Being an LGBT enterprise proprietor isn’t at all times simple however with the Nationwide LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) at your facet, you turn out to be a part of a community that’s right here and able to assist at a second’s discover.
Listed below are NGLCC’s suggestions for LGBTQ entrepreneurs to greatest put together their enterprise for what lies forward this summer time and past.
1. Get your NGLCC certification
NGLCC is the unique third-party certification physique that verifies that eligible companies are majority-owned by LGBTQ people. By acquiring the Licensed LGBTBE® designation for your online business, you’ll be able to open up further channels of contracting and procurement for your self.
Licensed LGBTBE® firms are routinely wanted by NGLCC Company Companions, who want to improve their spending with the LGBTQ enterprise neighborhood by way of our inside, proprietary database. In flip, Licensed LGBTBE® firms have entry to a whole bunch of company representatives and provider variety skilled contacts. Via these contacts, firms can start constructing strategic relationships and making preparations to fulfill face-to-face with them at NGLCC matchmaking and networking occasions, that are held all year long.
As enterprise ramps up and turns into extra aggressive this summer time, these contracting alternatives turn out to be all of the extra sought-after and worthwhile. Acquiring certification for your online business provides you first choose at these alternatives, in addition to means that you can take part in particular skilled growth packages. Licensed LGBTBE® firms are eligible for scholarship packages, mentorship and management coaching, and different enterprise growth instruments!
2. Attend LGBTQ networking occasions
There isn’t any higher solution to develop your online business than to frequently work together with different LGBTBE homeowners. Our community of LGBTQ entrepreneurs proves that all of us develop and study extra successfully with assist from one another.
One of the best ways to fulfill different Licensed LGBTBE® homeowners and entrepreneurs is thru NGLCC’s numerous array of occasions! Each month, we provide a wide range of informational programming by way of our Webinar Wednesdays initiative, protecting all the things from office battle, digital work suggestions, PPP loans, and extra. Via these occasions, LGBTQ professionals can join and focus on what they’ve realized.
NGLCC additionally gives a month-to-month Sip & Pitch program. Sip & Pitch is an opportunity to informally current your LGBT-owned enterprise to a panel of specialists and your fellow enterprise homeowners for constructive, constructive suggestions and new concepts. Though these are mock pitches, these packages are an incredible alternative for publicity for companies of the NGLCC neighborhood. For the ultimate hour of Sip & Pitch, all members of the LGBT and allied enterprise neighborhood within the NGLCC community are welcome to pour a drink of their selection — with all the things from espresso to cocktails welcome — and casually community with their fellow neighborhood members over video.
It’s unclear what number of occasions will likely be in individual this summer time, however NGLCC’s digital programming is right here to remain. Occasions like Webinar Wednesday, Sip & Pitch, and different neighborhood packages are useful alternatives to get to know our community and to fulfill fellow entrepreneurs because the scope of enterprise continues to vary with the pandemic.
3. Interact with platforms like Howdy Alice
NGLCC companion Howdy Alice helps entrepreneurs to develop their companies with a wide range of instruments and personalised sources. Howdy Alice is a digital platform that helps small enterprise homeowners strategize round and construct facets of their companies that they might need assistance with. It gives knowledge insights and a customized person expertise to individuals as they make their manner additional into the platform’s programming.
Howdy Alice additionally gives all kinds of on-line communities for enterprise homeowners to immediately work together with one another, get their enterprise questions answered shortly, and collaborate. This programming is completed by way of a sequence of content material partnerships with quite a few subject specialists and companions that may assist entrepreneurs proceed to construct. A few of these companions embody Salesforce, Bumble, Chase, and plenty of extra.
NGLCC is proud to companion with Howdy Alice in deepening their analysis with parts of our America’s LGBT Economic system Report.
You’ll be able to join free at helloalice.com! Click on right here to learn our dialog with the co-founder of Howdy Alice, Elizabeth Gore.
About NGLCC
The NGLCC is the enterprise voice of the LGBT neighborhood, the biggest advocacy group devoted to increasing financial alternatives and developments for LGBT folks, and the unique certifying physique for LGBT-owned companies. At NGLCC, we acknowledge {that a} rising enterprise wants not solely a robust native community the place enterprise homeowners dwell and work but additionally enterprise certification and entry to all of the strategic progress alternatives provided by our nationwide group.
The LGBT enterprise homeowners NGLCC represents generate over $1.7 trillion in financial affect, create jobs and innovate enterprise options nationwide. Moreover, NGLCC is the main public coverage advocate working to incorporate Licensed LGBTBE® companies in procurement alternatives on the federal, state and native stage. NGLCC International is increasing its attain to 5 continents, bridging financial alternative and LGBTI human rights worldwide.
