Black Ambition: The Prize That Gets Everyone’s Attention
Get ready forBlack Ambition's 5th Annual Demo Day & Founders Forum in Miami, FL on Nov 14-15, 2025. Over $1M in funding for underrepresented entrepreneurs, expert panels, and investor networking. Drive business growth.
Brought to you by a powerhouse team: Pharrell Williams, and his co-visionary CEO Felecia Hatcher, in partnership with heavy-hitters like Visa, Louis Vuitton, Lennar Foundation & Adidas. This isn’t your usual startup meet-up—it’s a full-on culture + innovation live event inviting founders, investors, icons, and underrepresented creators into the same room.
"There's so much brilliance out there that never gets seen. So many ideas that could change the world if they just had a chance. That's why we built Black Ambition — to make sure talent doesn't stop at potential. It has the chance to be seen, funded, and believed in. It's about turning vision into reality, and making opportunity something everyone can touch..“
This year: nearly 2,500 entrepreneurs nationwide threw their hats in the ring for the 2025 Black Ambition Prize. From that pool emerged a list of 25 finalists, competing for over $1 million in awards up for grabs:
5 winners from HBCU Pre-Accelerator: $20,000 each
19 national finalists: $50,000 each
1 top prize winner: $100,000
Plus a live-announced $25,000 People’s Choice Award
On top of that: a live showcase of six breakout founders who are building disruptive companies across various industries.
Two Days, Two Vibes
Day One: Demo Day – Friday, Nov 14
Hosted by comedian/actor Jay Pharoah
"Five years proves that our impact is real, but the future demands more. More scale. More courage. More investment in founders who are rewriting what's possible. In this climate, scaling isn't just growth, it's survival, power, and legacy.“
Live Founder Showcases
Alumni spotlights, celebrating past winners
Fireside chat: Pharrell Williams × Mellody Hobson (President & Co-CEO of Ariel Investments)
Live auction & networking reception with investors + culture leaders
Day Two: Founders Forum – Saturday, Nov 15
This half-day is designed for deep strategy, storytelling, and connection. Highlights:
Session: “Access. Ownership. Impact.” — A blueprint for the next-gen founder movement
Fireside chat: Steve Stoute (CEO of United Masters) moderated by Felecia Hatcher
Masterclasses + storytelling with past Black Ambition winners
Local-founder plug-in: learn, network, & plug into the movement
Bigger Than Just a Prize
Since launching in 2020, Black Ambition has:
Supported 25,000+ entrepreneurs via programming and content
Mentored over 1,175 founders through the Black Ambition accelerator
Fueled 155+ startups nationwide with millions in capital
Re-imagined access, ownership & wealth creation for under-represented communities
For More information
To attend Black Ambition Demo Day & Founders Forum, visit blackambitionprize.com
Follow @blackambitionprize for behind-the-scenes coverage and live updates.
About Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams is a multi-hyphenate creator—artist, producer, designer, and visionary entrepreneur—whose impact goes far beyond music. Known for his innovation in sound, style, and social change, Pharrell founded Black Ambition to bridge the opportunity gap for underrepresented entrepreneurs. Through his ventures in art, fashion, and business, he continues to champion creativity, equity, and empowerment for the next generation of leaders.
About Felecia Hatcher
Felecia Hatcher is the powerhouse CEO of Black Ambition, an award-winning entrepreneur, and a fierce advocate for inclusive innovation. Recognized globally for her work empowering underestimated founders, Felecia blends strategy, storytelling, and community to unlock access and funding for diverse creators. Her leadership has helped scale Black Ambition’s mission into a national movement that redefines what success looks like for minority-owned startups.
About the Black Ambition Prize
Founded by Pharrell Williams in 2020, Black Ambition is a nonprofit initiative designed to fund, support, and elevate bold ideas from Black and Latinx entrepreneurs. Through its annual Black Ambition Prize, accelerator programs, and mentorship networks, the organization has already supported over 25,000 entrepreneurs and awarded millions in funding. Black Ambition isn’t just about capital—it’s about rewriting the rules of access, ownership, and legacy for a new generation of founders.
