Company News Archives - Page 3 of 3

July 11, 2022February 24, 2023

StartOut and J.P. Morgan Welcome 10th Growth Lab Accelerator Cohort

Six-month virtual program provides LGBTQ+ businesses with mentorship, networking, and resources to drive sustainable growth

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, StartOut and J.P. Morgan announced the ten companies selected to participate in the StartOut Growth Lab accelerator program. StartOut, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization supporting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, launched Growth Lab in 2017 with five participating businesses. Since then, the program has helped 56 early-stage companies raise more than $756 million in funding and create nearly 3,650 new jobs, and counting. As the Steel-level Supporting Partner of StartOut and co-lead sponsor of Growth Lab, J.P. Morgan is proud to help launch Cohort 10 and continue to empower LGBTQ+ business owners nationwide.

“LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs represent one of the most innovative and rapidly growing segments of our nation’s business community, and J.P. Morgan is proud to expand its support for StartOut in its mission to accelerate that growth,” said David Barbee, who leads JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking’s LGBTQ+ initiatives. “We are excited to welcome Cohort 10 to the Growth Lab and know that their growth will catalyze solutions to some of the most pressing issues of the day, from the green economy to enhanced healthcare services and beyond.”

The companies selected to join Cohort 10 are:

Carbon Reform (Newark, DE): A manufacturer of modular carbon capture devices for commercial building ventilation systems that improve indoor air quality for occupants, create energy savings for building owners, and directly capture and permanently sequesters tons of CO2 annually
CreatorUp Inc. (Los Angeles, CA): A global video production company that allows clients to instantly purchase custom content from more than 700 video solutions
Global Policy Leadership Academy (West Hollywood, CA): An EdTech start-up that prepares professionals and civic leaders to advance solutions to societal challenges through the development of shared knowledge, best practices, and collaboration
Glyphic Biotechnologies (New York, NY/Berkeley, CA): A biotech startup developing a first-of-its-kind, next-generation protein sequencer to transform the underlying engine of biomedical discovery to move beyond the decades-old technologies based on mass spectrometry and ELISAs
Hydrus.ai (San Francisco, CA): A software company spearheading Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) operating systems for enterprise
Innovare (Chicago, IL): An application to empower education leaders to use data strategically to positively impact students and communities
Reya Health (London, Ontario): A digital platform for personalized contraceptive counseling
SmartSuite Tech (Portland, OR): A productivity software company solving challenges in the business presentation industry to modernize speaking notes, workflow and presentation capabilities
StayFi (New York, NY): The global leader in WiFi Marketing & Management services for short-term rentals
Wise Assistant (Atlanta, GA): An all-in-one platform to help creators get their businesses off the ground with easy-to-use marketing and business tools

“In partnership with our co-sponsor, J.P. Morgan, we are thrilled to kick-off Cohort 10 with this impressive group of innovators,” said Andres Wydler, Executive Director, StartOut. “The companies who have graduated from the Growth Lab continue to have a substantial impact on their communities. We can’t wait to help accelerate the growth of this next group of passionate entrepreneurs!”

Continued Partnership

J.P. Morgan’s co-sponsorship of the Growth Lab is an expansion of the firm’s ongoing relationship with StartOut and a part of its broader commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.

In 2019, JPMorgan Chase sponsored StartOut’s Pride Economic Inclusion Index (SPEII), as part of the firm’s $150 million Small Business Forward initiative to invest in underserved entrepreneurs. In 2021, the firm’s Office of LGBT+ Affairs, which advances equity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees, customers, business partners and communities, announced an additional $500,000 commitment to expand the SPEII, which now provides near real-time, data-driven insights into the US entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition to the Growth Lab and SPEII, J.P. Morgan provides mentorship for StartOut businesses and co-sponsors the Annual Equality Summit.

“I am proud to further advance our support for StartOut, one of our strategic non-profit partners,” says Brad Baumoel, global head of the Office of LGBT+ Affairs. “Through this expanded partnership, we plan to elevate and create true equity for the next generation of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.”

To learn more about the StartOut Growth Lab, including details on the application process for the next cohort, visit: startout.org/growth-lab.

For more information on the financial solutions available to guide business growth, visit: jpmorgan.com/commercial-banking.

