How To Get Started
Our resources are designed to support LGBTQ+ startups at various company stages.
If you are an LGBTQ+ founder looking for support then you’ve come to the right place. Once you’ve become a StartOut founder member, you’ll gain access to our suite of resources and programs that are designed to help you grow your business.
Who We Support
- Aspiring founders who are developing their ideas
- Solo-founders or teams developing scalable solutions
- Founders open to building an enduring business in a number of different ways, whether through bootstrapping, funding, or otherwise
- Founders of established companies (our network of accredited investors range from angel/pre-seed to Series D+)
- Service-related businesses (one on one coaching businesses, consulting companies, single brick & mortar establishments, etc) are not a good fit for our programs
Eligibility Criteria
- At least one founder must identify as LGBTQ+
- You work at least part-time on your startup
- You are developing a scalable solution (product or service) to address a large market ($500 million or more)
- You are able to identify specific and critical milestones that you can realistically achieve in the next twelve months
- Remark: Service-related businesses will only be eligible for our community resources, our perks, and Expert Office hours
What We Expect From You
- A spirit of collaboration and responsiveness when interacting with your peers and others who contribute to the success of the program (mentors, experts, investors)
- A commitment to report on few metrics during the program
- Become a giving community member (monthly donation of $12.50) for the duration of the program or apply for an empowerment or need-based scholarship
What You Can Expect from Us
- A dedicated resource, your Founder Experience and Relationship Manager (FERM), who will be your main point of contact throughout your journey with StartOut
- A team of passionate professionals that will support you during your participation in our specific program verticals
- Access to investors who are committed to supporting LGBTQ+ and intersectionally diverse founders in our community
- A team that is motivated to ensure that our programs are inclusive and diverse for founders who meet our eligibility requirements
- A wealth of knowledge and experience from our mentors and subject matter experts who are committed to enriching our programs
Our Programs Team
Allison Wright (she/her)
Director of Education
Chris Davidson (he/him)
Head of Growth Lab
Danielle Wiggins (she/her)
Program Manager, Access to Capital
Herman Flowers (he/him)
Program Manager, Founder Onboarding & Experience
Jake Hannigan (he/him)
Sr. Program Manager, Growth Lab & Impact
Tarik Perkins (he/him)
Chief Program Officer
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