If the September 2015 new ventures are any indication, there are plenty of inspiring opportunities for budding entrepreneurs to capitalize on. Some of these new business ideas are boldly experimental, like Glambot taking in used consumer cosmetics, sterilizing them and putting them up for resale.
Other unusual examples include alcohol-free bars, online-only bakeries and subscription services that will provide shipments of oddly-shaped or ugly produce to consumers. Gleaning inspiration from these unusual endeavors, it's clear that there's plenty of room for even more unusual, niche business concepts well beyond just the food, drinks and beauty industries.
In the spirit of branching out and trying something new, Sephora recently introduced a beauty subscription box, while Tabasco has finally opened up its own spicy hot sauce-themed restaurant.
Top 40 New Venture Concepts in September
40
Entrepreneurial Advice Charts
This Entrepreneur Infographic Lists Things To Do and Not To Do
39
Automatic Bartenders
The Foxtender is an Alcohol Vending Machine with a Compatible Payment App
38
High-End Electric Motorcycles
Jans Shaplin Creates a Concept For a Tesla Motorbike
37
Apocalyptic Survival Kits
Battlbox Delivers Hardcore Survival Supplies to Subscribers' Doorsteps
36
Popular Peanut Butter Bars
Peanut Butter Brand Jif Has Expanded to Offer Pre-Packaged Granola Bars
35
Gourmet Dinner Deliveries
The 'Supper' Cars Aim to Deliver Gourmet-Quality Food Directly to Homes
34
Service-Requesting Apps
NeedIn Asks What Requested Business Ventures Would Benefit Their Area
33
Luxury Aircraft Services
Aviation Platform JetMe Functions Like Uber But For Privately Owned Jets
32
Imperfect Produce Subscriptions
The Startup Imperfect Repurposes Perfectly Edible Misshaped Food
31
Beauty Lifestyle Boxes
The 'Play! by Sephora' Makeup Subscriptions Come with Music & More
30
Used Makeup Retailers
Glambot Santizes Shoppers' Old Makeup and Resells It at Discounted Prices
29
Simplified Internet Routers
Google's OnHub System is Set to Simplify Wi-Fi Connections
28
Luxury Pet Plane Cabins
These Designated Cabins Make Flying with a Pet Classy on American Airlines
27
Luggage Collection Services
This Service Will Collect a Customer's Airport Luggage for Them
26
Visual Vodka-Recognition Apps
Select Absolut Vodka Bottles Feature Shazam to Unlock New Content
25
Natural Hair Drybars
This Quick Service Salon Specializes in Beautiful Natural Styles
24
Floating Fast Food Barges
A&W Creates a Floating Restaurant with a Water Accessible Drive Thru
23
Luxury Canine-Subscription Services
This Subscription Service Delivers High-Quality Pet Food
22
Sustainable Swimwear
Speedo & Aquafil Created the World's First Swimwear Recycling Program
21
Hot Sauce-Themed Restaurants
This Fiery New Restaurant is the Perfect Option for Spice Fans
20
Alternative Hotel Searches
This Room Finder Compares All Types of Accommodation Options
19
On-Demand Locksmith Apps
This Service Allows Customers to Request a Locksmith at a Fixed Price
18
Alcohol-Free Cocktail Bars
This New London Restaurant Only Serves Alcohol-Free Drinks
17
Spiritual Subscription Services
Gabby Bernstein's 'Get More Gabby' Has Tools for Self-Improvement
16
Model-Booking Apps
This Modeling App Lets Companies Book Models Directly Without Agencies
15
Split Hospitality Programs
Hyatt and Onefinestay Developed a Unique Travel Sharing Partnership
14
Crowdfunded Gaming Sites
This Platform Allows Users to Finance New Computer Games
13
App Data-Analyzing Platforms
Sensor Data Management Startup Sense360 Helps Developers Serve Better
12
Gourmet Online Bakeries
This Online Bakery Delivers Exquisite Pastries All Over the U.S.
