🌈 Our Biggest Event of the Year
Thursday, June 11th & Friday June 12th | LinkedIn HQ & SVB San Francisco
Get ready to experience the future of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship and innovation at StartOut Con 2026—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. There are also day-of volunteer tickets.
Schedule and speakers subject to change.
What is StartOut Con
StartOut Con is a movement with a bold mission: To equip LGBTQ+ and allied 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
🌈 LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship focus: Engage with other LGBTQ+ and allied entrepreneurs who are innovating how we do work and building businesses that create meaningful economic impact.
🔥 Unforgettable Keynotes & Fireside Chats: Learn from industry experts and rising stars who are reimagining what’s possible in queer entrepreneurship.
🤝 Powerful Networking: Build connections that matter with investors, mentors, and fellow founders passionate about driving progress for LGBTQ+ communities.
🚀 Action-Oriented Workshops: Leave with actionable strategies for scaling your business, securing funding, and building inclusive cultures.
📈 Capital Pathways: We provide education, strategy, and even introductions to investors (for approved attendees) to get the capital you need to grow your business.
💬 Inclusive Dialogue & Radical Ideas: Dive into honest conversations about dismantling systemic barriers and co-creating solutions for a more equitable future.
StartOut Con Pricing
| Super Early Bird (by April 15th) | Early Bird (by May 15th) |
Regular General Admission |
|
| Regular Ticket | $99 | $129 | $149 |
| StartOut Member | $69 | $99 | $149 |
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.
Thursday, June 11th
222 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94105
- 1:00 PM Registration Opens
- 2:00 PM Day 1 Welcome Session
- 3:10 PM Access to Capital Panel
- 3:50 PM Concurrent: Plenary, 1:1 Expert Sessions, 1:1 VC sessions, Affinity Groups
- 5:00 PM Welcome Reception
Friday, June 12th
222 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94105
- 8:30 AM Registration
- 9:30 AM Day 2 Welcome Session
- 10:00 AM Opening Plenary
- 11:15 AM BreakOut Block 1
- 12:15 PM Concurrent: Lunch, 1:1 Expert Sessions, Affinity Groups
- 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Lunch & Networking Break
- 2:00 PM BreakOut Block 2
- 4:15 PM BreakOut Block 3
- 4:30 PM Closing Plenary
Day 2 Closing Keynote
AMY ERRETT
Founder & CEO, Madison Reed
Amy’s multifaceted career has ranged from founding and operating companies, to investing in startups, to volunteer nonprofit leadership. Currently, Amy is Founder and CEO of Madison Reed, an omni-channel beauty brand that is challenging industry titans in the hair color space. She is also a Partner at True Ventures, focusing on investments in consumer and ecommerce startups.
Prior to founding Madison Reed, Amy was a General Partner responsible for the Bay Area office of Maveron, a leading venture capital firm focused on the consumer sector. Amy also served on the senior management team at E*TRADE where she diversified the company beyond its brokerage offerings and ran a $200 million business.
Day 1 Sessions
*All sessions are subject to change
2:30 PM - 2:55 PM
The State of LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurship
What does the landscape look like today for LGBTQ+ founders? This session brings together entrepreneurs and ecosystem leaders to explore the current state of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship—from emerging opportunities and innovation to the structural barriers many founders still face. Panelists will share insights on how the ecosystem is evolving, where momentum is building, and what founders should understand as they navigate today’s startup environment.
3:00 PM - 3:50 PM
Investor Perspectives: Demystifying the Capital Stack
Raising capital can be one of the most complex parts of building a company–especially in today’s environment and for founders from historically underserved communities. This panel explores the full capital stack from venture capital and angel investment to alternative funding models. Panelists will demystify how capital flows, what investors are really looking for, and how founders can build stronger relationships with the people and institutions that fund innovation.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Practical AI for Startups: What Actually Works (and What Doesn't)
AI is rapidly transforming how startups build products, reach customers, and run their businesses. Join us to explore practical ways founders are using AI today to increase efficiency, accelerate growth, and compete with larger organizations—from product development and marketing to operations and decision-making. Panelists will share real-world examples of how they are experimenting with AI in their own work. They will also discuss how founders can evaluate what’s worth adopting and how to apply those tools effectively within their organizations.
