Ambition 2026: 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. This is year one, and I want it to be special. 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 Confirmed: Shivani Siroya is the founder and CEO of Tala, the financial infrastructure company for the global majority, con