11
Kid-Made Cosmetics
The First-Graders at Elm Street Elementary School Make and Sell Sugar Scrubs
10
International Student Housing Sites
'Nestpick' Matches Students with Their European Homes
9
Home Business Apps
Ishippo Provides Business Owners With Logistical Solutions
8
Refreshment-Gifting Apps
'Guusto' is an Social Gifting App That Sends Food or Drinks in Real-Time
7
Shared-Viewing Streaming Extensions
The Showgoers Extension Lets You Link Your Netflix Accounts
6
Home-Delivered Cobbler Services
Cobbler Concierge Provides Shoe Repair Without Leaving the House
5
Simplified Tax Apps
The 'Sensibill' App Takes the Stress Out of Doing Taxes
4
Experiential Gifting Apps
GiftCaddies Makes It Easy to Send a Gift Activity Seamlessly
3
Renter Tattletale Services
Building Snitch Helps Landlords Uncover Illegal Rentals on Airbnb
2
Marijuana-Locating Apps
'Blaze Now' Helps Users Rate and Find Marijuana Dispensaries
1
Financial Advisor Apps
'Even' is a Virtual Financial Manager for Stressless Money Management
Related Ideas
Collaborative Travel Beauty Bags
The Rare Beauty x Béis Beauty Collection Takes Cosmetics to Go
High-End Beauty Campaigns
The La Beauté Louis Vuitton Campaign Debuts With a Bold Vision
Gen X Beauty Campaigns
Bluemercury's Up Next Campaign Celebrates Women 40+
Next-Gen K-Beauty Pop-Ups
MUSKAT Hosted a Five Day Immersive Experience in L.A.
Laser Facial SoHo Pop-Ups
SEV Laser Hosted a NYF(acial)W Activation
Close-Wearing Fragrances
BORNTOSTANDOUT's EAU INTIMITÉ Collection Explores Creative Skin Scents
Seasonal Shopping Occasions
Sephora Canada Spotlights Must-Haves for the Sephora Savings Event
Bakery-Themed Beauty Pop-Ups
Clarins' Sweet Spot Activation Celebrates a Decade of Lip Comfort Oil
Science-Led Teen Skincare
Teen Beauty Brand indu is Stepping Away from Makeup to Focus on Skincare
Mood-Matching Body Mists
Glow Hub's Collectable Body Mists are Expressive and Made to Layer
Global Social Impact Initiatives
Reckitt Expands Its Catalyst Program in the US
Immersive Luxury Cosmetics Pop-Ups
Louis Vuitton Spotlights La Beauté Louis Vuitton
Versatile Beauty-Enthusiast-Approved Products
L’Oréal Paris Spotlights its Trending Must-Haves
Curated Store Concepts
A New Target Soho Store Opens in New York with Design-First Looks
Modern Ayurvedic-Inspired Beauty Companies
Indē Wild is Expanding to Sephora in the US
Social-First Direct Selling Series
Mary Kay Miss Conceptions Reshapes Gen Z & Millennial Mindsets
House Party Pop-Ups
The Boots Beauty House Party Takes Guests Through a Beauty Routine
Spicy Sauce Lip Glosses
The Sephora Collection x TABASCO® Brand Lip Glosses Come in Four Shades
Design-Forward Concept Stores
Target SoHo is Immersive, Experiential and Shoppable
Accessible Makeup Palettes
Shine Foundation and Cheekbone Beauty are Filling a Beauty Industry Gap
Milestone Beauty Campaigns
The Body Shop Launched Its 'Rebellious by Nature' 50th Anniversary Ad
Gamified Shade-Matching Activations
Rare Beauty and Sephora Launched the True to Myself Match Up
Pride-Supporting Cosmetic Campaigns
Sephora and Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Partnered for Pride Month
Creator-Led Style Collabs
MAC Cosmetics and Depop are Reintroducing Gen Z Shoppers to Lipstick
Wishlist-Spotlighting Billboards
Sephora Canada Features Customer Wishlists on Holiday Billboards
Curated On-The-Go Beauty Sets
Sephora Launches The Sephora Favorites MVP Kit and The Courtside Kit
