LGBTQ Entrepreneurs

3/8/2023

I Googled "LGBTQ Entrepreneurs"

6 LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs In The World

Tim Cook (CEO of Apple)

Cook, 54, is the current CEO of Apple, having taken over the post in 2011 after Steve Jobs stepped down due to health concerns. In addition to his role at Apple, Cook also serves on the boards of directors of Nike Inc. and the National Football Foundation.

A strong proponent of equality, Cook sent a 2013 memo to his employees explaining that as an organization, Apple supports further federal government protections against LGBT discrimination.

Chris Hughes (Editor in Chief - The New Republic)

One of the co-founders of Facebook, Hughes left the company in 2007 to become director of online organizing for Barack Obama's first presidential campaign. In 2010, the entrepreneur founded Juno, a social network aimed at connecting users interested in social good and activism.

Currently, Hughes is the publisher and editor in chief of The New Republic, a progressive political commentary magazine.

Hughes married partner Sean Eldridge, president of investment fund Hudson River Ventures and LGBT equality advocate, in June 2012.

Peter Thiel (CEO of PayPal)

Best known for co-founding PayPal and working as its CEO, Thiel is also a successful venture capitalist and hedge fund manager. When eBay acquired PayPal in 2002, Thiel's stake was estimated around $55 million.

He also made the first outside investment in Facebook in 2004, securing a 10.2% stake for $500,000. As an openly gay advocate of LGBT causes, Thiel has contributed to the American Foundation for Equal Rights and GOProud.

Alan Joyce (CEO of Qantas)

The CEO Of Australian airline, Qantas, he rose to prominence in the position in 2008. Born in Ireland , he has prior worked for numerous position for Irish Airlines, Aer Lingues.

He has been an open gay throughout his whole life and has been in a relationship with Shane Lloyd since 1999. He has donated $1 million towards the campaign to achieve same-sex relationship. He has been named as a Companion of the Order of Australia 's highest civil honour , in the 2017 Queen's birthday honours list.

Martine Rothblatt (CEO of United Therapeutics Corporation)

She is currently the highest earning CEO in the biopharmaceutical industry. She is the founder and chairwoman of the board of United Therapeutics. She was also the CEO of GeoStar and the creator of SiriusXM Satellite Radio. She has come out as a Transgender in 1994 , at the age of 40 years. She is currently married to Bina Aspen and has 4 children now. She is an strong advocate of Transgender Rights

Nick Denton (British Internet Entrepreneur)

Nicholas Guido Anthony Denton is a British Internet Entrepreneur journalist and blogger. He is the founder and the former proprietor of the blog collective Gawker Media and was the managing editor of the New York based Gawker.com. Nick is open about his sexuality and is married to his partner, Derrence Washington.

Empowering
LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs

StartOut accelerates the growth of the LGBTQ+ community to drive its economic empowerment, building a world where every LGBTQ+ entrepreneur has equal access to lead, succeed, and shape the workforce of the future.

Click here to go to the website.

12 Resources for LGBTQ Entrepreneurs

Welcome to Breaking the Blueprint — a blog series that dives into the unique business challenges and opportunities of underrepresented business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn how they’ve grown or scaled their businesses, explored entrepreneurial ventures within their companies, or created side hustles, and how their stories can inspire and inform your own success.

Resources for LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs

NLGCC (National LGBT Chamber of Commerce)

The NLGCC, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, offers the only third-party certification for LGBTQ+ businesses in the U.S. If you complete their program and become a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise®, it opens the door to a new world of sales, networking, and educational opportunities.

Government bodies, and many corporations, have supplier diversity requirements — and obtaining a certification like this can put you in the procurement pipeline. The organization also offers many educational and networking opportunities, events, and resources.

StartOut

This nonprofit exists to support LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and help them accelerate growth.

Resources include events, mentorship matching, a startup accelerator (StartOut Growth Lab), and even access to business capital. StartOut has several chapters throughout the U.S. with member networks and events, though if there isn’t one near you, the organization offers online events.

