🌈 Attend Our Newest Signature Event
Wednesday, June 4th | LinkedIn HQ
Thursday, June 5th | Werqwise San Francisco
Get ready to experience the future of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship and innovation at StartOut Con 2025—a high-energy, game-changing two-day event that’s redefining what it means to disrupt industries and build a more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem. Join us in San Francisco this Pride Month and connect with the founders, investors, and community members driving progress at the intersection of innovation and inclusion.
Whether you’re here to pitch your next big idea, connect with innovative thought partners, or leave inspired to build a more inclusive business world, StartOut Con is where you need to be.
We want StartOut Con to be accessible for all who wish to attend. If you would need a discounted ticket please email info@startout.org
Schedule and speakers subject to change.
What is StartOut Con
StartOut Con is a movement with a bold mission: To equip LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs to break barriers and scale their visions into impactful ventures. From intimate breakout sessions to bold main-stage discussions, the convention is designed to foster the kind of environment where ideas spark, connections flourish, and solutions emerge.
At StartOut Con, every voice matters. This isn’t about sitting on the sidelines; it’s about collaborating, challenging norms, and creating opportunities for LGBTQ+ founders and allies to thrive together.
Who Will Be There
🚀 Visionary Entrepreneurs: From early-stage founders and small business owners to scaling disruptors, connect with like-minded individuals in the LGBTQ+ community
🤝 Investors with Purpose: Discover the market disruptors of tomorrow and align your portfolio with your values.
💡 Industry Thought Leaders: Listen to keynote speeches and panels from the pioneers shaping innovation and equity.
🌎 Ecosystem Builders & Advocates: Forge partnerships with allies and experts determined to create sustainable change.
StartOut Con Pricing
| Super Early Bird (by April 30th) | Regular (by June 4th) | |
| Regular Ticket | $49 | $69 |
| StartOut Member | $29 | $39 |
We want StartOut Con to be accessible for all who wish to attend. If you would need a discounted ticket please email info@startout.org
Schedule
*The schedule is subject to change. Check back here for the latest updates.
Wednesday, June 4th
222 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94105
- 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Registration Open for Investors
- 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Investor Circle (Invited Investors Only)
- 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Registration Open for Invited Founders to attend Founder Matching
- 3:45 PM - 4:20 PM Founder & Investor Matching (Invited Founders & Investors Only)
- 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM Registration Open for all attendees to attend the rest of the programming
- 4:30 PM - 5:15 PM State of Venture Capital and Fundraising Panel (Open to All Attendees)
- 5:15 PM - 6:00 PM VISA Showcase on Practical Business Skills (Open to All Attendees)
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Opening Reception sponsored by JPMorgan at Southside Spirit House
Thursday, June 5th
149 New Montgomery St 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105
- 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Doors Open & Registration
- 10:30 AM - 10:40 AM Welcome
- 10:40 AM - 11:00 AM Fireside Chat with Bhavik Shah, moderated by JP Morgan
- 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM Ed Session Block 1 & Expert Office Hours LIVE
- 12:30 PM - 1:20 PM Ed Session Block 2 & Expert Office Hours LIVE
- 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Lunch & Networking Break
- 2:40 PM - 3:30 PM Ed Session Block 3 & Expert Office Hours LIVE
- 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Closing Keynote with Gabbi Tufts
- 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM Additional Networking and Event Closes
Day 1 Sessions
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Investor Circle (Invited Investors Only)
Category: Venture Capital and Investments
Audience: Invited Investors Only
Please reach out to Danielle Wiggins for an invitation at danielle.wiggins@startout.org
Investor Circle, StartOut’s first in-person event, just for investors. Investment professionals (angel investors, institutional investors, and emerging fund managers) will have the chance to meet each other, network, and gain insight from other industry experts.
At Investor Circle, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the StartOut team, mingle with other investors, and engage in meaningful conversations that will drive a more inclusive investment ecosystem.
3:45 PM - 4:20 PM
Founder & Investor Matching (Invited Founders & Investors Only)
Audience: Invited Founders & Investors Only
Spaces will be limited, please reach out to the Access to Capital Program Manager for more details. Contact: danielle.wiggins@startout.org
Fast-paced, high-impact, and connection-driven—this is VC Speed Networking reimagined. Founders and investors will engage in curated conversations designed to spark relationships, surface opportunities, and build momentum. Whether you're looking to raise your next round or discover your next breakout investment, this event puts quality introductions front and center. No long pitches, no fluff, just real connections with real potential. If you're serious about building in or backing the future, this is the room you want to be in.
