Black Ambition

We are beyond excited to reveal the outstanding winners of the 2024 Black Ambition Prize Competition: -$1M Grand Prize Winner: Dr. Monica Williams, Co-Founder/CEO of RedDrop, a revolutionary brand empowering and educating tweens with thoughtfully designed period kits. -$250k 2nd Place Winner: Thomas Fields, Founder/CEO of GRIND, inspiring young inner-city kids to explore engineering and technology through cutting-edge sports tech. -$50k HBCU Grand Prize Winner: Jordyn Weaver, Founder/CEO of Forefront. -$25k Most Popular Venture Prize Winner: Ericka Chambers, Co-Founder/CEO of Puzzles of Color. This year, we awarded over $2.7M to 30 visionary founders who are breaking barriers and building the businesses of the future. These entrepreneurs have inspired us with their bold ideas, passion, and resilience, and we cannot wait to see their businesses thrive. A heartfelt thank you to our esteemed judges — Lisa Price, Pinky Cole, Matt Story, and Erik Moore — for your thoughtful deliberation. Immense gratitude to our generous sponsors — Visa, Comcast, Lennar Foundation, Louis Vuitton, and Adidas — for making this transformative day possible. To our emcee Hill Harper, the Black Ambition team, and everyone behind the scenes, your dedication made this celebration magical and unforgettable. To every founder in our community, your courage and creativity remind us of the power of investing in Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs. Together, we’re building a brighter, more equitable future. Let’s keep this momentum going. Visit www.blackambitionprize.com to learn more about our mission and follow @blackambitionprize to stay inspired. Here’s to celebrating innovation, impact, and the future of entrepreneurship! Felecia Hatcher Jermeen Sherman Christine Joseph Samiyah Malik, MS Alexis Chin BSc (Hons) MBA Aliyah Terry #BlackAmbition #DemoDay2024 #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #FundingTheFuture #BreakingBarriers #CelebratingCulture Photo Credit: Jason Mendez, @photographsbyj @gettyimages Content team: @ciaraingram @aa_dawg @lexalt @crossoniam @noelwalton_ @ishootwithmyleft

Glow UP this Holiday Season with Caire Beauty! ✨ This season, it’s all about self-care and radiant skin! Caire Beauty is here to help you achieve that holiday glow with skincare designed to empower and rejuvenate. Special Holiday Treat: Use code BF20 for 20% off your next purchase! Give the gift of confidence and beauty to yourself or a loved one. Celebrate bold innovation and Black excellence with Caire Beauty this holiday season. Shop now and glow brighter than ever! 💖 #CaireBeauty #BlackAmbition #HolidayGlow #SelfCareSeason #SkinCareforGrownUps

The Bereola Family knows how to make the holidays special 🔥🎄 Enitan Bereola, 2023 Black Ambition Prize Winner and Co-Founder of SAINT MILES, truly understands the essence of the season. At SAINT MILES, they are dedicated to creating spaces where memories live on. This holiday, gift more than just presents—give your presence. Welcome home. 🏡✨ Explore their exclusive collection of apparel, decor, accessories, and more. How are you celebrating this year? #SAINTMILES #HolidayMemories #WelcomeHome #UnboxingJoy #BlackAmbition

Bring the holiday magic to your table—one piece at a time! ✨🎄 This season, experience the joy of snow-filled days, cozy family gatherings, and the timeless wonder of “The Night Before Christmas” with Puzzles of Color. More than just puzzles, we’re celebrating Black joy, culture, and artistry. Founded by siblings Ericka and William, Puzzles of Color brings frameable art by talented artists of color into your home. Every piece tells a story, and every puzzle lets you become the artist, recreating imagery that’s worth showcasing. Ready to turn holiday cheer into a masterpiece? 🎁 Shop now at puzzlesofcolor.com and make this season unforgettable.  #PuzzlesOfColor #HolidayMagic #ShopBlackOwned #unboxingJOY #BlackAmbition

