Partners & Supporters
M13
M13 is a full-service venture engine with a platform of experts and resources that helps their partners proactively navigate risks through all stages of growth and excel at execution. M13 has invested in over 125 companies including names like Lyft, Pinterest, Warby Parker, SpaceX and more.
Founders Carter and Courtney Reum have supported AMBITION since its inception. They are established entrepreneurs serving and leading the next generation. In addition to Carter serving on AMBITION’s advisory board, the brothers provide steadfast support in-person and behind the scenes. The AMBITION students have the fortune and privilege of their wealth of knowledge, experience, connections and extensive skillset.
Thoroughly Crafted Goods
Los Angeles based Thoroughly Crafted Goods (TCG) is a leading, Black-owned, direct-to-consumer men’s footwear and lifestyle brand that embodies 3-pillars – design, craftsmanship and comfort – creating the perfect shoes for a casual and athletic lifestyle. The philosophy of founders Dr. Kerry Cox and Kyle Cox is to make Thoroughly Crafted Goods for the Thoroughly Crafted Gentleman (ThoroMan).
Dedicated mentors & advisory board members, Kyle and COO Rob Purvy, are role models for the AMBITION students. Their commitment is expressed through their hands-on leadership, their willingness to share the true stories of their challenges and successes and their consistent, engaged presence in the classroom.
ThoroVizion
ThoroVizion is an interactive editorial hub curated by Thoroughly Crafted Goods (TCG), that produces content and programming created to inspire men to be their best, thus the inception of The Thoroman.
Who and what defines a man today is different than 5, 10, 15 years ago. More than a man with impeccable style and taste, The ThoroMan has a strong sense of self and is focused on a purpose driven life, inspiring leadership in both family and community with the SOLE mission of creating a better world.
The ”Think Like a ThoroMan" event series takes participants on an interactive journey led by Kyle Cox, TCG co-founder, and includes up-close and personal interviews as well as mentorship sessions with some of the most accomplished and influential leaders in business, culture, lifestyle, sports, technology and more.. These superheroes share their origin stories and describe their paths to success.
She’s Birdie
She’s Birdie is a digitally native brand that envisions a world where women are safe. Founded in 2019 by sisters and mother Amy Ferber and Ali Ferber Peters, She’s Birdie sells modern personal safety alarms for women that are as fashionable as they are functional. For every purchase, She’s Birdie gives 5% of profits to its partner organizations that passionately support women’s safety, shelter and health, one of which is AMBITION.
Along with financial support, She’s Birdie is a sponsor of THE DIALOGUE and provides AMBITION students with their colorful alarms. Marketing Director Richard Mashiko is a valued mentor & board member who also offers his vast technical expertise to multiple projects. Students look to him for his creative enthusiasm, tech-savvy mindset and his stellar work ethic. They see how that powerful combination can be used to enhance a wide array of entrepreneurial opportunities.
Educate California
Educate California's mission is to ensure that all California youth graduate prepared for college, careers and life after high school. Educate California is an effective solution to California's more than 600:1 student-to-counselor ratio! We serve 14 – 24-year-old low-income youth, their families and organizations that empower youth, by providing them with resources that historically would be provided by high school counselors.
In addition to Educate California being a vital piece of the puzzle, founder Eric Moore is an integral part of AMBITION, serving as a mentor & board member.
Walton Isaacson
An independent, minority-owned, full-service brand-building agency, Walton Isaacson (WI) was founded in 2005 by marketing innovators Aaron Walton, Cory Isaacson and esteemed partner Earvin "Magic" Johnson. In addition to a roster of Fortune 500 Brands, Aaron and Cory have been key players in some of the most memorable campaigns in the urban market, developing marketing and promotions to leverage Burger King’s relationship with Hip Hop megastar Diddy.
A first in AMBITION’s history, Aaron Walton set the bar, dedicating the company and its employees to a yearlong, weekly, interactive, full-fledged partnership with AMBITION. As the agency of record for Lexus, the students were treated to an in-depth” study of marketing a luxury brand, in alignment with AMBITION’s parnership protocol.
ZupaNova
From the studio to the stage, Los Angeles band ZupaNova is a #ZupedUp all-encompassing explosion of music, fashion and culture. This trilateral fusion originally unified in 2012 with 3 ZupaStarz known as Rawcel (Songwriter for The Black Eyed Peas, etc…), Kimala (Recording Artist/Mo-Town Records), and Davy Brown (Multi-Genre Producer/Recording Artist/Multi-Instrumentalist).
