SO Five Year Report 1.5.indd

creating great
business leaders
by fostering
LGBT entrepreneurs
message from the chair
F i V e Y e a r s a g o , in 2009, people just like you came together to found StartOut, a
new kind of organization dedicated to advancing the lgbt movement by focusing
on the intersection of community and commerce. Today we are a vital accelerator
for growth and equality in the entrepreneurial community. With your help we
connect, educate, and inspire lgbt entrepreneurs and their allies by offering
uniquely relevant and valuable resources to help them succeed in a world
wrought by conscious and unconscious bias.
As a catalyst for countless chain reactions, we work with our community to
foster business success, pride, personal empowerment, and a shared purpose to
give back and inspire the next generation of lgbt entrepreneurs. Our community
has seen tremendous growth over the last five years. Now in its sixth year,
the momentum continues: StartOut produces over 60 events nationwide to a
growing network of 12,000+ entrepreneurs, technologists, investors and service
providers. With the support of our partners like you, 2015 will also see a growth
in infrastructure to reach more within the ecosystem we serve.
At the heart of that ecosystem, purposeful and content rich live events intermixed
with national signature programs has always been our calling card. As we grow
together beyond cities like San Francisco and New York, that card becomes even
more impactful. Expanding access to programs helps ensure lgbt entrepreneurs,
from Chicago to Cheyenne or from Birmingham to Boise, have access to resources
necessary for their success.
Our work over the first five years has only been possible through continued
generous support of individuals, including our Board of Directors, Board of
Governors, volunteers, and members, as well as corporate, foundation, and
community partners. I look forward to building on the foundation laid by past
Chairs Darren Spedale, Lorenzo Thione and our most recently appointed Chair
Emeritus, Chris Sinton.
I couldn’t be more proud to work with such an inspiring community committed
to empowering lgbt entrepreneurs. Let’s work together over the next five years
to ensure even greater successes and richer opportunities for lgbt entrepreneurs
everywhere. Together we will continue to demonstrate the StartOut effect: that
an educated, inspired, well-funded community is key to the growth, equity, and
equality to which we all aspire.
Patrick Grosso, b o a r d
chair
2015
Over the last five years StartOut has created an
opportunity for our community to come together
around our shared gifts and interests. It’s wonderful
to see that entrepreneurial community grow to
now over 12,000 strong and be part of the LGBT
movement. I look forward to helping continue
StartOut’s work towards leveling the economic
playing field.
CHRIS SINTON
CHAIR 2013–14
At a time when stories about the importance of our
public identity and activism as LGBT entrepreneurs
pick up momentum and garner importance in our path
to economic empowerment and equality, StartOut has
unequivocally established itself as the primary catalyst
to ensure our successes are known, our challenges met,
and obstacles in our way lessened. I am so proud of what
StartOut has accomplished in these five years and look
forward to an even more exciting future
LORENZO THIONE
CHAIR 2012
It’s amazing to see what StartOut has achieved
in just five short years. Its gone from a concept
to a powerful tool for economic empowerment
in the LGBT community. Every month brings
more success stories as a result of our efforts to
educate, assist, and inspire the business leaders
of tomorrow.
DARREN SPEDALE
FOUNDING CHAIR 2009–11
the year 2014
in review
PR O G R AM ING S U CCES SES
Expanded the StartOut national lgbt Entrepreneurial community network to
over 12,000 strong, connecting a diverse array of industries and opportunities.
Produced over 60 educational, inspirational, and economically empowering
programs nationwide, including our first San Francisco Demo Day.
Expanded chapters to include Chicago and held our initial “StartOut
Presents” events in Seattle and Denver, bringing the StartOut effect to even
more of America’s fastest growing lgbt entrepreneurship centers.
Grew LEMP (Lesbian Entrepreneur Mentoring Program), receiving over 70
applications for mentorship, nearly doubling the interest from 2013.
Partnered with lgbt-focused fund VentureOut, helping to bring a new
source of capital to our community. Extended our reach by working with
organizational allies including: NGLCC, KPMG, ROMBA, OUBC and
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates.
Arranged a StartOut contingent of 16 to participate in the “White House
lgbt Innovation Summit”
STA RTO U T 2014 AWAR DS
The 2014 StartOut Awards were the most attended, highest grossing, and most
star-studded yet, with the highest participation of corporate sponsors to date.