Bring the holiday magic to your table—one piece at a time! ✨🎄 This season, experience the joy of snow-filled days, cozy family gatherings, and the timeless wonder of “The Night Before Christmas” with Puzzles of Color. More than just puzzles, we’re celebrating Black joy, culture, and artistry. Founded by siblings Ericka and William, Puzzles of Color brings frameable art by talented artists of color into your home. Every piece tells a story, and every puzzle lets you become the artist, recreating imagery that’s worth showcasing. Ready to turn holiday cheer into a masterpiece? 🎁 Shop now at https://bit.ly/3BFwHig and make this season unforgettable. #PuzzlesOfColor #HolidayMagic #ShopBlackOwned #unboxingJOY #BlackAmbition

We're thrilled to celebrate our visionary founder, Pharrell Williams, on his prestigious appointment as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Arts Education and Entrepreneurship! A big thank you to Director-General Audrey Azoulay for recognizing Pharrell’s passionate advocacy for education and entrepreneurship through initiatives like Black Ambition and YELLOW. This remarkable honor was marked by an unforgettable moment at the UNESCO Headquarters, where Pharrell connected with 800 students during the screening of his animated LEGO® biopic, "Piece by Piece." His new role promises to magnify UNESCO’s mission across the globe, focusing on empowering young creators in Africa and beyond. Join us in celebrating this achievement. Here's to fostering innovation, creativity, and education to build a better future together! #UNESCO #PharrellWilliams #GoodwillAmbassador #ArtsEducation #Creativity

Pharrell has been appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Arts Education and Entrepreneurship by Director-General Audrey Azoulay. To mark this special moment, he spoke to 800 students at UNESCO Headquarters during a screening of "Piece by Piece", his animated LEGO® biopic directed by Morgan Neville, which retraces his inspiring career. As a Goodwill Ambassador, Pharrell will amplify UNESCO’s mission at major international cultural events and champion educational and cultural programs worldwide—particularly supporting young creators in Africa. Welcome to the UNESCO family, Pharrell! Together, we’ll harness the power of creativity and education to build a better future. #UNESCO #PharrellWilliams #GoodwillAmbassador #ArtsEducation #Creativity

🎄 Get into the holiday spirit by supporting underrepresented founders this year! Download our Holiday Gift Guide and discover perfect gifts to wrap with Black Paper Party wrapping paper, sip on rejuvenating mocktails from Rejuvenation, or indulge in the Gently Soap holiday gift box—an Oprah’s favorite this season. 🌟 https://bit.ly/41CSP7e Every purchase not only brings joy to your loved ones but also advances the dreams of our Black and Hispanic Prize Winners. Shop now, and don’t forget to tag us @blackambitionprize when you share your festive celebrations. We’re excited to feature your stories! #BlackAmbition #HolidayShopping #EmpowerEntrepreneurs

The best kinds of auctions are the ones that have lasting impact. JOOPITER is honored to host the auction of this Richard Mille RM 65-01, featuring the signature of our founder, Pharrell Williams, etched on its sapphire crystal caseback. For horology enthusiasts, you know how special a Richard Mille watch is. The winning bidder and their guest will also receive an invitation to one of the brand’s exclusive VIP global events, spanning the worlds of automotive, sports, art and yachting. The Richard Mille brand will generously donate the net proceeds from this auction to benefit Black Ambition, the nonprofit initiative founded by Pharrell. Black Ambition's mission is to close the opportunity and wealth gap through entrepreneurship by investing capital and resources in high-growth startups founded by Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs. Bid today on https://bit.ly/3ZWlgMp. Auction closing soon, on December 17 at 12PM EST. #blackambition #JOOPITER #richardmille #pharrell

Announcing Our HBCU Pre-Accelerator Grand Prize Winner: Forefront Meet Forefront, the winner of this year’s So Ambitious HBCU Pre-Accelerator! Founded by visionary entrepreneur Jordyn Weaver, Forefront is revolutionizing the way Black and POC brands connect with their audiences. As the first content and creator marketplace for the culture, Forefront makes it easy for brands to partner with social media influencers who produce content that resonates deeply and drives sales. Forefront helps Black brands stay at the forefront of consumers' minds by leveraging influencers who promote their products to millions online through gifted products and paid partnerships. By creating a bridge between culture-driven content and impactful collaborations, Forefront empowers brands to thrive in today’s digital economy. Join us in celebrating Jordyn Weaver for her game-changing vision and dedication to elevating the culture! 🌟 #BlackAmbition #Forefront #SoAmbitious #InfluencerMarketing #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #CulturalImpact