Professional K-Beauty Innovations
VT-Cosmetics' Us Debut at Ulta Beauty is Highly Anticipated
Whole-Family Beauty Collections
Old Navy Beauty Co. Shares Fun, Accessible Skincare & More
Medical Aesthetic Brand Expansions
REJURAN COSMETICS Enters Sephora
Multisensory Gourmand Pop-Ups
Lush's Café Gourmand Pop-Up Immerses Visitors in Cozy Scents
Fandom Culture Retail Experiences
EB Games x Vibrant Marketing Launch an 'EB Trends' Store Concept
Gamified Condiment Experiences
HEINZ’s Ketchup Blast Turns Meals Interactive
Seasoning-Inspired Beauty Sets
Rare Beauty x Tajín Dropped Two Shades Inspired by Iconic Hues
K-Beauty Pop-Ups
Amorepacific and Sephora's Multi-Brand Launches in New York
Live Social Shopping Expansions
QVC® Announces New Brands That Will Join Its Roster in 2026
Rewards-Based Beauty Devices
Sephora Expanded its Rewards Catalog With High Tech Skincare Tools
Contemporary Asian Cosmetics Retailers
SUKOSHI is Opening Its Biggest Location in New York City
Made-to-Mix Fragrances
The Fragrance Bar Makes It Easy to Create Layered Personal Scents
Clinical K-Beauty Pop-Ups
Rejuran Debuts Science-Led Skincare Through a Sephora LA Activation
Dermatologist-Founded Skincare Brand Expansions
Fig.1 Beauty Has Launched on Sephora
Experiential Brand Stores
New Era Creates Interactive Retail Space With Custom Cap Design
Breakthrough Beauty Brand Expansions
rhode Launches in Sephora, Marking a Major Retail Expansion
Lifestyle Icon-Backed Stores
Martha Stewart is Launching Stores Globally, Starting in Dubai
Takeout-Style Serum Sets
Glow Hub’s Skin Sips to Go are Packaged Like Cups in a Carrier
High-End Pharmacy Fragrance Boutiques
Boots Fragrance Offers Over 400 Options
Grocery-Inspired Beauty Pop-Ups
The Markup Marché by The Ordinary Challenges Industry Buzzwords
Beauty Retailer Partnerships
CJ OLIVE YOUNG x SEPHORA Announced a Global Partnership and Expansion
Sensorial Texture Formulation Collections
Seppic Unveils the Beauty Cosmic Odyssey Collection
Cafe-Style Beauty Pop-Ups
Charlotte Tilbury's Café Airbush Immerses Fans in New Products
Mobile Beauty Supply Pop-Ups
Sally Beauty Enters into a Collaboration with DoorDash in NYC
Unhoused Individuals-Supporting Initiatives
Thrive Causemetics & Beauty 2 the Streetz Parttner
Hair Brand Launches
Alli Webb Launches 'Messy' Hair Care at Sephora
Beauty Entrepreneurs Growth Studios
Breakout Beauty UK Represents a Strategic Initiative
Business Idea Generators
Crazy Business Idea Generator Lets Users Vote and Share Ideas Socially
Prescriptive Haircare Pop-Ups
The REHAB. Prescription Bar is Taking Over The Beauty Spot
Bold Beauty Campaigns
IPSY Reframes Beauty as a Hobby with the 'I Play Beauty' Campaign
Pink Beauty Advent Calendars
IPSY Debuts Its Coveted 25-Day Advent Calendar
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Corporate Skin-Care Initiatives
Beiersdorf Launches the Skin Care Innovation Fund
Scan-to-Sniff Fragrance Billboards
Rare Beauty's Activation with Shopify Shop Promote a New Scent
Fashion Brand Expansions
Veronica Beard Enters the Sunglasses and Jewelry Market
Personalized Beauty-Tech Systems
MaXpace Lets Brands Produce Custom Formulas On-Site
Fashion Brand Cosmetic Collections
Juicy Couture Beauty Products Come in a Variety of Options
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Luxurious Beauty Collections
The Louis Vuitton La Beauté Collection is Chic and Artistic
