Johnson & Johnson beauty challenge crowdsources new skincare tech

Calling all digital entrepreneurs: Johnson & Johnson is looking for creative tech skincare solutions in its Digital Beauty QuickFire Challenge. The contest runs through Jan. 19, with entries expected to address skin health management, skincare personalization and even technology that could improve skin health in the face of harder-to-treat issues such as acne and eczema.

The winner—or winners—will get up to $50,000, plus one year of residency at Johnson & Johnson Innovation incubator JLABS with space and access to expertise inside the pharma and consumer healthcare giant.

"We’re looking for novel, future forward, digital beauty solutions and we’re looking to tackle really tough consumer skincare problems," Naomi Furgiuele, J&J vice president of global face and sun R&D, said. "We’re hoping to find solutions that are meaningful, engaging, that pull technologies from other industries and solutions that are fun. It’s only going to work to fill a need for the consumer if they’re engaged in it and if they’re compliant and they use it regularly. That’s why the element of engaging and fun is important, because that will help drive compliance."