PR O M OT ING INS PIR ING ROL E M OD EL S IN THE M ED IA
Helped produce no less than two pieces of national press per month helping
tell stories to further our mission
Syndicated StartOut entrepreneur success stories in The Advocate Magazine
and other digital publications
Participated in over 20 press stories and in-depth commentaries regarding
Tim Cook’s “coming out” impact on lgbt entrepreneurs and the business
community
O NL INE CO M M U NITY & TECHN ICA L PL ATF ORM
Increased our Social media activity: Facebook: 4,920 likes (up 55% over Dec
2013) and Twitter: 2,480 followers (up 39% over Dec 2013)
Updated our website with improved information architecture and content.
starting a
new chapter
Seattle
Chicago
Denver
Boston
New York
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Austin
CHAPTER
STARTOUT PRESENTS
2009
Cities
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
San Francisco
New York
Austin
Boston
Los Angeles
Chicago
Denver
Seattle
Events
2
28
28
35
57
60
Network
348
1,820
2,521
5,627
8,511
12,000
w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r over the last five years we’ve experienced tremendous growth
in the number of entrepreneurs we reach. We will continue that momentum and
expand to include evermore diverse groups within our community.
We will focus on infrastructure to help scale our operations to better meet the
demands of the growing lgbt community of entrepreneurs we serve.
Plans for 2015 include: a new digital platform offering greater connectivity
between members and community resources, expanded mentoring programs,
and increased opportunities for members to access essential startup capital.
By expanding access to our programs we ensure that every lgbt entrepreneur
has access to the resources necessary for success. With our community’s help,
in 2015 a more diverse community of lgbt entrepreneurs will reap the benefits
of the StartOut effect than ever before.
s ta r t o u t i s a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation created
with a view towards promoting equality and combating
discrimination in the business world through economic
empowerment. Its dedicated to creating great business
leaders by fostering lgbt entrepreneurship.
StartOut helps end discrimination by helping foster a
new generation of business founders and CEOs, thereby
breaking through barriers that currently inhibit the
corporate success of many in America’s lgbt community.
Simply put, the value of StartOut is
immense, and it has played a critical
role in both my company’s existence
and my personal life as my team and
I push for higher highs and overcome
the inevitable lows.
DAN DRISCOLL
REQWIP
By helping create the next generation of lgbt entrepreneurs we empower a new
community of leaders in the business world who will in turn have both the
economic resources and the personal access to support and strengthen the entire
lgbt community.
starting with a
purpose
starting
successes
learning, growing, sharing,
and enriching your business
is at the heart of every StartOut program. Each year
thousands of lgbt entrepreneurs experience programming
designed by their community for their community with one
goal in mind: success.
StartOut has helped us at every
stage from concept development,
to networking, to fundraising.
JEFF TOMPKINS
FOUNDER & CEO, SOCIALPICKS
EDUCAT I N G
StartOut’s educational events are designed to help
entrepreneurs succeed in founding, funding, and growing
their business ventures. We invite lgbt entrepreneurs at
all stages of their journey to expand their knowledge and
emerge equipped with the knowledge to help them launch
their businesses or scale to even greater heights with
renewed momentum.
HackOut – Hackathons are excellent ways to merge the
entrepreneurial spirit with computer programming prowess
and product design education. In an effort to expand the
presence of lgbt leaders in STEM and business, HackOut
has become the nation’s leading lgbt-oriented hackathon.
Students, hackers, programmers, product marketers, and
emerging entrepreneurs form small teams to create new
ventures during the hackathon.
N ETWORKIN G
Our variety of networking events are an effective and
impactful platform to share knowledge, resources, and
funding that benefits the entire lgbt business community.
What started as a small series of social mixers has grown into
a dynamic array of programs that maximize the opportunities
for participants to connect and grow. Those in the network
that create and benefit from the StartOut effect are:
Entrepreneurs
Investors
Startup Employees
Job Seekers
Business Service Providers
Corporations
Students
MENTOR I N G
Most entrepreneurs can single out a mentor that changed
everything for them. StartOut offers a network of thousands
of potential mentors with a great wealth of knowledge,
resources, and personal experience.
Lesbian Entrepreneur Mentoring Program (LEMP) – StartOut
recognizes that the needs of female entrepreneurs may differ
from those of men. In that spirit we created the Lesbian
Entrepreneur Mentoring Program, which is in its third year.
The program lasts six months and pairs seasoned business
professionals (mentors) with early stage entrepreneurs
(mentees).
Through StartOut, I uncovered a
business lead that has resulted in
the largest contract to date for my
two-year-old startup.