About StartOut
Founded in 2009, StartOut, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the largest national organization to support LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs with over 21K members nationwide. Its mission is to accelerate 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. StartOut helps aspiring LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs start new companies; supports current entrepreneurs as they grow and expand their existing businesses; and engages successful entrepreneurs as role models and mentors, on its online portal and through targeted events nationwide. For more information, please visit www.startout.org.

About JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking is a business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $4.0 trillion and operations worldwide. Through its Middle Market Banking & Specialized Industries, Corporate Client Banking & Specialized Industries and Commercial Real Estate businesses, Commercial Banking serves emerging startups to midsize businesses and large corporations as well as government entities, not-for-profit organizations, and commercial real estate investors, developers and owners. Clients are supported through every stage of growth with specialized industry expertise and tailored financial solutions including credit and financing, treasury and payment services, international banking, advisory services and more. Information about JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking is available at www.jpmorganchase.com/commercial.

Contacts

Media Contacts

JPMorgan Chase
Elizabeth Connerat
elizabeth.connerat@chase.com

StartOut
Jonathan Ochart
jochart@thepostcardagency.com

June 1, 2022February 24, 2023

TriNet Supports LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs with Donation to StartOut

Donation Aimed to Help Drive Economic Empowerment of LGBTQ+ Community

Dublin, CA — June 1, 2022—TriNet, a leading provider of comprehensive human resources for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs), today announced that StartOut, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization supporting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs has received a TriNet Foundation donation. The TriNet Foundation, launched in 2021, is a donor-advised fund of TriNet and a key component of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.

The TriNet Foundation seeks to proactively evaluate and support nonprofit organizations that foster positive change, economic development and the growth of entrepreneurism related to veterans, historically underrepresented businesses, and trade schools/entrepreneurial education programs. Previous recipients of TriNet Foundation donations are Black Girl Ventures and Hire Heroes USA.

TriNet will engage with the LGBTQ+ community through StartOut’s mentorship program, upcoming events, and opportunities for the StartOut community to learn more about TriNet and the incredible HR services that it provides.

“TriNet exists to help small and medium-size businesses succeed, and the TriNet Foundation is an important way to expand our reach outside of our customer base while aligning our corporate social responsibility to our company mission and vision,” said TriNet President and CEO Burton M. Goldfield (he/him). “StartOut does incredible work to give LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs equal access to resources that can help fuel their success. When we make diversity a priority within organizations, the result is more innovation, more creativity and more opportunities for all of us.”

“We are most grateful for the engagement of companies like TriNet that are proactively helping us empower LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs through mentoring, education and networking opportunities. TriNet’s generous support is instrumental in creating more diversity within our startup communities,” said StartOut’s executive director, Andres Wydler (he/him).

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About TriNet
TriNet (NYSE: TNET) provides small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) with full-service HR solutions tailored by industry. To free SMBs from HR complexities, TriNet offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation and compliance, payroll, all enabled by industry leading technology capabilities. TriNet’s suite of products also includes services and software-based solutions to help streamline workflows by connecting HR, Benefits, Employee Engagement, Payroll and Time & Attendance. From Main Street to Wall Street, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters most—growing their business and enabling their people. TriNet, incredible starts here. For more information, visit TriNet.com or follow us on Twitter.

About StartOut
Founded in 2009, StartOut, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the largest national organization to support LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs with over 25K members nationwide. Its mission is to accelerate 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. StartOut helps aspiring LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs start new companies; supports current entrepreneurs as they grow and expand their existing businesses; and engages successful entrepreneurs as role models and mentors, on its online portal and through targeted events nationwide. For more information, please visit www.startout.org.

Contacts:

Investors: Alex Bauer, TriNet Alex.Bauer@TriNet.com

Media: Renee Brotherton/Josh Gross, TriNet Renee.Brotherton@TriNet.com Josh.Gross@TriNet.com

January 22, 2022February 24, 2023

StartOut Appoints Carla Hendra to Board of Directors

Brand, marketing and digital leader, and Ogilvy Growth & Innovation CEO invited to join board

StartOut, the leading national non-profit organization that supports, educates and connects LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, today announced the election of its newest board member Carla Hendra for 2022. Carla, a respected veteran of the global brand, marketing, communications, and digital spaces, has been appointed to the non-profit’s growing and evolving Board of Directors. Carla’s addition continues to strengthen StartOut’s commitment to inclusion, diversity and impact across the United States and beyond.