Out Professionals

This organization is somewhat similar to StartOut, though it’s more of a business network for all LGBTQ+ professionals, not just entrepreneurs.

Out Professionals has a membership program with chapters across the country that hold networking events, and the organization is open to people starting chapters in areas without them. These can be ideal places for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs to connect with potential clients or partners. Members can also be included in an online directory and attend educational webinars.

Gaingels

Finding capital to launch or grow a business is hard for any entrepreneur, but it can be especially difficult for those in marginalized or under-resourced communities.

Gaingels was formed in 2014 as an angel investing group that focuses on helping LGBTQ entrepreneurs access capital, and it’s an excellent resource for startups seeking funding. Another firm to consider is Pipeline Angels, which creates capital for entrepreneurs who identify as cis or trans women, non-binary, two-spirit, agender, or gender non-conforming.

Out & Equal

While Out & Equal mainly focuses on supporting diversity and equality at large businesses, it also offers fellowships and career development training programs for LGBTQ+ leaders.

The organization also provides training on LGBTQ inclusion in the workplace, and its annual World Summit brings together business leaders to share best practices. They also offer a variety of online community engagement groups for those who want to connect with like-minded LGBTQ people (some current ones include bi+, LGBTQ+ people of color, and transgender & nonbinary people).

Lesbians Who Tech & Allies

Once geared toward lesbians, this group is now more broadly open to anyone in the tech industry who identifies as an LGBTQ+ woman, non-binary, trans, or an ally.

Lesbians Who Tech focuses on getting more women, people of color, and queer and trans people in technology. The organization also works to create visibility, foster community, and provide career and educational opportunities, such as coding scholarships. Their annual summit is an incredible opportunity for LGBTQ entrepreneurs to learn and network.

Out Leadership

This organization advocates for LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace. In addition to educating companies on how to be more inclusive, Out Leadership offers a global business network and programs for LGBTQ+ leadership. Entrepreneurs who want to hone their craft can apply for OutNEXT, a development program for emerging LGBTQ leaders, or OutWOMEN, for connecting LGBTQ+ women in business.

SBA Resource Partners

The U.S. Small Business Administration (the SBA) offers loads of free resources, including several partner organizations that support entrepreneurs. These aren’t specifically for LGBTQ+ individuals, but the SBA has been vocally affirming and supportive.

One resource funded by the SBA is its Small Business Development Centers, which are located nationwide and provide free business consulting, training, and support. Another SBA-supported resource is SCORE, which matches entrepreneurs with free business mentors who can help you start, grow or transition a business.

Your Local LGBT Chamber of Commerce

The NLGCC is the only national LGBTQ chamber of commerce, but its affiliate network contains city, state, and regional LGBTQ chambers across the U.S. Review their list of affiliate chambers to see if there are any near you.

These organizations are networks of LGBTQ-owned and allied businesses and entrepreneurs, and becoming a member plugs you into a network of peers. Members are also included in directories, which helps with marketing and signals that you’re in, or supportive of, the community. Local chambers usually also host many networking, social and educational events for members.

Out in Tech

Out in Tech is available to a broad audience of LGBTQ people working in technology, and its 40,000 members are tech leaders across the U.S. The organization has 32 chapters worldwide, featuring networking, education, social events, and a leadership training institute. Out in Tech also provides volunteer opportunities, such as the Digital Corps, which helps build websites for LGBTQ+ organizations and activists.

Reaching Out

Reaching Out was created to connect LGBTQ+ business school students with communities of alumni. It has several conferences, including Out Women in Business, that brings together LGBTQ+ women in the business community.

LGBTQ entrepreneurs with MBAs can join this nonprofit and participate in year-long programming that helps build a network of MBA students, alumni, and corporate partners.

Stanford Executive Leadership Program

If you want to uplevel your leadership, consider signing up for this week-long program hosted by Stanford’s business school. Hosted in person in California for a week in June 2023, participants learn how to excel as an LGBTQ+ business leader, improve interpersonal and communication skills, and build a strong peer network. The program is unique in that it teaches attendees how their LGBTQ+ identity is a strength to leverage in the business realm.