MARK WILLIAMS
FOUNDER & CEO OF NEW LIGHT ENERGY
Business Focused Groups
National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
– StartOut’s community is primarily comprised of lgbt
General Mentoring – Whether as one-on-one matching,
roundtable group sessions, or across the web, StartOut seeks entrepreneurs of scalable, high-growth businesses. There
are also tens of thousands of lgbt entrepreneurs working
to connect mentors with members of the lgbt community,
on smaller-scale ventures and are members of their local
providing support to help them build, fund and grow their
lgbt chambers of commerce. StartOut is often considered
businesses. As StartOut expands its network nationally,
the starting place for businesses that scale to the point of
more and more mentors become available to encourage and
becoming certified NGLCC members / diversity supply chain
inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
partners. StartOut partnered with NGLCC to vet and judge
their first “Roll the Dice” Pitch Competition in Dallas in
OUTREAC H
2013 and again in Las Vegas in 2014. StartOut and NGLCC
StartOut is recognized as the preeminent organization
empowering the lgbt entrepreneur community. Our ability to both promoted the competition to their networks and out
foster discussions and share expertise that catalyze countless of over 30 applicants, a StartOut entrepreneur won the
competition and received a $10,000 cash prize.
opportunities for the community is sought by prominent
lgbt and business organizations. StartOut regularly
offers inspiring speakers and entrepreneurially focused
programming in the following areas:
Being part of the StartOut
community has helped open so
many doors for me that would have
been closed without their support.
LIN TAM
CO-FOUNDER, DIGITALMUNCH
IN SPIRIN G
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates – 2014 saw StartOut
participate in a major panel alongside the Human Rights
Campaign (HRC) and OutNow to share the “Business Case
for Equality” and the role an empowered lgbt workforce
and entrepreneurial culture plays in a prosperous global
economy.
Youth and Adult Student Focused Groups
ROMBA – Reaching Out MBA Conference is an annual
gathering of lgbt MBA students considering and learning
about various career paths. StartOut began participating with
ROMBA in 2009 by establishing, and providing judges, for
an entrepreneur pitch competition. StartOut supplies talent
and expertise for entrepreneurship panels, speed networking
events, mentorship events and pitch competitions with
the goal of inspiring lgbt MBA students to consider
entrepreneurship.
OUTC & OUBC – The Out for Undergraduate Series offers
conferences for youth and students in both technology
and business. StartOut has participated in both since 2012
by providing speakers at each conference to inspire lgbt
undergraduate students from across the country.
While substantial gains for the community have been made
in representation and visibility in politics, entertainment,
journalism, and now even sports, in too many places
the corporate closet continues to flourish, and virtually
no role models are in the senior ranks of the business
community. StartOut provides visibility to outstanding
lgbt entrepreneurs, creating role models not only for lgbt
entrepreneurs but also lgbt youth. The StartOut effect
doesn’t just catalyze change for the lgbt community,
it demonstrates to everyone that being out and being
successful are no longer mutually exclusive. Only one
Fortune 500 Company is headed by an openly lgbt person,
and few of them have any openly lgbt board members.
It is time for America’s lgbt entrepreneurs to rise to that level
of prominence among business leaders.
StartOut addresses this goal in two ways:
StartOut SpotLight Series – StartOut Spotlight produces
profiles focusing on both relatable and aspirational lgbt
entrepreneurs to inspire entrepreneurship in the lgbt
community. Relatable profiles offer readers insight into
up-and-coming entrepreneurs with whom they can identify,
where aspirational profiles offer readers a glimpse into
the entrepreneurial and life journey of some of the most
successful lgbt entrepreneurs.
Media – StartOut has become the go-to voice for lgbt
entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. We regularly
provide thought leaders and entrepreneurs to the press for
commentary on a wide array of business, technology, and
diversity issues. StartOut publishes op-eds on the essential
issues of the day and regularly offers pundits on radio, tv,
and digital talk shows on lgbt economic issues in America.
ACCESS TO CA P I TA L
StartOut is guided by what’s best for our community of
entrepreneurs: providing the most access to the most capital
to create the most opportunity. We are the community’s
conduit, leveraging our vast network’s connections while
maintaining neutrality. StartOut does not vet or provide
investment advice. Rather, StartOut provides touch-points
and platforms for investors and lgbt entrepreneurs to
connect, especially with the emerging network of lgbtfocused funds and syndicates. This has resulted in the
development of programs that allow access to StartOut’s
community of investors.
Demo Day – Demo Day was piloted in the fall of 2012 in
New York and provided a platform for 11 startups to demo
and pitch to a panel of judges comprised of angel and
venture investors. The judges provided feedback to the
participants and, based on their scores, the participants
were offered meetings with the judges to discuss investment
opportunities. With over 200 people in attendance,
StartOut expanded this program in 2014 and produced two
Demo Days – one in New York and one in San Francisco.
Companies have been funded, acquired, and partners
discovered all through participation in our Demo Days.
