StartOut
Encyclopedia
StartOut is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering and developing entrepreneurship in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ("LGBT") community. According to the organization's website, its goals are to help aspiring entrepreneurs start new companies, help current entrepreneurs to grow and expand their businesses, and to engage successful LGBT entrepreneurs as role models and mentors for the gay and lesbian community.
The organization was founded in the Spring of 2009 and as of May 2010 had over 1,000 entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs attending its events in its local branches of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/business/smallbusiness/20sbiz.html?src=tp. Its Board of Advisors includes a number of prominent VCs and entrepreneurs, including Patrick Chung (Venture Partner at New Enterprise Associates
)http://www.nea.com/Team/Default.aspx?id=4, Amy Errett (Partner at Maveron Capital
)http://www.maveron.com/bio/amy-errett.php, David Blumberg (Founder of http://www.blumbergcapital.com/Blumberg capital
) and Chip Conley
(Founder/CEO of Joie de Vivre Hotels
and entrepreneurship author).
According to the StartOut website, it offers a variety of programs and services to help entrepreneurs in the LGBT community succeed http://startout.org/?page_id=396. This includes networking events, StartOut University (educational programming), a Major Speaker's Program, a Capital Connections program (to connect entrepreneurs with investors), a Mentorship Program, Entrepreneurs Forums, and its "StartOut Salons" (dinner events for small groups of LGBT entrepreneurs).
In an April 2010 StartOut newsletter, Co-Founder Darren Spedale discussed ways in which entrepreneurs have benefited from StartOut, including (1) finding funding for their companies; (2) finding co-founders for their business ideas; (3) finding employees; (4) finding mentors to help them grow their businesses; (5) finding business development opportunities.
StartOut events have attracted a number of prominent LGBT (and LGBT-supportive) entrepreneurs and those involved with entrepreneurship, including well-known LGBT entrepreneurs such as Mitchell Gold
, Chip Conley
, Kara Swisher
, and Megan Smith.
StartOut has also been active in community service for entrepreneurs. StartOut has a partnership with the Hetrick-Martin Institute
where it puts on programming for underprivileged LGBT youth titled "Entrepreneurship as a Career".
StartOut was profiled in May 2010 in the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/business/smallbusiness/20sbiz.html?src=tp.
StartOut was recently honored by NYSE Euronext for its work in promoting entrepreneurship in the LGBT community. On June 7, 2010, members of the StartOut Board of Directors rang the Opening Bell on the New York Stock Exchange in recognition of its efforts http://www.nyse.com/events/1275472923834.html.
The organization was founded in the Spring of 2009 and as of May 2010 had over 1,000 entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs attending its events in its local branches of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/business/smallbusiness/20sbiz.html?src=tp. Its Board of Advisors includes a number of prominent VCs and entrepreneurs, including Patrick Chung (Venture Partner at New Enterprise Associates
New Enterprise Associates
New Enterprise Associates is a global investment firm focused on venture capital and growth equity investments. With approximately $11 billion in committed capital, NEA is among the largest venture firms. The firm invests in three broad industry sectors: information technology, healthcare, and...
)http://www.nea.com/Team/Default.aspx?id=4, Amy Errett (Partner at Maveron Capital
Maveron
Maveron is a venture capital firm with offices in Seattle and San Francisco that invests in consumer-focused businesses. The firm was founded by Dan Levitan, a former managing director at Schroder Wertheim & Co., and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz....
)http://www.maveron.com/bio/amy-errett.php, David Blumberg (Founder of http://www.blumbergcapital.com/Blumberg capital
Blumberg capital
Blumberg Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm that specializes in providing the Seed or Series A round funding to technology companies in the software, digital and social media, mobile and consumer Internet industries. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in San Francisco...
) and Chip Conley
Chip Conley
Chip Conley is an American hotelier, author and speaker. Conley is the founder, Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of , which he began in 1987 at age 26...
(Founder/CEO of Joie de Vivre Hotels
Joie de Vivre Hospitality
Joie de Vivre Hospitality, a hotel and restaurant company based in San Francisco, California, is the second largest operator of boutique hotels in the United States.-History:...
and entrepreneurship author).
According to the StartOut website, it offers a variety of programs and services to help entrepreneurs in the LGBT community succeed http://startout.org/?page_id=396. This includes networking events, StartOut University (educational programming), a Major Speaker's Program, a Capital Connections program (to connect entrepreneurs with investors), a Mentorship Program, Entrepreneurs Forums, and its "StartOut Salons" (dinner events for small groups of LGBT entrepreneurs).
In an April 2010 StartOut newsletter, Co-Founder Darren Spedale discussed ways in which entrepreneurs have benefited from StartOut, including (1) finding funding for their companies; (2) finding co-founders for their business ideas; (3) finding employees; (4) finding mentors to help them grow their businesses; (5) finding business development opportunities.
StartOut events have attracted a number of prominent LGBT (and LGBT-supportive) entrepreneurs and those involved with entrepreneurship, including well-known LGBT entrepreneurs such as Mitchell Gold
Mitchell Gold Co.
Mitchell Gold Co. is a residential and commercial furniture manufacturer based in Taylorsville, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 when Mitchell Gold combined his marketing experience with that of partner Bob Williams, an art director. In April 2005, the company name was changed to Mitchell...
, Chip Conley
Chip Conley
Chip Conley is an American hotelier, author and speaker. Conley is the founder, Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of , which he began in 1987 at age 26...
, Kara Swisher
Kara Swisher
Kara Swisher is an American technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal and an author and commentator on the Internet....
, and Megan Smith.
StartOut has also been active in community service for entrepreneurs. StartOut has a partnership with the Hetrick-Martin Institute
Hetrick-Martin Institute
The Hetrick-Martin Institute is a New York City based non-profit organization devoted to serving the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth. The institute was founded in 1979 as the "Institute for the Protection of Lesbian and Gay Youth" by Dr. Emery Hetrick, a...
where it puts on programming for underprivileged LGBT youth titled "Entrepreneurship as a Career".
StartOut was profiled in May 2010 in the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/business/smallbusiness/20sbiz.html?src=tp.
StartOut was recently honored by NYSE Euronext for its work in promoting entrepreneurship in the LGBT community. On June 7, 2010, members of the StartOut Board of Directors rang the Opening Bell on the New York Stock Exchange in recognition of its efforts http://www.nyse.com/events/1275472923834.html.
External sources
- Official web site
- StartOut profiled in the New York Times
- http://classic.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1515653968&play=1CNBC interviews StartOut Co-Founder Darren SpedaleDarren SpedaleDarren Spedale is an entrepreneur and author who is known both as the Founder of the nonprofit organization StartOut as well as one of the world's foremost experts on the Scandinavian registered partnership laws, which beginning in 1989 allowed same-sex couples to enter into legal unions and...
] - StartOut rings NY Stock Exchange opening bell for Pride Month, 365gay.com
- Building a network of gay entrepreneurs, MercuryNews.com
- New Group Addresses Out-Gay Entrepreneurs, EDGE Boston
- Echelon Magazine profiles StartOut with Co-Founder Spedale