Black Ambition Prize
Generalist & Demographic · Run by Black Ambition (founded by Pharrell Williams)
Every field is checked against a primary source where we can. How we verify.
The facts
All fields verified Jul 22, 2026- Terms model
- Non-dilutiveGives money that does not take equity: grants, prizes, or credits. Your ownership is untouched.
- Investment
- Up to $1,000,000 grand prize; multiple smaller prize tiers incl. HBCU track
- Equity taken
- Not publishedPrize/grant model, non-dilutive, so equity null by design. 2025 cycle: applications Feb 26 - May 9, 2025; mentorship from July 2025; winners at Demo Day Nov 2025. Site states Black Ambition will NOT accept new applications in 2026, focusing on existing portfolio founders - so next_deadline is null; status kept 'active' because the org completed a full 2025 cohort within the last 18 months and remains operational. City null: national program, HQ not stated on site.
- Program length
- Not published
- Format
- Remote
- Location
- Not published
- Cohorts per year
- 1
- Cohort size
- Top 50 finalists from semifinalist pool
- Stage focus
- early stage (under $1M dilutive funding raised, MVP and/or customers)
- Sub-vertical
- prize competition + mentorship for consumer products, healthcare, media/entertainment, tech, and AI ventures
- Demographic focus
- Black and Hispanic founders (incl. HBCU track)
- Backers
- Not published
- Notable alumni
- Not published
Terms notes: Prize/grant model, non-dilutive, so equity null by design. 2025 cycle: applications Feb 26 - May 9, 2025; mentorship from July 2025; winners at Demo Day Nov 2025. Site states Black Ambition will NOT accept new applications in 2026, focusing on existing portfolio founders - so next_deadline is null; status kept 'active' because the org completed a full 2025 cohort within the last 18 months and remains operational. City null: national program, HQ not stated on site.
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Terms in plain English
Black Ambition awards non-dilutive prize funding through an annual national prize competition, with a grand prize of up to $1,000,000 and multiple smaller prize tiers, including a dedicated HBCU track. It is a prize and grant model, so winners do not give up equity and pay no fees. Prize amounts for future cycles are not published on the current site. The organization has stated it will not accept new applications for the Prize Competition in 2026.
Who this is actually for
Black and Hispanic founders in the US, including HBCU students and alumni through a dedicated track. It fits founders who want significant non-dilutive capital through a competitive national prize process rather than a fixed local cohort.
Application windows
No application window is on record for this program yet. Check the official website for the next cohort.
Compare this program
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Sources
Everything above was checked against these, verified Jul 22, 2026.