Pharrell Williams is taking significant steps to address the equity gap in entrepreneurship through his initiative, Black Ambition.
According to an April 14, 2025, news release, the nonprofit is launching the Fundable Founders Learning Lab, a comprehensive 10-week virtual program designed to support entrepreneurs across Florida, with an emphasis on those from underrepresented communities.
With a $1 million investment from an anonymous donor, the initiative is part of a two-year effort to counter dwindling resources for small business owners by providing 500 Florida-based entrepreneurs with access to capital, mentorship, expert training, and a robust network.
“Entrepreneurs are facing unprecedented challenges—from shrinking access to capital to dwindling community resources,” said Black Ambition CEO Felecia Hatcher. “This $1 million donation is more than just funding—it’s fuel for a new generation of fundable founders building bold, innovative solutions right here in Florida.”
Florida has more than 1.38 million minority-owned businesses, the news release states. So far, 15 transformative entrepreneurs have received funding since Black Ambition began, and the new initiative aims to expand that impact over the next two years.
Black Ambition has partnered with Codner & Co., an e-commerce powerhouse, and ACT House, a certified B-Corp, for the program and will host the So Ambitious Dinner in Miami, FL. The invite-only event will connect top participants with investors, retailers, and strategic partners looking to provide opportunities and funding.
Applications for the Fundable Founders Learning Lab — open to all entrepreneurs — close on April 30.
Since its inception in 2020, Black Ambition has awarded nearly $13 million in growth capital to 131 entrepreneurs, supported over 1,000 founders, assisted its founder’s network in raising over $280 million in follow-on capital, and generated over $265 million in revenue, AFROTECH™ previously reported.
In addition to the Fundable Founders Learning Lab, the nonprofit is launching its fifth Black Ambition Prize Competition, which will award early-stage entrepreneurs in various industries, including consumer products and services, health care, media and entertainment, technology, and artificial intelligence. The culminating event, Demo Day, is set for November 2025.
“Five years ago, Black Ambition was an idea,” Williams previously said, as AFROTECH™ noted. “Today, it’s a force. A catalyst for change. A platform where underrepresented entrepreneurs don’t just get a seat at the table—they build new tables, positioning themselves for uninterrupted success. When we invest in diverse talent, we unlock limitless potential. But this is just the beginning. Let’s keep building, keep breaking barriers, and keep rewriting the rules. I can’t wait to see what we do in the next five years.”