Multipurpose Metallic Spray Bottles
The 'NUBE' Spray Bottle Concept is Stylish and Refillable
Spring Skincare Sampling Boxes
The NewBeauty Spring 2026 TestTube Box is Curated
Mobile Beauty Retail Activations
Cardi B Debuts Beauty Truck for Her Haircare Brand
Beauty Store Birthday Parties
Birthdays at Ulta Come with a Gift Bag Curated for Tweens and Teens
Comprehensive Fast Food Reports
Yum! Brands, Inc. Explores Food Trends Influencing the Industry
Mystery Fragrance Subscriptions
Scentbird Society Shares Members-Only Scent Curations
Emotional Wellness Neurocosmetics
The Skin-Brain Axis Inspired Gotha Cosmetics' Neuroaura Concept
Celebrity-Supported Chef-Crafted Restaurant Concepts
goop kitchen is Expanding to New York City
Futuristic Personal Care Fragrances
Parfex Launches FutureSkin Nova Collection
Comedy Horror Cosmetics
The NYX Cosmetics x Wednesday Collection Creates Fun, Dark Designs
Body Care Rebranding Initiatives
Tree Hut Embraces the Sentiment of 'Uncontain Yourself'
Residential-Inspired Beauty Stores
The Tom Ford Beauty Brand Opens in the SoHo District
Pizza-Inspired Skincare Sets
Glow Hub’s Pizza My Glow Shares Brightening Solutions in a Fun Box
Gourmand Beauty Products
Cake Beauty Brings Dessert-Inspired Haircare to Mass Retail
Accessible Beauty Consultations
Walmart’s Beauty Experts Offer Personalized In-Store Guidance
Canadian Beauty Relaunches
The Body Shop Canada Embraces Local Ownership Under New Leadership
Limited-Edition Regional-Specific Snack Boxes
Tokyotreat Presents the Harajuku Snackventure Box
Fragrance Shopping Events
Sephora Introduced its 'Fragrance For All Event' for Last Minute Gifting
Growth-Focused Beauty Pop-Ups
UKLASH's Self-Growth Studio Spotlights Multiple Dimensions of Growth
Beauty Shopper Transports
Sephora & Lyft Media's Delivered to Beauty Sent Shoppers to Stores
Seasonal Living-Focused Tea Subscriptions
Kiara Naturals is Expanding & Introducing a New Service
Startup Idea Newsletters
Easy Startup Ideas Delivers Business Roadmaps For Aspiring Founders
Restaurant-to-Retail Expansions
Little Sesame Secured $8.5M to Scale Its Manufacturing Operations
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Women-Focused Business Grants
Mastercard Opened Its Small Business Fund 2026 to Canadian Women
Textured Gourmand Fragrances
New Perfumes Feature Creamy, Buttery, and Edible-Inspired Notes
Game-Themed Beauty Pop-Ups
Benefit Cosmetics' Beneland Shares Playful, Giftable Product Sets
Refillable Skincare Lineups
Fig.1 Beauty Emphasizes Sustainability in Its Packaging
Micro-Batch Spa Skincare Services
Natural Spa Factory Launched 'Sk:incredible' Private-Label Line
Limited-Edition Designer-Forward Collaborations
Black Market Debuts the Highly Anticipated Capsule
Boutique Jewelry Concepts
Rocksbox is Expanding Its Presence in Metropolitan Areas
Color-Matching Beauty Devices
The BoldHue Starter Kit Makes Persoanlized Foundation in Minutes
Children's Beauty Products
Olive & June Expands into Kid-Sized Press-On Nails
Celebrity-Backed Skincare Brands
Savannah James' Reframe Beauty Arrives on the Market
Idea Repository Books
Business Ideas Database Curates Proven Business Opportunities At Scale
Mystery-Driven Beauty Brands
Enigma Launched with the Philosophy That Beauty Should Be Personal
Peer-Powered Gifting Initiatives
indu and SoPost Encourage Customers to Share Samples with Friends
Empowering Cosmetic Campaigns