Carla Hendra is the Global CEO of Ogilvy Growth & Innovation, one of Ogilvy’s five global business units, where she leads a team dedicated to providing advisory services to C-level clients at the intersection of Brand, Growth, Digital and Innovation. Carla founded Ogilvy Growth & Innovation in 2011 and under her leadership has expanded its offerings to include Growth Strategy, Business Transformation, Sustainability and Behavioral Sciences consulting, in addition to Brand and Marketing Strategy and Innovation. Carla has worked with clients spanning Fortune 500 companies and start-ups to create new companies, new markets, new brands, new products, new ecosystems, and beyond.

“We are thrilled to welcome Carla to our Board of Directors,” said Chris Young, StartOut’s chair. “Carla is an exceptional leader in the advertising and marketing worlds. We are most fortunate to have her counsel and perspective as we seek to grow and differentiate the ways we communicate and engage with our whole community. Her appointment marks a multi-year successful collaboration between Ogilvy and StartOut.”

Carla has an accomplished track record of creating successful marketing and digital strategies for companies and brands worldwide. In her 25 years with Ogilvy, the world’s leading integrated creative marketing and communications network, she has held multiple positions, including: global digital & CRM lead on IBM, North America digital leadership as President of OgilvyOne from 1998-2010, and co-CEO of Ogilvy North America from 2005 to 2010.

Among other important honors, Carla was named one of Advertising Age’s “Woman to Watch” in 1999 and was jury chair of the 2001 Cyber Lions, the first-ever female jury chair of the Cannes International Festival of Creativity in its then 50-year history. Carla was later awarded “Advertising Woman of the Year” by AWNY and the YWCA’s “W” award for her efforts to eliminate racism and empower women in the workplace. Throughout her career, Carla has balanced work with raising three children. In 2005, she was selected as one of Working Mother magazine’s “Advertising Working Mothers of the Year”.

“After working with StartOut for six years as an innovation partner, it is so exciting to join the StartOut Board of Directors,” said Carla Hendra. “I am impressed by StartOut’s commitment not only to diversity at large but also helping LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs in all industries excel, by providing critical resources like access to capital and mentorship. Throughout my career, and as a part of the Ogilvy network, it has been a goal to help underserved communities not only rise but also have an impact on the world. StartOut’s ongoing vision of economic empowerment and its mission to drive equality and prosperity for the LGBTQ+ community remains trailblazing.”

The appointment of Carla Hendra to StartOut’s Board of Directors marks a fruitful 6-year relationship between Ogilvy and StartOut. Carla has driven collaboration between the two organizations, ranging from event sponsorship and collaboration to marketing counsel for the StartOut Pride Economic Impact Index (SPEII). Ogilvy was critical in helping to introduce the Index, a novel tool to measure and visualize the economic impact of LGBTQ+ leaders and what such impact could have been with equal access to resources. Carla will now serve a critical role on StartOut’s Board helping to accelerate its marketing and promotion as the organization enters its next growth phase. Carla’s unique blend of experiences across marketing, communications, and digital make her an ideal choice to help guide StartOut through this journey.

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ABOUT STARTOUT

Founded in 2009, StartOut, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the largest national organization to support LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs with over 21K members nationwide. StartOut’s mission is to increase the number, diversity, and impact of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and amplify their stories to drive the economic empowerment of the community. StartOut helps aspiring LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs start new companies; supports current entrepreneurs as they grow and expand their existing businesses; and engages successful entrepreneurs as role models and mentors, on its online portal and through targeted events nationwide. For more information, please visit www.startout.org

ABOUT OGILVY

Ogilvy has been producing iconic, culture-changing marketing campaigns since the day its founder David Ogilvy opened up shop in 1948. Today, Ogilvy is an award-winning integrated creative network known for developing giant ideas that create giant value for Fortune Global 500 companies as well as local businesses. Ogilvy is a global network with 132 offices in 83 countries and five core businesses that span Growth & Innovation; Advertising, Brand, & Content; Public Relations & Influence; Experience; and Health. Ogilvy is a WPP company (NASDAQ: WPPGY). For more information, visit Ogilvy.com, and follow Ogilvy on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.