform-level creator funds and professional growth initiatives like LinkedIn’s program. As you review your goals, consider:
Your niche: Beauty, lifestyle, tech, business, or storytelling
Your platform: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn
Your objectives: mentorship, financial support, partnerships, or education
These programs are designed to help creators jumpstart their careers, expand their audiences, and access resources they might not get alone. Be sure to check individual application deadlines and criteria — many programs run annual or quarterly cohorts.