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM
State of Venture Capital and Fundraising Panel (Open to All Attendees)
Category: Venture Capital, Wellness, and Fundraising
Audience: Open to all attendees
All eyes are on the state of the economy right now. If there is anything that remains true now more than ever, it is that we must remain resilient. Step into a candid conversation on the current state of venture capital and fundraising, told through the real success stories of founders and investors who’ve made it work. This dynamic panel brings together voices from both sides of the table to share firsthand insights, lessons learned, and what it takes to raise and deploy capital in today’s climate. Whether you're a founder, investor, or simply curious about the evolving VC landscape, this session is open to all and built to inspire. Come for the real stories, leave with real perspective.
Day 2 Sessions
Ed Session Block 1
Early-Stage Business Model Design: Visualize, Test, & Validate Risky Assumptions
Not every business needs to be a startup—so what’s the best path for you? In this interactive session, you'll learn how to visually map out your business model, prioritize and test risky assumptions about your target market, and determine the best path for your venture. Gain clarity on your business model, funding needs, and growth trajectory so that you can align your goals with the right strategy and resources.
Participants will have the option to work on paper canvases or in MURAL, a digital whiteboarding tool.
Category: Business Modeling
Audience: Foundational
Boardroom Dominatrix Training
When women and minorities are in positions of power, incredible shifts happen. When respect is a standard and consent is honored in every interaction, human beings feel safe. A boardroom dominatrix is a person who balances an exchange of power with business acumen to create singular results—Strategically growing the company by garnering consent to technologically dominate. The result is an extraordinary increase in revenues, and an ensuing satisfaction throughout the company.
Category: Business Development
Audience: Advanced
Negotiating Your First Venture Deal
Venture capital isn't the right path for every business. This no-fluff session unpacks what it really means to raise a VC round, the common pitfalls founders make, and how to know if you’re truly ready. Get a step-by-step checklist and alternative funding options so you can make the smartest choice for your business.
Category: Fundraising
Audience: Foundational
Is Your Early-Stage Product Strategy Pulling its Weight?
Your product strategy is failing if it’s not helping you prioritize and adapt with confidence, define your MVP, and raise capital. In this session, we’ll explore what effective, fundable product strategies consistently get right, how they help navigate moments when the path ahead feels unclear, and how to spot their cracks before investors do. You’ll leave with sharper judgment, practical tools to strengthen your product strategy, and a clear understanding of how funders size up your strategy and vision.
Category: Identity; Legal; Entrepreneurship
Audience: Foundational
Ed Session Block 2
Do I Need to Raise Venture Capital?
Venture capital isn't the right path for every business. This no-fluff session unpacks what it really means to raise a VC round, the common pitfalls founders make, and how to know if you’re truly ready. Get a step-by-step checklist and alternative funding options so you can make the smartest choice for your business.
Category: Fundraising
Audience: Foundational
Building AI Leadership Muscle
When a leader is asked, or tasked, to lead AI in their company, the journey often starts with overcoming deep organizational resistance. This session explores what makes AI leadership uniquely challenging, from the speed and scale of change to the complexity of cross-functional stakeholders. Learn how to build your AI leadership muscle and discover the kind of executive support technical leaders truly need, hint: it’s about EQ.
Category: Executive Skills Development
Audience: Advanced
The State of Trans Entrepreneurship
Trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming founders face unique obstacles, but also incredible opportunities. This session explores the specific challenges trans entrepreneurs encounter, highlights the innovative power of trans businesses, and showcases trans-specific resources to build more thriving companies. Whether you’re a trans founder or an ally, this is your chance to be part of a movement that builds lasting change.
Category: Identity; Allyship
Audience: Foundational
Go-to-Market Mastery: Your Blueprint for Launching Successfully
A strong Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy is essential for turning your product or service into a market success. This hands-on workshop will teach you the key components of a GTM strategy, including defining your target market, crafting compelling messaging, setting pricing, and developing sales and distribution strategies. Discover how to map the customer journey and align your marketing and sales efforts to create a seamless path to growth.
