Attend Our Newest Signature Event š
Wednesday, June 4th | LinkedIn HQĀ
Thursday, June 5th | Werqwise San Francisco
Get ready to experience the future of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship and innovation at StartOut Con 2025āa high-energy, game-changing two-day event thatās 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 youāre 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 emailĀ info@startout.org
Speakers to be announced.
StartOut Con Pricing
| Super Early Bird (by April 30th) | Early Bird (by May 15th) | Regular (by June 4th) | |
| Regular Ticket | $49 | $69 | $99 |
| StartOut Member | $29 | $39 | $49 |
We want StartOut Con to be accessible for all who wish to attend. If you would need a discounted ticket please emailĀ info@startout.org
Schedule
*The schedule is subject to change. Check back here for the latest updates.Ā
Day 1
- 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Registration for Investors with Coffee & Pastries
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Investors Circle
- 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM Registration for Founders with Coffee & Pastries
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM State of Venture Capital and Fundraising Panel
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Founder & Investor Matching
Day 2
- 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Doors Open & Registration
- 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Welcome & Pastries
- 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM Ed Session Block 1
- 12:30 PM - 1:20 PM Ed Session Block 2
- 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Lunch & Networking Break
- 2:40 PM - 3:30 PM Ed Session Block 3
- 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Closing Keynote
- 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM Additional Networking and Event Closes
Day 1 Sessions
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Investor Circle
Investor Circle, StartOutās 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 learn more about StartOutās Access to Capital program, meet the team, mingle with other investors, and engage in meaningful conversations that will drive a more inclusive investment ecosystem.
Category: Venture Capital and Investments
Audience: Investors Only
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm - State of Venture Capital and Fundraising Panel
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. What does 2025 have in store for the venture space? What can we learn from the current fundraising landscape? State of Venture Capital and Fundraising Panel will touch on the exciting stories of both investors and founders, while our panelists share their tips on how they found success.
Category: Venture Capital, Wellness, and Fundraising
Audience: Open to Investors and Founders
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Founder & Investor Matching
Meeting an investor and pitching your company is the dream opportunity that most of our founders ask for! VC Speed-Networking is that opportunity! Join us for a jam-packed hour of high-impact and valuable networking with investors who are looking to back the worldās next talented founders. Share what fuels your passions with our VC community.
Spaces will be limited, please reach out to the Access to Capital Program Manager for more details. Contact: danielle.wiggins@startout.org
Day 2 Sessions
Ed Session Block 1
Defining Your Business Model | Are You a Startup or Cash Flow Business?
Not every business needs to be a startupāso whatās the best path for you? In this session, you'll learn how to identify the best path for your venture, whether itās a VC-backed startup, a cashflow-driven small business, a nonprofit, or something in between. Gain clarity on your business model, funding needs, and growth trajectory so you can align your goals with the right strategy and resources.
Category: Business Modeling
Audience: Foundational
Boardroom Dom 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 resultsāStrategically 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: Executive Skills Development
Audience: Advanced
Authenticity & Safety as an LGBTQ+ Business Owner
Being your authentic self in business shouldnāt come at the cost of safety or success. This candid panel dives into the legal challenges LGBTQ+ entrepreneursāespecially trans foundersāface and how to protect your business while staying true to your identity. Understand the benefits and levels of risk associated with making DEIB-related choices in the current business climate, discover key resources, and leave with strategies to navigate your business success.
Category: Identity; Legal; Entrepreneurship
Audience: Foundational
Negotiating Your First Venture Deal
This workshop provides a comprehensive yet accessible overview of venture deal fundamentals, focusing on the structures, key terms, and market standards that define early-stage financing. It breaks down complex concepts like convertible debt, SAFEs, equity financing rounds, liquidation preferences, and anti-dilution protections, making them understandable for both founders and emerging investors. The module also introduces Tome, a platform co-founded by Dugal that simplifies legal documents using AI.
Category: Fundraising
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 youāre 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 askedāor taskedāto 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 needāhint: itās about EQ.
Category: Technology
Audience: Advanced
The State of Trans Entrepreneurship
Trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming founders face unique obstaclesābut 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 youāre a trans founder or an ally, this is your chance to be part of a movement that builds lasting change.
Category: Identity; Allyship; Legal
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.
Category: Marketing
Audience: Foundational
Ed Session Block 3
Non-Dilutive Funding in 2025: Grants, Loans & Beyond
So, youāve determined that external funding is key to scaling your businessābut 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
Perfecting Your Pitch: Storytelling and Decks That Deliver
Your pitch is more than slidesāit's the story that brings your vision to life and helps differentiate your solution. Learn how to craft a pitch that inspires investors and customers alike, combining the art of storytelling with the science of impactful deck design. Discover how to articulate your value, create visually compelling presentations, and inspire action, whether you're in a pitch meeting, on stage, or at a networking event.
Category: Fundraising; Pitch Decks
Audience: Foundational
Small Business Success Strategies
Running a small business comes with unique challengesābut you donāt 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 with support of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
Category: Small Business; Entrepreneurship
Audience: Foundational
The Wellbeing Blueprint: Thriving as an LGBTQ+ Entrepreneur
Building a business demands energy, focus, and resilienceāand 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
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 isnāt about sitting on the sidelines; itās about collaborating, challenging norms, and creating opportunities for LGBTQ+ founders and allies to thrive together.
Who Will Be There
š Visionary Entrepreneurs: From early-stage founders and small business owners to scaling disruptors, connect with like-minded individuals in the LGBTQ+ community
š¤ Investors with Purpose: Discover the market disruptors of tomorrow and align your portfolio with your values.
š” Industry Thought Leaders: Listen to keynote speeches and panels from the pioneers shaping innovation and equity.
š Ecosystem Builders & Advocates: Forge partnerships with allies and experts determined to create sustainable change.
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.