Ambition 2027: A Curated Startup Summit

Ambition is a one-day, application-based summit for 150 of the most ambitious founders, operators, and investors in the startup ecosystem.

I created Ambition to be something different. Not another conference. Not another networking event. An experience that's genuinely worth your time.

We're running it back for year two!

I'm personally curating the room with:

• Founders building interesting companies

• Investors with unique perspectives

• Operators who have actually done the work in building companies

• A handful of service providers who I think will add value

No casuals.

On stage, we'll have founders telling their stories and getting tactical about what actually worked and what didn't, investors share their perspectives with real empathy for what founders are going through, and operators sharing insights in smaller breakout conversations as part of the event.

The event is intentionally intimate. You'll have real time to meet other attendees and start building actual relationships, not trade business cards with a crowd.

Who This Is For

Ambition is built for:

• Founders building venture-backed or bootstrapped startups

• Operators at early and growth-stage companies

• Investors (VCs, angels, scouts) active in early-stage markets

• Select service providers supporting the startup ecosystem

All attendance is application-based. We personally review every application.

What to Expect

A day of programming built for builders. Fireside chats with founders who've built real companies. Investor conversations that go beyond the usual "state of the market" talk. Operator sessions on what actually works inside growing companies.

Time to actually connect. 150 people means you can have real conversations with others in the startup ecosystem.

A distinctive venue. We're skipping the hotel ballroom. The summit is hosted in an intimate space in Santa Monica.

Speakers

We'll announce the speaker lineup for the 2027 Ambition Summit in the following months.

The speakers for the 2026 Ambition Summit:

Shivani Siroya is the founder and CEO of Tala, the financial infrastructure company for the global majority, connecting global capital to billions of new consumers through Tala's AI-native credit stack. Over 14 million people across Latin America, Southeast Asia and East Africa have used Tala products to start and expand small businesses, manage day-to-day needs, and pursue their financial goals with confidence. Tala has raised more than half a billion dollars in investments and debt, backed by visionary investors including Kindred Ventures, Upstart, the Stellar Development Foundation, IVP, Revolution Growth, and more.

Mehul Nariyawala: Co-Founder, Matic Robots. Mehul previously co-founded Flutter, which Google acquired for $40M, and went on to work on Nest. In January 2026, Matic raised a $60M Series C to scale their home robotics platform, a product that earned a 10/10 from WIRED (the reviewer's first 10/10 in over a decade of reviews) and a 9/10 from The Verge.

Dee Murthy, Co-Founder of Ghost, an AI-native distribution platform for the best brands in the world, that has raised $95M, most recently a $40M Series C.

Jessica Chang, Co-Founder and CEO of Upwards, a whole-family care platform that makes child care and elder care a benefit any employer can offer: from ten-person startups to the largest employers in manufacturing, healthcare, and commercial aviation. Upwards also powers state-funded programs in California, Massachusetts, and Utah, and serves military families through the Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve. Raised $43.3M, most recently a $21M Series B.

Shamin Walsh, Managing Director at BAM Ventures. Prior to joining BAM Ventures as a managing director, she was a consumer-focused partner at an early-stage generalist firm with tangible assets in 3PL/fulfillment, cold storage/co-packing, and manufacturing, giving her a holistic perspective through which to evaluate emerging consumer businesses.

Jo Phillips, Co-Founder of Payabli, the intelligent fintech operating system for software platforms, that most recently raised a $28M Series B led by Fika Ventures and QED Investors.

Dara Ladjevardian, Founder & CEO of Delphi, the platform that turns a person's knowledge, thinking, and voice into a digital mind others can talk to. Backed by Sequoia, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, and the founders of YouTube, Zoom, Lyft, and DoorDash.

Rick Smith, Co-Founder of Crosscut Ventures, one of LA's original seed funds, backing early-stage founders since 2008 with early checks into companies like Ipsy, JustFab, GumGum, and Docstoc (acquired by Intuit).

Programming

Wednesday, September 22, 2027 — Pre-Summit Speaker Dinner (VIP + sponsors + speakers) An intimate dinner the night before the summit. Limited to ~24 people. Included with VIP tickets.

Thursday, September 23, 2027 — The Summit (all attendees) 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Full-day programming with fireside chats. Followed by an evening closing party.

Schedule subject to change.

At a Glance

📍 Location: Santa Monica, CA

📅 Date: Thursday, September 23, 2027

👥 Attendees: 150 (application-based)

🎤 Speakers: 7-10 founders and investors

🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $299 (Early Bird)

Our Sponsors

Our 2026 sponsors included DLA Piper, Citizens Private Bank, Venice Inc., Bailey Glasser, Ardas, Tax Hack Accounting Group, and Agora.

2027 sponsorships are now open, including one presenting sponsor slot. justin@thelagrind.com.

About the Organizer

Ambition is organized by Justin Gordon, founder of The LA Grind and The SF Grind, newsletters covering the LA and SF startup ecosystems, and events to connect them. He also hosts the Ambition Podcast, previously built and sold the Just Go Grind newsletter, and serves as a scout at Headline. He's spent years building communities and content for founders.

FAQ

How does the application process work? Apply through Luma. Justin personally reviews every application. If approved, your credit card will be automatically charged.

What if I'm not sure which tier applies to me? Apply for the tier that best matches your primary role. If there's a better fit, I'll let you know before approving.

Refunds and transfers? No refunds. Tickets are transferable to another approved attendee with advance notice. Email justin@thelagrind.com for transfers.

I'm a journalist/creator — is there a media pass? Media passes are available by invitation. Email justin@thelagrind.com with your outlet and coverage focus.

Questions? Email justin@thelagrind.com