fbpx

2023 Prize Competition

Bold Ideas, Uninterrupted

Play Video

What would our world look like if Black and Hispanic innovators were given the access, guidance, and support needed to excel, uninterrupted? This is the question Black Ambition seeks to answer.

Applications are now closed.

Thank you to everyone who submitted their application to the 2023 Black Ambition Prize Competition. Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know about resources, mentorship, funding opportunities, special events, and more. 

If only…

If only you had the right guidance, 
If only you had the right capital, 
If only you had the shot.

Today, we remove “if” from the equation.

Today, we embrace the fact that you are ready, you are qualified, you are Black Ambition at its finest. 
And we want to see it, right now. 
 
Not after your business has made its first five figures (or even it’s first five dollars).
Not after you gain thousands of followers. 
Today. Unhindered. Uninterrupted. Undisrupted.

Black Ambition finds, funds, and fuels the businesses of the future. Most importantly, we believe that the future looks like you.

Through two separate Prize tracks, the Black Ambition Prize competition provides a platform for Black, Hispanic and HBCU-affiliated founders across the nation to access growth capital, pitch feedback, and mentorship. Eligible applicants consist of Black and Hispanic innovators building early-stage ventures across five distinct categories:

Consumer Products and Services

Healthcare

Media and Entertainment
Technology

Web 3.0

Consumer Products and Services

Healthcare

Media and Entertainment

Technology

Web 3.0

NOTE

You must apply as a team
(with a minimum of two members). 

We know that building bold ideas and innovative companies requires collaboration and support. Eligible ventures will compete for awards between $15,000 to $1,000,000. Up to 250 semi-finalists will be selected, with one grand prize winner receiving $1,000,000.

Why Apply? 

Because it’s time to even the playing field. There’s not just space for more Black and Hispanic leaders in these industries, there’s an overwhelming necessity. Your ideas and innovation, combined with the right support, will tip the scales in a way that permanently changes the landscape in these arenas. We know that building bold ideas and innovative companies requires collaboration and support.

Eligible ventures will compete for awards between $15,000 to $1,000,000. Up to 250 semi-finalists will be
selected, with one grand prize winner receiving
$1,000,000.

In short, we need you.

Select applicants will receive the following support services.

Capital

Prize award of $15k-$1M

Coaching

Pitch, Wellness and Leadership workshops

Community

Online and in-person events and funder introductions

Capital

Prize award of $15k-$1M

Coaching

Pitch, Wellness and Leadership workshops

Community

Online and in-person events and funder introductions

Cohort-based Mentorship

Exclusive Training Opportunities with Global Brands
Resources – Supports valued at more than $20k through partners

Graphic Design Support

Marketing Opportunities

Cohort-based Mentorship

Exclusive Training Opportunities with Global Brands

Exclusive Training Opportunities with Global Brands

Graphic Design Support

Marketing Opportunities

2021 $1M GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Justin Turk, 2021 Black Ambition Prize Winner and Founder and CEO of Livegistics

People who think that winning Black Ambition is about the prize money have it all wrong. The network, the education, the resources are so much more important than the dollars. Being part of this organization has changed the trajectory of all of our lives here at Livegistics. Everyone who is part of this process will leave better off than they came. When 2022’s competition is over, don’t let money be the only thing you walk away with.

 

– Justin Turk, CEO of Livegistics

This is not about a short term cash injection or a “feel good” pep talk and a pat on the back. We’ve specifically designed the structure of each prize level to focus on the longevity of your business, so your ideas can continue coming to fruition 5, 10, or 15 years down the line.

This will not only change you, but it will also change your business, and with time…your entire industry.

That is why we want to see you apply.

With that in mind, we have carefully curated our eligibility requirements to ensure the prizes hold the highest impact potential for those they are awarded to.