Category: Marketing
Audience: Foundational
Ed Session Block 3
Non-Dilutive Funding in 2025: Grants, Loans & Beyond
So, you’ve determined that external funding is key to scaling your business, but how do you secure capital without giving up equity? This session will focus exclusively on non-dilutive funding, exploring options like grants, venture debt, crowdfunding, and more. Often overlooked, non-dilutive funding is a powerful tool for fueling growth while maintaining full ownership. Join us to gain clarity on your funding options and leave with a roadmap to secure capital on your terms.
Category: Fundraising
Audience: Foundational
Learn More Faster: GV’s Playbook for Accelerating Customer Discovery
Learn Google Venture’s proven formula for finding your ideal customer and building their perfect product. Inspired by the GV playbook, Learn More Faster, and with insights from Michael’s 15 years of experience with hundreds of GV startups, this session offers practical strategies and skills you can use to accelerate customer discovery, define your unique value proposition and identify the specific customers who are initially most likely to adopt your product.
Category: Customer Discovery, Audience Development
Audience: Foundational
Small Business Success Strategies
Running a small business comes with unique challenges, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. This session delivers expert insights, actionable strategies, and access to national and local resources designed to help small businesses thrive. Learn the must-know tips to scale, sustain, and succeed as an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur.
Category: Small Business; Entrepreneurship
Audience: Foundational
BurnOut Bootcamp: Thriving as an LGBTQ+ Entrepreneur
Building a business demands energy, focus, and resilience, and your wellbeing is the foundation for all of it. In this workshop, successful founders share their top strategies and daily habits for staying at their best, including tips on sleep, exercise, nutrition, and staying connected to their support networks. Leave with a personalized blueprint for balancing ambition with self-care so you can sustain your success without sacrificing your wellbeing.
Category: Wellness & Identity
Audience: Foundational
Day 2 Fireside Chat
Bhavik Shah
Founder & Culture Change Strategist, Bhavik R. Shah LLC
Bhavik (ભાવિક) R. Shah [he/him] is an award-winning leader and culture change strategist specializing in workforce mental health and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging). Bhavik offers 17 years of demonstrated success within financial services, Fortune 100 companies, and nonprofit foundations on a global scale. He draws on his Gujarati South Asian immigrant roots and LGBTQ+ identity to promote awareness and build equitable workplaces for all employees.
Day 2 Closing Keynote
Gabbi Tuft
Co-Founder, GLO Venture, Inc
Former WWE Superstar, licensed sports nutritionist, and viral social media influencer, Gabbi Tuft scaled GLO Coaching to a 7-figure business in under a year. Known as the “Review Girl” with 30M–50M monthly views, she was named one of the Top 10 Women-Led Businesses of 2023 by WWD.
Meet Our Speakers
Day 1 Speakers
Day 2 Speakers
Expert Office Hours LIVE
Fast-track your startup success in just 20 minutes.
Expert Office Hours LIVE is your chance to connect one-on-one with seasoned professionals who understand the unique challenges of building and scaling a business. These high-impact, 20-minute sessions are designed to deliver fast, actionable advice tailored to your current business needs—all in real time. Whether you’re navigating a funding round, refining your go-to-market plan, or have questions about protecting your IP, this is your opportunity to get expert guidance on the spot.
StartOut Con attendees will have the opportunity to sign up to meet with our experts at registration. Expert spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Topic Areas Include:
- Sales & Business Development
- Legal Insights for Tech Startups
-
Product Development &
Product-Market Fit - Fundraising Strategy
- Sales & Marketing
- HR, People, & Culture
- Go-To-Market Strategy
Meet Our Experts
Beatrice Stonebanks
Sales & Business Development Expert
Fredo Silva
Legal Expert for Tech Startups
Chris Luquetta Fish
Product Development & Product-Market Fit
Herman Flowers
Pitch Deck Expert
Brad Dressler
Marketing & Pitch Lounge
Zen Mak
HR, People, Culture Expert
Dave Mullen
Fundraising Strategy Expert
Damian Wisniewski
Sales & Marketing Expert
Shweta Agrawal
Product, GTM Strategy, & AI Insights Expert
Stefan Arteaga
Fundraising Strategy Expert
Maria Gallegos
Growth, Scaling, Fundraising Expert
Bhavik Shah
Sustainable Leadership, Wellbeing, & HR Expert
Join StartOut
Since 2009, StartOut has built a community of 28,000 members. Every year, we provide support to over 700 individual founders. We connect them to expertise, peers, community, and capital. This powerful combination of financial support, skills development, and community contributes to helping fuel innovation, wealth generation and equal access to economic opportunity. Join our growing community today.