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:
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.
Tyler Denk, founder of beehiiv ($50M raised, on pace for $50M ARR in 2026), the platform I use and love, is confirmed for an exclusive Day Zero VIP dinner the night before, on September 23rd.
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 of Upwards, the largest childcare network in the US, and a company that raised $43.3M, most recently a $21M Series B.
More speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Programming
Wednesday, September 23 — Pre-Summit Speaker Dinner (VIP + sponsors + speakers) An intimate dinner the night before the summit. Limited to ~40 people. Included with VIP tickets.
Thursday, September 24 — The Summit (all attendees) 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Full-day programming with fireside chats and breakout sessions. Followed by an evening closing party.
At a Glance
📍 Location: Santa Monica, CA
📅 Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
👥 Attendees: 150 (application-based)
🎤 Speakers: 10+ founders, investors, and operators
🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $299
Our Sponsors
Bailey Glasser LLP helps founders, operators, and investors build profitable companies and stay protected. Their corporate team supports early-stage and growing businesses with formation, fundraising, contracts, and deals, and if problems arise, their trial lawyers handle commercial disputes, partnership issues, IP and trade-secret matters, and more.
Venice Inc. is a world-class design studio that partners with early-stage founders to bring their product and go-to-market design visions to life. I’m working with Jeff and his team on the design for Ambition and can’t wait to show you all!
Ardas is an AI-first software development partner for SaaS founders who've found product-market fit and need to scale fast. With 20+ years of experience building and modernizing complex platforms, Ardas embeds senior engineering teams directly into your product — so you can ship faster, reduce delivery risk, and focus your best people on what only you can build.
For sponsorship inquiries: [email protected]
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 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 [email protected] for transfers.
I'm a journalist/creator — is there a media pass? Media passes are available by invitation. Email [email protected] with your outlet and coverage focus.
Questions? Email [email protected]