Welcome to Breaking the Blueprint — a blog series that dives into the unique business challenges and opportunities of underrepresented business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn how they’ve grown or scaled their businesses, explored entrepreneurial ventures within their companies, or created side hustles, and how their stories can inspire and inform your own success.
The LGBTQ community is small but mighty, contributing trillions of dollars and thousands of jobs to the economy each year.
Despite this, LGBTQ individuals still face marginalization. The community continues to fight against historic and current systematic discrimination, which can present barriers to achieving equity and equality — even when trying to start or grow a business.
While progress is slow and not always linear, the good news is there are many resources intended to help give LGBTQ entrepreneurs a leg up. We’ve assembled a list of some of the best out there, which can help LGBTQ business owners thrive through peer networking, educational and leadership training, mentorship, and funding opportunities.
Resources for LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs
1. NLGCC (National LGBT Chamber of Commerce)
The
Government bodies, and many corporations, have supplier diversity requirements — and obtaining a certification like this can put you in the procurement pipeline. The organization also offers many educational and networking opportunities, events, and resources.
2. StartOut
This nonprofit exists to support LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and help them accelerate growth.
Resources include events, mentorship matching, a startup accelerator (
3. Out Professionals
This organization is somewhat similar to StartOut, though it’s more of a business network for all LGBTQ+ professionals, not just entrepreneurs.
4. Gaingels
Finding capital to launch or grow a business is hard for any entrepreneur, but it can be especially difficult for those in marginalized or under-resourced communities.
5. Out & Equal
While
The organization also provides training on LGBTQ inclusion in the workplace, and its annual World Summit brings together business leaders to share best practices. They also offer a variety of online community engagement groups for those who want to connect with like-minded LGBTQ people (some current ones include bi+, LGBTQ+ people of color, and transgender & nonbinary people).
6. Lesbians Who Tech & Allies
Once geared toward lesbians, this group is now more broadly open to anyone in the tech industry who identifies as an LGBTQ+ woman, non-binary, trans, or an ally.
7. Out Leadership
This organization advocates for LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace. In addition to educating companies on how to be more inclusive,
8. SBA Resource Partners
The U.S. Small Business Administration (the SBA) offers loads of
One resource funded by the SBA is its
9. Your Local LGBT Chamber of Commerce
The NLGCC is the only national LGBTQ chamber of commerce, but its affiliate network contains city, state, and regional LGBTQ chambers across the U.S.
These organizations are networks of LGBTQ-owned and allied businesses and entrepreneurs, and becoming a member plugs you into a network of peers. Members are also included in directories, which helps with marketing and signals that you’re in, or supportive of, the community. Local chambers usually also host many networking, social and educational events for members.
10. Out in Tech
11. Reaching Out
LGBTQ entrepreneurs with MBAs can join this nonprofit and participate in year-long programming that helps build a network of MBA students, alumni, and corporate partners.
12. Stanford Executive Leadership Program
If you want to uplevel your leadership, consider signing up for this
You’re Never Alone
While these are some of the top resources for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, it’s far from an exhaustive list. There are many more at the local level and in specific industries. LGBTQ people often experience isolation and discrimination, but know that our community is full of fellow entrepreneurs you can connect with and committed angel investors, nonprofits, and government partners eager to support you.