The dedication of ZupaNova to AMBITION will be forever immortalized. The band members gave a directive to the entire AMBITON team: “Each one of you must write down what the word AMBITION means to you.” Once the answers were submitted, ZupaNova had the students and mentors speak the words into a microphone, knowing they would overlay their voices on the track. The band then went to work creating vocals based on the submissions. A great deal of work behind the scenes, a group trip to the recording studio and the AMBITION anthem was born!
Evalla Advisors
An M&A advisory focused on the eCommerce, digital and marketing sectors, with a strong belief in conscious capitalism, Evalla Advisors creates value for a broad demographic of entrepreneurs through their belief in conscious capitalism and expertise in mergers, acquisitions and private capital raises, within the eCommerce, digital and marketing sectors.
Founder & Managing Partner Lori Murphree is passionate about supporting youth. A dedicated mentor, she is extremely committed to supporting AMBITION. She is driven by an unstoppable desire to see a world with no hunger, a world ripe with opportunity. She knows that with honest intentions, entrepreneurship and capitalism can promise a better future.
“When the economy grows as a result of capitalism, the future is better than the present. Capitalism has kept this promise for most of history, with the material conditions of life having improved dramatically since its birth.”
COMPASS
Along with financial support, dedicated COMPASS agent, Bianca Aubrey, is a valued mentor and role model to the AMBITION students. A seasoned leader, Bianca brings invaluable support to the program, sharing her trifecta approach of expertise, communication and hard work.
The first company to have built a proprietary mobile app for real estate agents, Compass is a real estate company with a purpose. While working to help everyone find their place in the world, Compares Cares empowers agents and employees alike to support meaningful causes right where it counts most — at home.
“With Compass Cares our people will give their time and donations locally in ways that are personally meaningful to them— because no one knows the community better than the agents and employees who serve it.” Robert Reffkin, Compass Founder and CEO.
The Good Patch
The Good Patch offers a variety of wellness products and patches for life’s common ailments. Their tried-and-true ingredients are plant-based and 3rd party tested for purity and quality. Longtime friends Betsy Scanlan, Kelly Brock, and David Nicholson created The Good Patch with one simple idea in mind: when the people around you feel good, life is more beautiful.
Along with helping people feel good, the Good Patch team do good as an AMBITION sponsor. Their financial contributions, product donations and their dedicated mentor teams who join AMBITION every week have enriched the lives of our students from the inside out. They are beaming examples of what can be successfully accomplished when you follow your passions and do the right thing, for the right reason, while focused on the greater good.
THE ULTIMATE TEASE
To anchor its entrepreneurial roots, AMBITION launched its own e-commerce component, The Ultimate Tease. AMBITION's curriculum centers on the brand, providing real-world business experience that empowers the students to rise up to the challenges of discipline, accountability and expectations. Through this work, the students have the opportunity to earn scholarships & brand ambassadorships.
Through a multitude of problem-solving endeavors, the AMBITION journey validates that with determination, self-discipline and hard work, they can live a life without limitations.
In alignment with AMBITION’s cause & commerce protocol, a portion of the proceeds from sales of The Ultimate Tease always goes to the AMBITION Student Growth & Scholarship Fund.
Environmental Charter High School (ECHS)
AMBITION’s pilot school, Environmental Charter High School (ECHS), is an award winning, free, public high school in South Los Angeles that prepares students for 4-year colleges using the environment as a lens for real-life learning.
ECHS welcomed AMBITION at its inception in 2010. The steadfast commitment and dedication to seeing the program grow has been the greatest of gifts to the program and its students. Brandie Davis, our partner teacher at ECHS and Alison Suffet Diaz, the Founder and then Executive Director of Environmental Charter Schools, took a strategic, yet calculated risk and it paid off.
Virgin Produced
Led by Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Jason Felts and Chief Creative Officer, Justin Berfield, Virgin Produced is the film and television development, packaging and production arm of the Virgin Group. Virgin Produced is breaking the archaic models Hollywood and Bollywood by providing once again a collaborative environment that embraces talent so they can best create and inspire.
Championing our students and our progress since day one, Virgin Produced is one of the most ardent supporters and admirers of AMBITION! The AMBITON gang is in the most esteemed company, with visits to the program from Jason Felts and Rene Rigal, Chief Creative Officer. Inspired by their infectious passion, the relationship is in perfect alignment; the Virgin Produced team follows in the footsteps of a visit with our first special guest, legendary entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson. As expected the Virgin Produced team rose to the occasion, following Sir Richard’s magnificent lead!