Despite the beauty industry’s rapid pace and appetite for innovation, many brands still rely on outdated methods to source and collaborate with suppliers. NOUN Connect, a new AI-powered platform co-founded by Flavia Zhamo and beta-launched at this year’s New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC) Suppliers’ Day show, aims to change that.
By turning briefs into intelligent matches with vetted manufacturers and enabling real-time collaboration, NOUN is reimagining the process of bringing beauty products from concept to retail shelf.
In this CosmeticsDesign US Q&A, Zhamo explains how NOUN addresses key bottlenecks in R&D, improves speed to market, and sets the stage for a more connected, data-driven beauty ecosystem.
CDU: What inspired the launch of NOUN, and how does the platform address key challenges beauty brands face when trying to connect with vendors?
FZ: When I launched Everyday Chemist and EC Studios, I was surprised by how fragmented and outdated the product development process still is despite the beauty industry’s fast-paced, innovation-driven nature. Brands still rely on manual sourcing, while vendors use inefficient systems to manage projects.
NOUN simplifies this by turning a brief, generated from a prompt or URL, into a match with vetted manufacturers. From there, both sides can manage development through a shared dashboard. We built NOUN to be a smart, evolving tool for growing, innovative brands and vendors.
CDU: NOUN emphasizes real-time, qualitative insights powered by AI. Can you share how the technology works behind the scenes to deliver such insights?
FZ: At its core, NOUN is a data company. The more inputs we receive from brands and vendors, the more intelligent and precise our matchmaking becomes.
Behind the scenes, the platform leverages multiple language models and a proprietary algorithm to analyze project briefs, behavioral signals, and production constraints across product categories and regions.
Each vendor is indexed with over 50 data points including capabilities, certifications, formats, and compliance zones which allows us to match brands based on real manufacturing fit, not guesswork.
CDU: One of NOUN’s standout features is its ability to provide on-demand access to a curated community of industry manufacturers. How do you ensure diversity and relevance within this community?
FZ: NOUN’s vendor ecosystem is built to reflect the complexity and diversity of today’s beauty landscape. Our network includes boutique labs, global manufacturers, and niche specialists across North America, Europe, and Asia.
We prioritize quality and only vendors who align with our standards for innovation, speed, and transparency are approved.
This curation enables brands to explore new categories, validate concepts quickly, and de-risk early-stage development. Our evolving dataset also powers real-time insights, such as identifying which manufacturer is best equipped to produce a refillable sunscreen for the EU, or the best at formulating and sealing aluminum packaged lip balms.
CDU: For brands and suppliers focused on R&D and product innovation, how can NOUN streamline or accelerate the feedback loop?
FZ: NOUN reduces delays by connecting brands with vendors who already meet their needs - saving weeks or even months in development. Brands can submit a brief and immediately access expert partners, samples, and feedback.
We’re also building real-time collaboration tools so teams can iterate on packaging, performance, or claims in one place. And since teams prefer to work in their existing channels, we’re prioritizing integrations with email, Slack, and WhatsApp.
CDU: With growing pressure on brands to launch faster while staying consumer-centric, how does NOUN help with speed-to-market?
FZ: NOUN connects the dots between creativity, strategy, sourcing, and execution. Soon, it will offer brands intelligent ingredient and SKU suggestions based on retailer requirements, claims, and technical specs.
We’re also focused on spotlighting supplier innovation giving manufacturers a platform to showcase breakthrough R&D. When the process is more efficient, everyone wins: brands move faster, suppliers get discovered, and consumers get better, more exciting products.
CDU: Looking ahead, how do you envision AI-driven platforms like NOUN evolving, and what role will they play in the future of beauty innovation?
FZ: AI is becoming a creative and operational partner in product development. NOUN is building toward a future where founders can simulate concepts, test claims, and explore ingredient stories using real-time data.
As the platform matures, it will offer predictive product roadmaps, formulation suggestions, and supply chain optimization - all tailored to a brand’s needs. Our goal is to make NOUN not just a sourcing tool, but a fully-integrated innovation engine for the next generation of beauty brands.
