Black Ambition hosted an exciting welcome reception to honor the exceptional prize winners and officially kick off their New York Learning Labs. Dr. Monica Williams, Founder and CEO of Red Drop, won first place. Thoma Fields, Founder and CEO of GRIND, earned second place.
The event marks the beginning of an exciting chapter in their ongoing mission to close the wealth gap through entrepreneurship. Black Ambition is dedicated to investing capital and providing crucial resources to high-growth startups founded by Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs, empowering them to scale their businesses and succeed in today’s competitive market.
When asked about the impact Black Ambition has had on him, Thomas Fields, Founder and CEO of GRIND exclaimed, “Oh my gosh, where do I even begin?” He went on to describe the numerous ways the organization has supported him, from providing valuable mentoring to helping him pitch to investors. He also shared how Black Ambition feels like a second home to him, emphasizing the sense of community he was able to build through his involvement with the organization.
This week marks the start of their highly anticipated New York Learning Lab, where participants will engage in hands-on learning experiences with key program partners such as Louis Vuitton and Visa. Throughout the week, entrepreneurs will gain valuable insights into the intricacies of raising capital, navigating the challenges of scaling a business, and acquiring the necessary skills to take their ventures to the next level. The program offers an unparalleled opportunity for these entrepreneurs to connect with experts and industry leaders who can help them turn their visions into reality.
On the day of the MET Gala, Pharell and Louis Vuitton are representing black creativity on the biggest day in fashion. And he took the moment to shine light on his nonprofit. This is important because Pharrell understands positioning during a day where they are paying homage to black fashion he is also uplifting the founders in his organization. Despite them maybe not being directly involved with fashion, it gives everyone a seat at the table.
“I’m from Houston, so to be in New York and then learning them out about Met Gala,” Thomas Fields shared with Essence. “Like, I’m not a fashion person, I’m a sports guy. So like, just being around, like, great people that are smarter than me, it’s always cool to learn you know about different industries, and then like apply it to you know my industry. So it’s exciting, amazing.”