- July 21, 2026
Join StartOut, in partnership with TechChicago Week, for an evening celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in Chicago’s startup ecosystem.
The Next Stage of Your Startup Starts Here.
You've built something worth betting on. Growth Lab gives you the mentorship, network, and strategic support to scale it.
119
founders supported
$1.2B
raised
4,536
jobs created
We take zero equity in your company.
Every resource, mentor, and introduction is provided at no cost and with no strings attached.
THE GROWTH LAB DIFFERENCE
What Makes Growth Lab Different
| Mentorship | Community | Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Direct access to experienced founders and operators | Join a network of LGBTQ+ founders and allies supporting one another | Warm introductions to investors and fundraising guidance |
| Expertise | Resources | Accountability |
| Workshops on fundraising, sales, hiring, and growth | $1M+ in founder perks and credits | A personalized plan to help you hit your next milestone |
This isn’t just an accelerator. It’s a launchpad. You’ll compress years of growth into months, with the right mentors and community in your corner, and a clear path to scale.
How To Apply
- Create an account with StartOut or login to your founder profile
- Complete the Founder’s application
- Answer the Growth Lab-specific questions on Page 6
- Submit your application
Where Growth Meets Belonging
Learn and grow alongside fellow LGBTQ+ and allied founders who champion your success, challenge your thinking, and celebrate your progress every step of the way.
This is where community becomes a strategic advantage:
- Peer learning with founders on a shared path
- Cohort connection through curated sessions and events
- A lasting network of mentors, alumni, and allies
Your 18-Month Plan
The centerpiece of Growth Lab is a polished, actionable 18-month business plan that guides your next stage of scale. Over the course of the program, you will:
- Define your growth strategy
- Develop a plan to successfully raise capital
- Align your product milestones with market traction
- Establish KPIs and measurable targets
By graduation, you’ll have a structured, investor-ready plan that communicates your company’s next chapter and helps you execute it.
Your Growth Team
Maca Baigorria
Head of Growth Lab & Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Jake Hannigan
Senior Program Manager
Ash Wilson
Graduate-in-Residence
Eric Chappell
Graduate-in-Residence
Jon McLauchlan
Graduate-in-Residence
Traci Keen
Graduate-in-Residence
Special Thanks to Our Growth Lab Sponsors
Cohort Companies
Cohort 17
Cohort 16
Cohort 15
Cohort 14
Cohort 13
Cohort 12
Cohort 11
Cohort 10
Cohort 9
Cohort 8
Cohort 7
Cohort 6
Cohort 5
Cohort 4
Cohort 3
Cohort 2
Cohort 1
Program Founders
In 2017, StartOut Director, Andres Wydler, and law partner, Tom Gaynor, discussed the idea of combining the best practices of an accelerator program with the community-based model of StartOut. Scribbling their initial ideas on a napkin, they wanted to support LGBTQ+ founders in scaling their businesses through a cohort-based approach.
They brought their idea to Peter Sisson, a serial entrepreneur, who helped build out the GrowthLab’s very first curriculum. Tom’s law firm, DLA Piper, provided the space and equipment. Peter became StartOut’s first Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) to manage the program. Together, they launched StartOut GrowthLab’s first cohort.
Tom Gaynor
Partner at DLA Piper
Andres Wydler
Former Executive Director of StartOut
Peter Sisson
StartOut Growth Lab Founding EIR
Join StartOut
Since 2009, StartOut has built a community of over 18,000 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.
- July 21, 2026
Join StartOut, in partnership with TechChicago Week, for an evening celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in Chicago’s startup ecosystem.
- July 21, 2026
Join StartOut, in partnership with TechChicago Week, for an evening celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in Chicago’s startup ecosystem.