Lesbian-Owned & LGBT-Friendly Businesses in Virginia, United States

Virginia, United States' Top Rated Lesbian-Owned & LGBT-Friendly Businesses

CLICK HERE TO VIEW TOP-RATED LGBTQ BUSINESSES

4 Online Communities LGBT Entrepreneurs Need to Know About

1. The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)

Description: The NGLCC is a great first stop. It’s a US-based organization with resources, trainings, and meetups for aspiring LGBT entrepreneurs. It was founded in 2002 by Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell to empower the community economically.
“We realized no one had truly considered the economic equality of LGBT people or the impact economics could have on the equality movement,” they wrote in The Advocate back in 2018. “With over 1.4 million LGBT business owners (and growing) behind us, we have seen the LGBT community earn its place at the table of economic opportunity.”
Who it’s good for: It’s a perfect start for LGBT business owners in the US looking to expand their businesses and get certified—or aspiring to exhibit their companies at conferences and meetups organized by the NGLCC.

What it offers:

LGBTBE (LGBT Business Enterprise) Certification: This gives your business the opportunity to compete for sourcing contracts with the NGLCC’s Corporate Supplier Diversity Partners. These corporate partners are committed to creating a diverse supply chain that is inclusive of LGBT businesses, and they have targeted amounts for spending with diverse business enterprises.
Supplier Diversity Initiative (SDI): This program is the main bridge between corporate America and LGBT-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. Certified LGBTBEs can meet face-to-face with potential suppliers at NGLCC SDI matchmaking events, and they may also be eligible for scholarship programs, mentorship and leadership training, and other business development tools.

Here’s the criteria your business needs to meet for LGBTBE certification:

Majority (at least 51%) owned, operated, managed, and controlled by someone who identifies as LGBT and is either a US citizen or permanent resident.

Exercises independence from any non-LGBT business enterprise.

Has its principal place of business (headquarters) in the United States.

Has been formed as a legal entity in the United States.

2. LGBTQ Entrepreneurs

Description: This is a Facebook community of LGBT entrepreneurs—and aspiring entrepreneurs—who want to grow their businesses. It was created by the Cee Smith, a successful entrepreneur who has built businesses in multiple industries, from entertainment to business development.
“The Facebook group came from my experience as a young and out entrepreneur who navigated the business world alone. A majority of us are alone on this journey. We don’t fight just to make our business successful, we also have to fight prejudice and stereotypes that engender inequality,” says Smith.
Who it’s good for: According to Smith, “This group is good for entrepreneurs looking for community support, problem solving, and resources. We have people of all ages and levels of entrepreneurship, from a few months in all the way to 25-plus years in business.”

What it offers:

Video content by Cee Smith.

Educational material on scaling your business, like how and where to get funding and other key insights.

Community support and problem solving.

3. Out Professionals (OP)

Description: Out Professionals calls itself “the nation’s leading LGBT networking organization.” Founded in 1983, it has over 1,000 members, 5,000+ email subscribers, and 600+ companies.
Who it’s good for: Members include many of the LGBT community’s leading writers, designers, producers, directors, and others in the arts.

What it offers: Membership costs $65–$125 per year and gets you:

A personal listing in their public Business Directory.

Various events each month, like mixers, celebrity interviews, film screenings, professional panels, and career workshops.

Exclusive access to OP’s online Member Directory, where you can browse or search for other members.

Seminars and workshops. One upcoming event is “How to Brand and Market Yourself or Your Business on LinkedIn.”

4. The Lesbian Business Community (LBC)

Description: The LBC is a lesbian-owned business directory and resource for LGBT-owned-and-operated businesses. The goal is for these businesses to build their visibility and brand—and make it easier for consumers to find them.
Who it’s good for: According to LBC’s website, there are only 370,000 lesbian-owned businesses in the US. They hope to change that by supporting lesbian entrepreneurs around the country. LBC is also LGBT-friendly and supports other entrepreneurs within the community.

What it offers:

A directory of detailed profiles for members to tell their stories and for users to connect with other lesbian or LGBT-friendly professionals.

