Black Ambition empowers Black and Latinx innovators and communities to excel uninterrupted.
OVERVIEW
Founded by Pharrell Williams in 2020, Black Ambition empowers Black and Latinx innovators and communities to excel uninterrupted. In 2021, Black Ambition completed its inaugural Prize cycle, awarding funding and resources to 34 Prize winners, and supporting an additional 250 entrepreneurs with mentorship to strengthen their ventures. Over $3.2 million dollars were awarded to finalists, and these individuals have collectively raised over $40 million dollars since receiving a Black Ambition Prize.
The Black Ambition Prize offers more than access to capital. It is a commitment to cultivating the pipelines of diverse talent through mentorship and access to resources, founder-friendly investment terms, and a promise to increase the number of Black and Latinx entrepreneurs who succeed at raising the startup capital needed for their businesses. The Black Ambition Network will also provide access to both proven entrepreneurs and aspiring peers towards building a community committed to building the companies of tomorrow. Black Ambition is committed to leveling the playing field and fostering the ingenuity, determination, and resilience of underrepresented entrepreneurs.
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ROLE: CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Responsibilities included all creative, brand design, copywriting, marketing, content, launch, thought-leader video series and website design. Advised legal and VC experts on terms approach.
Led the brand from the initial concept through launch and inaugural Demo Day in 2021.
AWARDS + RECOGNITION
Fast Company — World Changing Ideas — First Place, Impact Investing
Billboard — Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Initiative Announces Prize Winners: ‘This Is a Game Changer’
CNN — Black tech entrepreneurs get $1 million boost from Pharrell Williams
Complex — Pharrell Launches New Non-Profit Focused on Helping Black and Latinx Entrepreneurs
Essence — Pharrell Williams' Black Ambition Prize Awards Emerging Black Founders Up To $1 Million To Help Close Wealth Gap
Forbes — Pharrell Launches Black Ambition, An Accelerator For Black And Latinx Entrepreneurs
Variety — Pharrell Williams Launches Black Ambition Non-Profit Initiative
Vogue — Pharrell on His Black Ambition Initiative and Supporting a New Generation of Talent
CREATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Decode the Encoded
A Learning Lab for Founders
Led the concept and creation of a 12 episode content series focused on providing access to thought-leaders shaping the future. We are honored to have brought together visionary entrepreneurs, VCs, creatives and leaders to support founders and dismantle the systemic inequities embedded in the world of business.
Together, let's decode the encoded. These are united stakes .•*
Virtual Demo Day
Inaugural Prize Celebration
Concepted and created a two-day virtual Demo Day. Celebrated the inaugural year of Black Ambition with the announcement of the top prize recipients, applicant stories, remarks from founder Pharrell Williams, CEO Felecia Hatcher and Advisor Virgil Abloh, and a performance by Tobe Nwigwe.
Curate & Create the Scaffolding
Mentorship Portal & Programming
Support on the creation of a microsite, resources/programming, workshops, etc towards building the scaffolding for our Black Ambition Network.
BRAND DESIGN
Galactic Palette
The brand was inspired by the variety of colors when looking closely at the vastness of space. These intergalactic colors have both weight and space, and should be used in combination through the gradient flairs.
Considered Typography
Helvetica Neue — The typeface selection of Helvetica Neue is significant in its ubiquity. Abloh drew vast inspiration from the everyday, reimagined through his lens. In collaboration, Williams and Abloh wanted to create something completely unique yet widely accessible.
Recoleta — The secondary typeface humanizes the brand and is a nod to the ‘Entrepreneur’ music video that Pharrell Williams launched in the summer of 2020, musically speaking to the ambitions of the brand.
Icon Extensions
Inspired by the unicode system of the logo, these icons expand the visual system of the brand. Components of the shooting star icon were used to create extension icons for each prize.