12 Sources for LGBTQ Entrepreneurs

Welcome to Breaking the Blueprint — a weblog collection that dives into the distinctive enterprise challenges and alternatives of underrepresented enterprise homeowners and entrepreneurs. Learn the way they’ve grown or scaled their companies, explored entrepreneurial ventures inside their corporations, or created facet hustles, and the way their tales can encourage and inform your personal success.

The LGBTQ group is small however mighty, contributing trillions of {dollars} and hundreds of jobs to the economic system annually.

Regardless of this, LGBTQ people nonetheless face marginalization. The group continues to combat in opposition to historic and present systematic discrimination, which may current boundaries to attaining fairness and equality — even when attempting to begin or develop a enterprise.

Whereas progress is sluggish and never at all times linear, the excellent news is there are lots of sources meant to assist in giving LGBTQ entrepreneurs a leg up. We’ve assembled a listing of a number of the greatest on the market, which might help LGBTQ enterprise homeowners thrive by means of peer networking, academic and management coaching, mentorship, and funding alternatives.

Sources for LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs

1. NLGCC (Nationwide LGBT Chamber of Commerce)

The NLGCC, the Nationwide LGBT Chamber of Commerce, presents the one third-party certification for LGBTQ+ companies within the U.S. Should you full their program and develop into a Licensed LGBT Enterprise Enterprise®, it opens the door to a brand new world of gross sales, networking, and academic alternatives.

Authorities our bodies, and lots of companies, have provider variety necessities — and acquiring a certification like this may put you within the procurement pipeline. The group additionally presents many academic and networking alternatives, occasions, and sources.

2. StartOut

This nonprofit exists to help LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and assist them speed up development.

Sources embrace occasions, mentorship matching, a startup accelerator (StartOut Progress Lab), and even entry to enterprise capital. StartOut has a number of chapters all through the U.S. with member networks and occasions, although if there isn’t one close to you, the group presents on-line occasions.  

3. Out Professionals

This group is considerably much like StartOut, although it’s extra of a enterprise community for all LGBTQ+ professionals, not simply entrepreneurs.

Out Professionals has a membership program with chapters throughout the nation that maintain networking occasions, and the group is open to folks beginning chapters in areas with out them. These might be perfect locations for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs to attach with potential shoppers or companions. Members may also be included in a web based listing and attend academic webinars.

4. Gaingels

Discovering capital to launch or develop a enterprise is difficult for any entrepreneur, however it may be particularly tough for these in marginalized or under-resourced communities.

Gaingels was fashioned in 2014 as an angel investing group that focuses on serving to LGBTQ entrepreneurs entry capital, and it’s a superb useful resource for startups looking for funding. One other agency to contemplate is Pipeline Angels, which creates capital for entrepreneurs who determine as cis or trans ladies, non-binary, two-spirit, agender, or gender non-conforming.  

5. Out & Equal

Whereas Out & Equal primarily focuses on supporting variety and equality at giant companies, it additionally presents fellowships and profession growth coaching packages for LGBTQ+ leaders.

The group additionally offers coaching on LGBTQ inclusion within the office, and its annual World Summit brings collectively enterprise leaders to share greatest practices. In addition they supply a wide range of on-line group engagement teams for individuals who wish to join with like-minded LGBTQ folks (some present ones embrace bi+, LGBTQ+ folks of coloration, and transgender & nonbinary folks).

6. Lesbians Who Tech & Allies

As soon as geared towards lesbians, this group is now extra broadly open to anybody within the tech trade who identifies as an LGBTQ+ lady, non-binary, trans, or an ally.

Lesbians Who Tech focuses on getting extra ladies, folks of coloration, and queer and trans folks in know-how. The group additionally works to create visibility, foster group, and supply profession and academic alternatives, akin to coding scholarships. Their annual summit is an unimaginable alternative for LGBTQ entrepreneurs to be taught and community.

7. Out Management

This group advocates for LGBTQ+ equality within the office. Along with educating corporations on tips on how to be extra inclusive, Out Management presents a worldwide enterprise community and packages for LGBTQ+ management. Entrepreneurs who wish to hone their craft can apply for OutNEXT, a growth program for rising LGBTQ leaders, or OutWOMEN, for connecting LGBTQ+ ladies in enterprise.

8. SBA Useful resource Companions

The U.S. Small Enterprise Administration (the SBA) presents a great deal of free sources, together with a number of companion organizations that help entrepreneurs. These aren’t particularly for LGBTQ+ people, however the SBA has been vocally affirming and supportive.

One useful resource funded by the SBA is its Small Enterprise Growth Facilities, that are situated nationwide and supply free enterprise consulting, coaching, and help. One other SBA-supported useful resource is SCORE, which matches entrepreneurs with free enterprise mentors who might help you begin, develop or transition a enterprise.

9. Your Native LGBT Chamber of Commerce

The NLGCC is the one nationwide LGBTQ chamber of commerce, however its affiliate community incorporates metropolis, state, and regional LGBTQ chambers throughout the U.S. Assessment their record of affiliate chambers to see if there are any close to you.

These organizations are networks of LGBTQ-owned and allied companies and entrepreneurs, and changing into a member plugs you right into a community of friends. Members are additionally included in directories, which helps with advertising and alerts that you just’re in, or supportive of, the group. Native chambers normally additionally host many networking, social and academic occasions for members.

10. Out in Tech

Out in Tech is out there to a broad viewers of LGBTQ folks working in know-how, and its 40,000 members are tech leaders throughout the U.S. The group has 32 chapters worldwide, that includes networking, schooling, social occasions, and a management coaching institute. Out in Tech additionally offers volunteer alternatives, such because the Digital Corps, which helps construct web sites for LGBTQ+ organizations and activists.  

11. Reaching Out

Reaching Out was created to attach LGBTQ+ enterprise college college students with communities of alumni. It has a number of conferences, together with Out Girls in Enterprise, that brings collectively LGBTQ+ ladies within the enterprise group.

LGBTQ entrepreneurs with MBAs can be a part of this nonprofit and take part in year-long programming that helps construct a community of MBA college students, alumni, and company companions.

12. Stanford Govt Management Program

If you wish to uplevel your management, contemplate signing up for this week-long program hosted by Stanford’s enterprise college. Hosted in individual in California for every week in June 2023, individuals discover ways to excel as an LGBTQ+ enterprise chief, enhance interpersonal and communication abilities, and construct a robust peer community. This system is exclusive in that it teaches attendees how their LGBTQ+ id is a power to leverage within the enterprise realm.

You’re By no means Alone

Whereas these are a number of the prime sources for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, it’s removed from an exhaustive record. There are a lot of extra on the native degree and in particular industries. LGBTQ folks typically expertise isolation and discrimination, however know that our group is filled with fellow entrepreneurs you may join with and dedicated angel buyers, nonprofits, and authorities companions desirous to help you.