Easy search of a broad range of categories so new clients and strategic partners can find lesbian-owned and LGBT-friendly businesses and service providers.

ORGANIZATIONS

StartOut is a Vibrant Network of Dedicated LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs and Supporters. 60+ Annual Events. LGBT Expert Legal Advice. Champion for LGBTQ Growth.
The Lesbian Community: The LBC is a lesbian-owned business directory and resource for LGBT-owned and operated businesses. The goal is for these businesses to build their visibility and brand—and make it easier for consumers to find them.
Out in Tech is a not-for-profit uniting the LGBTQ+ tech community. With 10 chapters and over 25000 members, we connect our members to new opportunities.
Lesbians Who Tech is a community for lesbians who are interested in starting a small business have to fight discrimination on at least two fronts. Not only are they working against LGBTQ discrimination, but they are also fighting against outdated notions that many people still have about women in business.
LGBTQ Entrepreneurs is a Facebook community of LGBT entrepreneurs—and aspiring entrepreneurs—who want to grow their businesses. It offers insights from Cee Smith, a successful entrepreneur who has built businesses in multiple industries, from entertainment to business development. “The Facebook group came from my experience as a young and out entrepreneur who navigated the business world alone. A majority of us are alone on this journey. We don’t fight just to make our business successful, we also have to fight prejudice and stereotypes that engender inequality,” says Smith.
Out Professionals calls itself “the nation’s leading LGBT networking organization.” Founded in 1983, it has about 1,000 members to connect with.
SBA LGBT resources: Business owners can use SBA local assistance tool to find nearby offices and resources. There, you can get counseling on whether their Business Development Program is right for you.
100+ diversity in tech communities in Europe: An ever-growing list of schemes and networks which support diverse and underrepresented founders in Europe's tech ecosystem.
National Resources for LGBTQIA+ Entrepreneurs
National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce: This association provides certification that can bring you significant supplier diversity contracts. Certified LGBTBEs are routinely sought after by National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Corporate Partners who are looking to increase their spend with the LGBTQ business community through an internal, proprietary database.

CAPITAL COMMUNITY + FUNDING RESOURCES:

The LGBTQ+ Entrepreneur Toolkit: 100+ Free Resources & Digital Marketing Tips from Berkeley. Fantastic resrouces listed with free planning tools and tips to help you get started.
DiversityVC: Venture Capital is funding the future. The decisions made by VCs filter through to the whole community and DiversityVC believes that they have a responsibility to ensure the right decisions are being made. We need the industry to be free from bias.
Backstage Capital: "We invest in the very best founders who identify as women, People of Color, or LGBTQ. I personally identify as all three." ARLAN HAMILTON, MANAGING PARTNER
LGBT CAPITAL Is principally focussed on the LGBT Consumer segment as a credible investment sector and to demonstrate the business case for advancements in LGBT equality and inclusion globally.
Unpopular Ventures is a new Venture Capital firm, dedicated to the entrepreneurs who are proud to be unpopular.
Angel List of LGBTQ+ companies and investors
500 Startups – LGBTQ SYNDICATE: 500’s mission is to discover and back the world’s most talented entrepreneurs, help them create successful companies at scale, and build thriving global ecosystems.
Reach Capital: Co-founded by Shauntel Poulson, Reach Capital is a venture capital firm that aims to support minority-led startups striving to help underserved communities in the country, particularly in the field of education.
Republic concentrates on diverse entrepreneurs of all genders and looks specifically for diverse teams to invest in.

ARTICLES:

The Ultimate Resources For LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs (2023)

Our mission at Growthink is to support all entrepreneurs regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, economic status and other diverse backgrounds.

We have created this resource to help LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs acquire the knowledge and resources necessary to achieve as much success as possible for their own business.

Networking, Support & Advocacy Resources for LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs

The first step in starting your business is networking and finding resources that will help your business succeed. As an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, there are specific organizations out there that you can use.

A comprehensive list of such organizations is included below.

CLICK THE LINK TO GO TO THE LIST OF RESOURCES

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