AMP Academy — Apply for the January Cohort

Preparing founders for the decision makers at Walmart Macy's

250+

Independent brands supported

100K+

Customers served

$17B+

Retail beauty reach*

$50K+

Avg. brand sales / year

15K+

Active subscribers

200+

Brands ARIS-scored

*Retail beauty reach = estimated annual beauty-category sales across AMP’s retail partners (Target, Macy’s & TJX), all channels.

Buyers stopped asking what your product is. They started asking if you're ready.

76%

of consumer-products executives are increasing AI investment — the market is professionalizing fast, and buyers now expect operational readiness and real demand signals, not just a great product. Deloitte · McKinsey, 2024–2025

The AMP Retail Readiness Standard™

What decision makers evaluate before saying yes.

A rigorous acceptance framework — the bar we hold every founder to.

Market Demand

Clear consumer problem & differentiation

A value proposition buyers grasp in seconds — and a reason consumers choose you.

Validated consumer demand

Reviews, repeat purchase, sell-through, community — evidence, not hope.

Brand Strength

Distinct brand positioning

A compelling story, a defined customer, a clear competitive edge.

Brand equity & community

Loyalty, creator advocacy, retention — an audience that converts.

Financial Health

Healthy unit economics

Gross margin, wholesale pricing, and contribution margin that scale.

Retail pricing strategy

Architecture that works across DTC, wholesale, and national retail.

Operational Readiness

Scalable operations

Manufacturing, fulfillment, and inventory built for retail growth.

Supply chain & compliance

FDA/GMP, QA, traceability, and retailer documentation.

Retail Execution

Retail-ready sales assets

Pitch deck, line sheets, merchandising, and sales materials.

Retail growth mindset

Coachability, execution discipline, readiness for the long game.

The Retail Readiness Score™ · powered by ARIS

Know exactly what stands between your brand and retail.

Retailers don't buy products. They buy readiness.

Every founder begins with an ARIS Retail Readiness Assessment. You'll discover:

What's holding you back
Where decision makers see opportunity
Which capabilities to strengthen first
How you compare against the Retail Readiness Standard™

Receive a new score at graduation to measure your progress — not just your participation.

90–100 Retail Ready 75–89 Growth Ready 60–74 Foundation

0Your score

Estimate yours in 20 seconds.

Move the sliders — this is a teaser, not the real ARIS assessment (that happens inside the program).

Quick self-estimate

Brand50

Demand50

Operations50

You're at ~50. Let's get you to 90.

Close the gap → Apply

The Signature — Retail Preview Day

Graduate by pitching real decision makers.

The relationships most founders chase for years. You leave with buyer feedback, warm introductions, and a recorded pitch.

Curated founder dossiersDecks in advanceProduct samplesLive Q&AAMP-facilitated follow-ups

The kind of decision makers we open doors to

Five weeks · Tuesdays, 5:00–6:30 PM PT · begins January 2027

Real operators. Real deliverables. A named partner in every session.

Wk 01

Know where you stand.

Position your brand, calculate wholesale margins, and complete your Readiness Score™.

AMP Beauty

Retail Readiness Score™

Wk 02

Tell a story decision makers remember.

Win the shelf — positioning, brand story, and a buyer pitch that lands.

Scaled Founder

Retail Pitch Deck

Wk 03

Create demand before you pitch.

Read demand signals, plan creator marketing, and produce content with AI.

Spate · Soona

90-Day Growth Plan

Wk 04

Build systems that scale.

Model cash flow, plan inventory, and automate the work that scales.

Cyphr · Blanka

Growth Roadmap

Wk 05

Step into the room.

Pitch your company directly to real decision makers. Receive feedback. Graduate.

Walmart · Decision Makers

Retail Preview Day

The Investment

Everything you need to become retail-ready.

Retail Readiness Assessment™
Retail Preview Day
Founder Office Hours
Retail AI Playbook
Growth Templates
Lifetime Founder Community

Investment

$999

Two full scholarships available through Social Venture Studio.

Apply for the January cohort

Selective Admissions

Every application is reviewed by the AMP team.

We look for founders committed to building scalable consumer brands — not simply launching products.

Weeks, virtual

Application-only

By review, not first-come

Rolling

Admissions

Apply for the January cohort

Entrepreneurship creates opportunity that compounds.

Every successful founder creates more than revenue. They create jobs. Strengthen supply chains. Open doors for future founders. Reinvest in their communities. AMP Academy exists to help founders build businesses that create lasting economic impact — not just great products.

Shaped through collaboration with Social Venture Studio

Founders, in their words

Building with AMP opened the doors.

“One of the most amazing things that’s happened since we joined AMP is getting onto Target.com. It was a dream for us and we didn’t know how it was possible — but with AMP’s connections, it’s helped us grow.”
Valerie EmanuelCofounder, Rif Care

“When people hear your brand is in a national retailer, it absolutely brings credibility to your brand. It opens doors for you to scale and grow. Partnering with AMP Beauty provided me that opportunity.”
Kim BrownFounder, CocoXO

“We joined AMP because our commitment to reshaping beauty culture with conscious choices is perfectly aligned. Together, we’re celebrating diversity, self-love, and helping everyone feel confident in their natural glow.”
Sade ParhamCofounder, Blue Water Girls

Questions

Before you apply.

Can I apply if I’m pre-revenue?

AMP Academy is built for founders with a product already in market and early traction. If you’re early but selling, apply and tell us your story — we review holistically.

What if I’m already in retail?

Great — many founders join to expand from a first account toward national retail, sharpen unit economics, and prepare for larger decision makers. The program meets you where you are.

How much time is required?

Five weekly live sessions (about 90 minutes each) plus focused work on your deliverables — expect roughly 3–5 hours a week.

Are the sessions recorded?

Yes. Live sessions are recorded so you can revisit them — though the real value is showing up live for feedback and the room.

Who reviews applications?

The AMP team reviews every application. We look for committed founders building scalable consumer brands — not simply launching products.

Will I meet decision makers?

Yes — the program culminates in Retail Preview Day, where founders present to real retail decision makers and begin building relationships.

What happens after graduation?

You leave with your Retail Readiness Score, a decision-maker-ready pitch, warm introductions, and lifetime access to the AMP founder community and alumni network.

Build the brandretailers buy.