Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Demo Day returned for its fourth year on Friday (Nov. 15) in NYC, with a stunning display of innovation and empowerment for Black and Brown businesses. The event celebrated 30 trailblazing Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs—awarding over $2,700,000 in funding to catapult their businesses to new heights.
The night’s grand prize—an impressive $1,000,000—was awarded to Dr. Monica Williams and Dana Roberts, co-founders of RedDrop. Their groundbreaking menstrual kits for tweens aim to educate, empower, and support young girls during a pivotal and scary phase of their lives.
“We’re beyond thrilled to be the grand prize winners of this year’s Black Ambition Prize Competition!” Dr. Williams exclaimed. “This funding is life-changing and will open doors that were previously closed. The mentorship and network provided by Black Ambition are priceless—we’re not just getting a seat at the table; we’re building our own.”
Following the announcement of winners, Pharrell spoke with VIBE where he gave indelible gems on how to bridge the gap between aspiring young minority business owners and resources available to them.
“I think that young Black and Brown ideas and businesses lack the mentorship,” he began. “So really, handy scaffolding that one would need when launching a business, or having a start up. There’s lack of interconnectivity and the power of interconnectivity that you get from when you galvanize. The answer to your question is Black Ambition. This is the place where you can come and you can galvanize and you can be a part of a village, a part of a beehive—people who all have very similar ambitions to yours. Black Ambition is a place where you can get these things.”
The multifaceted impresario then shifted his response to the 2024 Presidential Election, that has angered many Black and Brown business owners, due to Donald Trump’s second term win.
“I’ve been saying this all night and I’m, I’m gonna continue to say it. You could be upset about this election but being mad is not going to get your business off the ground,” he continued. “Being mad is not going to give you good advice for what it is that you’re trying to build. It’s not going to give you the resources. It’s definitely not going to connect you the greatest and the smartest thing that we could do: which is galvanize so we don’t have to continue to ask and beg and fight and protest for what we think we [deserve].”
“Every successful demographic in this nation, they’re successful because they first galvanized,” he added. “When all you literally have to do. Then they talk to each other and mentor each other. It is time that we do that. The minute that we do that, it will be our day.” See below.
From AI and tech to consumer products and media, the 30 winners of the night were celebrated for their visionary ideas, with recipients receiving more than just a financial boost. Over the next six months, they’ll gain access to: town hall meetings with Pharrell and senior brand partners, investor and mentorship opportunities with industry leaders, executive coaching to scale their ventures sustainably, exclusive retail connections, wellness programs, and elite networking events.
Following the winner announcements and post-press conference, guests mingled at a VIP reception complete with cocktails, small bites, and music. Brand partners like Louis Vuitton, Adidas, Comcast, Visa, and the Lennar Foundation all helped bring the night to life, as swag bags sealed the deal, featuring goodies like luxury luggage tags, CBD bath salts, specialty chocolates, and more.
Since its inception in 2020, Black Ambition has awarded $13,000,000 to 131 entrepreneurs, who have collectively generated over $265,000,000 million in revenue. The initiative has supported more than 1,000 founders through mentorship, virtual training, and financial backing, solidifying its role as a catalyst for change.
“Black Ambition continues to exceed expectations,” said CEO Felecia Hatcher. “This year’s Demo Day showcased the incredible potential of underrepresented founders in industries like AI, tech, and consumer goods. We’re excited to expand on the $265,000,000 in revenue generated by our network and create even more opportunities for future leaders.”
Recognized with the World Changing Ideas honor in 2021—Black Ambition clearly isn’t just an initiative—it’s a movement, laser focused on the success of underrepresented communities.