Description

StartOut is a non-profit community that fosters LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs to fight against inequality. They promote the success of their members by researching and facilitating accelerators and programs.

They meet in in-person and digital events across the United States to strengthen the community and network with peers. Besides, these events provide spaces to discuss business foundations and explore strategies together.

Furthermore, they engage in a forum where you can stay connected with other members and discuss your ideas confidently. But also, the forum is a place where you can go if you need to ask questions and request support.

Moreover, they offer mentorship opportunities with experts, with whom you can find guidance to develop your projects. And if you're working on your startup, there's an accelerator program that will help you boost your results.

Additionally, the platform will connect you with investors interested in your businesses. And if you are an investor looking for innovative startups, chances are that you find a good match.

You can join them for free to access the online portal and forum. But also, you can apply for the accelerator and founders program to further grow your business.

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Details
  • Membership: Free Community
  • Year Founded: 2009
  • Founders:

    Darren Spedale, Joe DiPasquale, and Lorenzo Thione

  • Amount of members: 5,000
  • Online Group: Yes
  • Job board: No
  • Language: English
  • ONG: Yes
  • Method: In Person, Virtual
Benefits

Join a community for LGBTQ+ founders:
As the LGBTQ+ community faces more barriers to access investment opportunities and accelerators, StartOut exists to help them with training, resources, programs, and peer support. They have built the largest members' directory of its type to help you connect with people who can impact your career and business development.

On the other hand, you can participate in forums to receive guidance and help.

Connect with mentors and share your knowledge:
As a founder, you will experience roadblocks in the process of building a profitable business. But you don't need to overcome them alone. The StartOut community offer mentorship opportunities to help you find guidance and support from those who have already been there before. And if you are seeking to share your experience with founders who are just starting, it's a great place to connect with mentees.

Participate in accelerators and programs:
Do you have an innovative idea? The community offer accelerators and programs for you to take your business idea to the next level. You can apply to receive support and training and develop a profitable business within a year.

Connect with other founders:
With a large directory of LGBTQ+ founders, you'll get the chance to connect with co-founders, investors, and collaborators who can impact your businesses.

Requirements

To be part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Place
Learning Events

Members participate in in-person and digital events in the United States to network and discuss business strategies and insights. There are summits, awards, and accelerators to empower the community and support members' ongoing projects.

Besides, they have a founders program, where investors and founders connect to match and bring the most innovative projects to life.

Networking Events

Members engage in an online forum to ask their specific questions and stay connected 24/7. It's a space to learn from experienced founders and find inspiration and strategies to take your business to the next level.

Content Library

Startout members gain access to The NetworkQ, an online directory of LGBTQ+ business people. Inside, you will find a lot of professionals with whom you can connect and work. It's an excellent resource for those who are looking for peers near them, and with 5,000+ members, it's the largest directory of its type.

Moreover, you can visit the research section to find information about the economic impact of businesses founded by LGBTQ+ founders.

Impact/ESG

They are committed to helping underrepresented entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life. To achieve this, they provide scholarships, accelerators, and programs to connect investors with entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas.

Quote

"Lots of really great founders and companies tonight @StartOut's 2019 NYC Demo Day! Inspiring to see the amazing products that #LGBTQ+ founders have to show off to the community #startoutdemoday-Erhan Soyer-Osman

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