The Revlon Be Unforgettable Campaign Reinterprets a Brand Tagline
Multi-Revenue Fashion Platforms
Rent the Runway expands into resale, ads and cleaning services
Curated Resale Storefronts
eBay's The NYC Edit Storefront Shares Tastemaker Selections
Spring-Inspired Nail Polish Kits
Beetles Gel Polish Debuts Its Taste of Spring 2026 Collection
Ritual-Driven Home Collections
Gotham Goods is Being Reintroduced to the Market
Book-Themed Bar Concepts
Book Bar is an Upcoming Destination for Shopping, Eating & Connecting
Celebratory Beauty Expansion Campaigns
KimChiChic Beauty Celebrates Its Inclusion in Ulta
Social-First Beauty Retailers
Sally Beauty Joins TikTok Shop
Las Vegas-Inspired Fashion Capsules
Dinner Service New York Debuts the Las Vegas Collection
Celebrity Makeup Artist-Backed Brands
Patrick Ta Beauty Enters Sephora Middle East
Premium Dispensing Solutions
Aptar Beauty Unveiled New On-Shelf Dispensing Systems
In-Store Creator Commerce
Mac Cosmetics Turns Retail Employees into Live-Streaming Creators
Beauty Discovery Cosmetic Collections
Trouble Maker Cosmetics are Arriving at Superdrug in the UK
Online Luxury Lifestyle Shops
Quince Gourmet Food & Wines is Launching in Time for the Holidays
Service-Backed Recommerce Platforms
Commonplace Launches Marketplace With Built-In Delivery
Global Product Launch Events
Uber Unveils a New Go-Get Exhibit Featuring Interactive Vignettes
Naturally Derived Substance Marketplaces
Robertet Debuts e-Robertet in Canada and the US
Black-Owned Cannabis Business Accelerators
The Gotham Growth Project Supports Black Businesses
Supportive Investment Initiatives
The Branded Agency Debuted a New Investment Arm — Snail Ventures
Luxury Beauty Destinations
A Niche Beauty Destination Offers Premium Services
Redesigning Restful Moments
The ANEW Project Turns Daily Objects into Mini Retreats
Global Brand Refresh Systems
'Face the Future' Announces Rebrand With ShopTalk Studio
Ready-Made Brand Marketplaces
Brands Like These Sells One-Off, Agency-Quality Brand Kits
White-Label Beauty Programs
Blanka Enables Easy, Custom Beauty Brand Launches With Dropshipping
Luxurious Beauty Launches
La Beauté Louis Vuitton Debuted with Refillable Makeul and Artful Design
Blueberry Acceleration Programs
USHBC Unveils the Blueberry Boost Accelerator Program
Healthcare Apparel Retail Concepts
Kindthread Opens an Omnichannel Scrub Store
Startup Deal Platforms
Discover Hidden Startup Gems With Micro Deals This Black Friday
Boutique Grocery Makeovers
This Women’s Clothing Boutique is Charming and Thoughtful Design
Hot-Pour Manufacturing System Expansions
SV Labs Aims to Help Global Brands Scale Faster
Purpose-Led Emerging Brands Initiatives
7-Eleven Taps 27 Brands for Its 2026 Brands with Heart™
Small Business-Honoring Events
Fairfax City Economic Development Brings Back Small Business Month
Multi-Brand Snack Boxes
Bobby’s Expands its Delivery Capabilities with the ‘Brand Box’ Service
CPG-Focused Service-For-Equity Models
Crave Ventures Has Formally Commenced Operations
Reduced-MOQ Cosmetic Services
Cosmetic Innov Access Launched by Édith Almenara and Walid Ouennich
Empowering Entrepeneur Clubs
Saltbox Introduces 'Upstream' for Loyal Members Looking for Community
Minimal Spray Bottle Concepts
NOS Design Creates the NUBE Concept of Spray Bottles
Discovery-Led Beauty Zones
Watsons Launches BeautyVerse And Jubilee Wellness Corners