BLACK AMBITION PRIZE RECIPIENTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

  • Be a for-profit venture in the fields of consumer products and services, healthcare, media and entertainment, technology, and / or web 3.0.
  • Are already, or intend to be, legally incorporated in the U.S.
  • Have demonstrated progress against a business concept as illustrated by a minimum viable product and/or existing consumer base.
  • Have raised less than $1M in dilutive funding at the time of applying for the award.
  • All team members must be at least eighteen (18) years of age
  • Eligible teams must include at least one founding member that identifies as Black/African/African American and/or Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx. A founding member is a team member having the title of CEO, Vice President or other C-level role (e.g., the CEO or an executive-level direct report to the CEO).
  • Each team must have a minimum of two team members. A team member is defined as an individual playing a critical role for the venture (e.g., employee, essential contracted support) with responsibilities for specific work streams or deliverables for the venture.
  • The lead of the venture (defined as the CEO or President, or most senior role on the founding team) must be a legal U.S. resident and based in the U.S.
  • For those applying for the HBCU Track: Eligible teams must have at least one founding team member who is the team lead and an HBCU-affiliated individual (a current student, a recent alum within five years of graduating, or a former student within five years of attending the institution) that identifies as Black / African / African American and / or Hispanic / Latina / Latino / Latinx.

LEARN TIPS FOR SUBMITTING A WINNING APPLICATION
March 8, 2023 | 3pm EST/12pm PST | Black Ambition HBCU Prize Webinar

Calling all HBCU students & recent alumni – Get your questions about the Black Ambition Prize competition answered directly from 2022 HBCU Prize Winners. The virtual Q&A will take place on 4/4 at 3pm EST. 

Speakers include @itsjasminelynn_ founder of @nestingnannies, Zachary Gilchrist founder of @themove.app, Emanuel Perez founder of @Novus, and @Antonio Pullen founder of @Dinkin’ and Bangin’

March 9, 2023 | 3pm EST/12pm PST | General Prize Webinar

Curious about the road to winning the Black Ambition Prize? Join us on Thursday 4/6 at 3pm EST for a live, virtual Q&A style event with winners from the 2022 Prize Competition – @_barbarajacques founder @shopjacqs, Chantel Powell founder of @playpits, Erdina Francillon founder of @pressynow, and Justin Turk, CEO of Livegistics. 

We’ll discuss the application, Demo Day, resources, and more. Come prepared with your questions!

Program Timeline

The application will be open for 10 weeks, plenty of time to bring your A-game. Selected semifinalists will participate in a mentorship program to refine their application and advance their business. These teachings will not just serve them in their efforts during this endeavor but through their entire business journey. Prize winners will be announced at the Black Ambition Demo Day in November 2023.
March 2023

Applications Open

March 2023

Application Development Workshop, HBCU Track

March 2023
Application Development Workshop, Black Ambition Prize

April 2023

Prior Prize Winner Panel & Q&A

May 8th, 2023

Applications Close
June 2023
Semi-finalists announced + mentorship cohorts begin

September 2023

Finalists announced

September 2023

Public Voting Begins
Novemeber 2023

National Demo Day

2022 $1M GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Camille Bell, 2022 Black Ambition Prize Winner and Co-Founder and CEO of Pound Cake.

Since winning the Black Ambition Prize 2022, I’m feeling invigorated, energized, and excited about our future! The Black Ambition Prize experience has made me so much more confident when pitching our brand to other investors, retailers, suppliers, and more! I’ve also been able to make new and meaningful connections with folks I’ve only dreamed of networking with!

I feel like an expert now when it comes to pitching our brand now that I’ve completed the Black Ambition experience. Whether I need to pitch our story in 15 seconds, or five minutes, I’m prepared. If you’re on the fence about applying, DO IT!! I wasn’t too sure where I would land since the competition was so fierce. Not only did Pound Cake come in first place, but I learned how to be a better leader and businesswoman.

Camille Bell

BA-Logo-White-1-300x67
“With Black Ambition, the goal is to help strengthen the pipeline of talented entrepreneurs…
Pharrell Williams
BA-Logo-White-1-300x67
…and close the opportunity and wealth gaps derived from limited access to capital and resources.”
Founder of Black Ambition
ABOUT BLACK AMBITION

What would our world look like if Black and Hispanic innovators were given the access, guidance, and support needed to excel uninterrupted? This is the question Black Ambition seeks to answer.

Founded by Pharrell Williams in 2020, Black, Hispanic, and HBCU-affiliated ventures in consumer products and services, media and entertainment, healthcare, technology and Web 3.0 are eligible to win up to $1M.

To date nearly $6M dollars has been awarded to founders who are here to shift the way the product, healthcare, media, and web industry moves, thinks, and performs. Black Ambition’s endeavors have been recognized by Forbes, Essence, Complex, and many more for driving meaningful change. It also was the winner of Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas award for Impact Investing, and named one of Fast Company’s 2022 Most Innovative Companies

Follow us at @blackambitionprize on Instagram to learn more about our regional programming and special events.