Day 2 Sessions
Ed Session Block 1
Track A
Product & Funding – Funding Without Giving Away Equity: Non-Dilutive Capital 101
Branding is often misunderstood as a visual exercise, but it shapes how customers understand, trust, and choose a company. This session explores how founders can define positioning, clarify their message, and create consistent brand experiences that support growth from day one—while building brands that adapt and stay relevant over time. Participants will leave with a simple framework to begin strategizing an original Brand Universe that resonates and endures.
Track B
Customers & Growth – From MVP to Momentum: They like it! Now what?
You built a product. People like it. Now what? This session focuses on the shift from MVP to momentum—when early interest needs to turn into real growth. We’ll break down three essential moves to expand reach and adoption, prioritize the right bets, and define your “right to win” in the market. If you’re feeling stuck after launch or ready to move faster with more confidence, this session will help you gain clarity, set direction, and build forward momentum.
Track C
Leadership & Scaling - Building for Impact without Breaking Your Team
High-growth entrepreneurship often celebrates relentless hustle, but sustainable companies require sustainable leaders. This panel brings together founders, executives, and leadership coaches to discuss how ambitious organizations can grow without burning out the people building them. We will explore how founders manage pressure, build cultures of trust and accountability, and lead teams in ways that support both impact and long-term resilience.
Ed Session Block 2
Track A
Product & Funding – Fundraising Without Giving It All Away: Non-Dilutive Capital 101
Non-dilutive capital offers powerful ways to fund your company while preserving ownership. This session explores options like venture debt, revenue-based financing, grants, and more. Learn how each option works, when to use it, and how to combine funding sources to extend runway and reduce dilution. Practical frameworks to make smarter capital decisions, preserve ownership, and scale on your own terms.
Track B
Customers & Growth – Customer Discovery Foundations
The pull to start building is strong—but doing it before you’re clear on the customer and the problem often leads to costly missteps. This session focuses on early-stage customer discovery, when it’s still easy to pivot. Through a hands-on approach, you’ll challenge assumptions, clarify the problem, and identify who truly needs what you’re creating. Walk away with sharper insight into your customer and confidence that you’re building something people will truly use.
Track C
Leadership & Scaling - Building for Impact without Breaking Your Team
High-growth entrepreneurship often celebrates relentless hustle, but sustainable companies require sustainable leaders. This panel brings together founders, executives, and leadership coaches to discuss how ambitious organizations can grow without burning out the people building them. We will explore how founders manage pressure, build cultures of trust and accountability, and lead teams in ways that support both impact and long-term resilience.
Ed Session Block 3
Track A
Product & Funding – Bootstrapping to $1M
Bootstrapping is about building a business that generates real, sustainable revenue from the start. This session breaks down how to grow from zero to meaningful revenue without ads or outside funding by focusing on product-market fit, community-driven growth, and disciplined execution. Learn how to validate demand early, make smarter product decisions, increase customer value, and build an audience that lasts. A practical, no-BS look at what it really takes to reach $1M—especially with limited resources.
Track B
Customers & Growth – Go-to-Market That Scales
Ideas don’t scale—traction does. This session breaks down how founders turn early momentum into repeatable growth. Learn how to test fast, find your best customers, and build a go-to-market engine that actually converts. We’ll cover what most founders get wrong, when to double down vs pivot, and how to expand into new markets without burning time or capital. This session is for founders ready to move beyond early wins to start scaling what works.
Track C
Leadership & Scaling – Scaling Mission-Driven Companies
Mission-driven companies are often told impact and commercial rigor are in tension. This session challenges that assumption. It will explore how moving beyond “feel-good” narratives enables organizations to build scalable solutions that customers rely on and pay for. Participants will learn a dual-metric model—tracking Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) alongside Annual Recurring Impact (ARI)—and how measuring both shapes product, go-to-market, and decision-making.
Meet Our Speakers
Abbie Strabala
Outlander VC
Haley Everheart
FOLX Health
Ryan MacCarrigan
Lean Studio
Shweta Agrawal
Boston New Technology
Amy Meadows
SmartHer Ventures
David Barbee
JPMC
Tommy Flaim
Silly Pickles
Skye King
Geode Lifeworks
Monique Woodard
Cake Ventures
Lee Davidson
Vera Robotics
Jashin Lin
Growbie
Alex Lopez
Alpino Consulting
Adam Wolford
PlanPerfect
Chris Luquetta-Fish
Napkin Labs
Cindy Lamar
Magneto Consulting
Jose Esquer-Romero
SVB
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.