StartOut

Our 13th Annual StartOut Awards is closer than you think! 💅 We’re excited to be joined by two icons for our awards ceremony and after party celebrations- DJ Dawson and legendary drag queen, Thorgy Thor as emcee! Between these two, we know that the good times will be rolling all night long, don’t miss out! Tickets are on sale now, join us to celebrate LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship, innovation and equality. 🌈 📍NYC- Tribeca 360 🗓️ Thursday, October 10, 2024 🎟️ https://bit.ly/3Lw7Pe5 #StartOutAwards2024 #StartOutAwards #NewYorkCity #ThorgyThor #RuPaulDragRace #DragRace

🌈 A rainbow change is coming, and it includes all of us. The Out in Tech Leadership Institute is a professional learning conference providing training and career management advice for mid-level employees and above. Join Out in Tech in NYC for their largest event ever to take your career to the next level. You’ll participate in a cross-company, cohort-based learning institute, where you’ll join 500 of your peers across the tech industry to hone your leadership style, grow your power, and advance your career. Learn More >> https://lnkd.in/gpPUgyk4

Applications for StartOut Demo Day are NOW LIVE! ✅✅ This October, our #DemoDay, sponsored by Silicon Valley Bank and T-Mobile, will showcase some of the top LGBTQ-led, scalable startups to a panel of expert judges in both San Francisco (10/21) and Los Angeles (10/23)! Top prizes include $5k for first place, $3k for second place, and $2k for third place winner. 💵 🌈 If you or someone you know is an LGBTQ+ founder looking to #pitch their startup, apply today! 👉 Applications open through 9/20 >> https://lnkd.in/g2m-UeZf #StartOutDemoDay #DemoDay2024 #LGBTQ #founders #entrepreneurs #pitchingevent

StartOut is thrilled to announce that Sean E. Mickens as one our newest Board Members! 💙 Sean is the Associate Vice President of External Affairs at Comcast where he leads the government affairs and public policy team’s external engagement with civil rights, LGBTQIA+, and consumer interest organizations on digital equity, broadband deployment and access, technology, and telecommunications policies. Learn more about Sean and his amazing work at https://lnkd.in/dswJ2miq #StartOut

All are invited to attend an upcoming watch party and panel discussion on the future of women's entrepreneurship.

Did you know that we have virtual founder events AND chapter cities that host social and educational events for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs across the country⁉️ Check out the views from our LGBTQ+ rooftop yoga event we hosted this past weekend in Austin with Bank of America and led by the amazing Katie Hallberg. 🌈 StartOut #events are the #1️ place for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs to learn, network and engage with a diverse startup ecosystem. Whether you're a serial entrepreneur or a first-time founder looking for fundraising, we have an event for you. 🗓 Learn more at startout.org/events ❤️ A special thank you to Katie Hallberg, Kynan Dancy, Bank of America and the StartOut Austin Programming Board for creating such a beautiful morning yoga event overlooking Ladybird Lake and the Austin Downtown Skyline.

LGBTQ+ startup founders face unique challenges when building a business. That’s why our Founders Program offers Expert Office Hours with diverse and accomplished industry professionals dedicated to helping your business grow. Meet Eric Chappell, one of our newest experts, an entrepreneurial Financial Executive and Startup Advisor whose passion and industry experience lies at the intersection of technology and consumer goods. He has worked across the lifecycle of companies, from day-one launches through accelerated growth and business maturity. He is a trusted advisor to private equity groups, sovereign wealth funds, venture capital firms, and institutional investors. Join our Founders Program to access expert office hours and learn more about Eric Chappell at the link in the comments! #StartOut #BusinessExpert #LGBTQFounder

Chicago Showed Up! 🌆 As you know, this is a BIG WEEK in #Chicago, so it was great to still see so many LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, investors and friends come out for StartOut's first Rooftop Soiree last night. 🎉✨ Thank you to hosts Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, The Gill Foundation and Verizon, plus Mark Lacy and Scott Barrett for the idea! StartOut Alum Adrian J. (AJ) DeLeón, M.Ed., shared how he launched Innovare after working as a teacher in Chicago Public Schools. And how StartOut, Tawani Ventures, Gaingels and others helped him chart his own path toward success. 🏳️🌈 That's what it's all about: working together to move us all #Forward! 🌍🚀 #LGBTQEntrepreneurs #StartOut #Networking #Innovation

Being an advocate isn’t just a title; it means living your values daily. Advocates believe in change and then work their magic, tearing down barriers, challenging preconceived notions, and paving the way for others to follow. This year, StartOut is honored to roll out the rainbow carpet to honor Fearless Fund! Fearless Fund, Co-founded by Arian Simone and Ayana Parsons in 2018, invests in women of color-led businesses seeking pre-seed, seed level, or series A financing. Their mission is to bridge the gap in venture capital funding for women of color founders building scalable, growth-aggressive companies. Fearless Fund is built by women of color for women of color. With an MBA from Florida A&M University, Arian Simone is an accomplished entrepreneur, philanthropist, investor, best-selling author, and highly sought-after international speaker. She is widely recognized as a trailblazer in her industry, empowering others along the way. Simone established a highly successful public relations and marketing firm, boasting an impressive portfolio of billion-dollar corporate clients including Sony Pictures, Walt Disney, Universal, and other renowned Hollywood studios. Learn more about Fearless Fund and founder, Arian Simone, at the StartOut Awards on October 10 in NYC! 🎟 Get tickets to attend the 2024 #StartOutAwards at https://lnkd.in/gguB3yQe #StartOut #2024StartOutAwards