Sunscreen may not be the first product that comes to mind when discussing deep technology, but My Block Skin founder Dujon Smith is working to change that perception.
The inclusive sun-care company was named one of the winners of the 2026 UCLA Draper Innovation Showcase, securing a $100,000 investment commitment from the Draper family. My Block Skin advanced from a pool of more than 150 entrepreneurs to become one of 10 finalists, competing alongside companies working across biotechnology, climate technology and other emerging fields.
It was also the only beauty and consumer packaged goods company in the final group.
Smith founded My Block Skin around a straightforward belief: Sunscreen should protect your skin without changing its color. The company is developing sun-protection products intended to work across skin tones without leaving the visible white or gray cast commonly associated with some mineral sunscreens.
The brand’s ambitions, however, now extend beyond creating more inclusive products. My Block Skin says it is developing new science and intellectual property that could change how sunscreen is formulated, with the larger goal of making sun protection more effective, transparent and accessible.
“Beauty deserves a seat at the deep tech table, too,” Smith said in a LinkedIn post.
That positioning is significant because beauty innovation is sometimes discussed primarily through packaging, marketing, or trending ingredients. My Block Skin is approaching the category from a scientific perspective, treating sunscreen formulation as an area that still has room for meaningful technological progress.
Smith also credited chief science officer Jason Williams, a Ph.D. candidate, with helping advance the company’s research and scientific innovation.
The investment marks another step in My Block Skin’s evolution from an inclusive sunscreen company into a science-led skin-health business. The company has also been developing patented technology through the Magnify Incubator.
The UCLA Draper Innovation Showcase was supported by the Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and the Draper family, with involvement from Draper Associates, Halogen Ventures and Boost VC.
For Smith and his team, standing out in a field filled with emerging technology companies offers validation beyond the investment itself. The win signals that the future of skin care may be shaped as much by laboratories and intellectual property as it is by product shelves.
