Thursday, September 24, 2026; 9:00 AM - to - 10:00 PM PDT
Santa Monica, CA
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.
Justin Gordon 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 this is to be special. Justin Gordon is 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, founders will tell their stories and gett 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. The summit is hosted in an intimate space in Santa Monica.
Thanks to The LA Grind for sharing the graphics and details with our LA Startup Events members and friends across Southern California.
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