I share StartOut’s vision to enable
my success, and that of other LGBT
founders, and I am thrilled to
invest my time and energy in this
organization. It is my legacy.
JENNIFER BROWN
PRESIDENT & CEO, JENNIFER BROWN CONSULTING
Relationship to Funding Sources – VentureOut. StartOut has
partnered with VentureOut, a fund focused on funding lgbt
entrepreneurs. We help increase awareness of VentureOut to
lgbt entrepreneurs and investors. We will continue to seek
and partner with other sources of funds that specialize in
empowering the lgbt community.
Meet the Angels events – Panels of active investors share the
realities, from their perspective, of investing in early stage
companies. These events take questions directly from the
audience of aspiring entrepreneurs. After the panel, we have
our highly popular “pitch practice” competition where a
select few entrepreneurs practice their pitches for 90 seconds
in front of the countdown clock.
T HE STARTO U T AWAR D S
Our signature annual gala recognizes outstanding lgbt entrepreneurs in the
following categories: Innovator, Next Generation, Advocate and Leadership.
In our inaugural 2012 awards, well-known lgbt investor and PayPal founder,
Peter Thiel, received the Leadership Award. In 2013 the recipient was
philanthropist and business leader Tim Gill and in 2014 advocate and legend
George Takei. By recognizing and honoring business leaders for outstanding
representation of the lgbt community, the StartOut Awards bring further vvisibility
and prominence to the dynamic, innovative, and exceptionally diverse field of
lgbt community members fueling the American entrepreneurial spirit.
LEADERSHIP
2014
George Takei,
legendary LGBT
advocate, actor, and
spokesman
2013
Tim Gill, software
entrepreneur and
philanthropist
2012
Peter Thiel,
Co-founder &
CEO, PayPal;
investor,
philanthropist
ADVOCATE
Dave McClure,
venture capitalist;
Founder, 500 Startups;
community ally
Zoe Dunning, retired Navy
Commander & SLDN
Board Member
Kathy Levinson, corporate
strategist, philantrhopist;
Creator, Lesbian Equity
Foundation
TRAILBLAZER
NEXT GENERATION
Amy Errett, Founder & CEO,
Madison Reed; former
General Partner, Maveron;
CEO & Owner, Oliva;
social-mission visionary
Heather Hiles, Founder &
CEO, Pathbrite; education
& employment advocate
Ramona Pierson,
Co-founder & CEO,
Declara; neuroscientist,
educator, TED speaker
Li Han Chan, Co-founder &
CEO, DynaOptics; engineer,
entrepreneur
Jordan Goldman,
Founder & CEO, Unigo
Geoff Lewis, Partner,
The Founders Fund;
Co-founder & CEO, Topguest
starting with a
great team
StartOut is extremely grateful to our sponsors for helping us serve
the LGBT entrepreneurial community in 2014 and beyond.
PL AT INU M
SILVER
GOLD
F OU N DATION S
IPO Members ($5,000+ per year)
Venture Members ($1,000–$4,999)
Angel Members ($500–$999)
James Bain
Bruce Kikuyama
Thomas Brown
Scott Prevost
Aaron Apte
Jeff Koo
David Beatty
Mike Schultz
Darragh Buckley
Nathan Shedroff
Michel Armand
James Loduca
Michael Berl
Neil Sims
Andrew Butash
Bradford
Greg Arnette
Ludovico Mazzola
Tom Burke
Chris Sinton
Mike Dillon
Shellhammer
Aaron Bailey
Brandon McCormick
Alex Capecelatro
Jim Spare
Joe DiPasquale
Andrew Siebert
Doug Beeferman
Carla McKay
Robert Clauser
Darren Spedale
Sara Dornsife
David Spellmeyer
Michael Berl
Serafina Palendech
Anne Dorman
Mike Sullivan
Chris Fraley
Brian Stevens
Natasha Berness
Steven Roussey
Amy Errett
Scott Thacker
Robert Hosch
Nick Terzo
Colton Carothers
Thomas Safran
Thomas Gaynor
Lorenzo Thione
Charles Lorum
David Tufts
Jonathan Crutchley
Josh Schanker
Paul Grossinger
Marie Trexler
Conor Madigan
Andy Wheeler
Clay Cunnigham
Wendy Shepperd
Patrick Grosso
Michael Witbrock
Scott Miller
Marc Dedonder
Suzanne Sheuerman
Nick Hodulik
Andres Wydler
Dr. Vivienne Ming
Sarah Hodkinson
Ted Hollifield
Gabe Zichermann
Jorge Ortiz
Geoff Kerr
Dominic Paschel
Matthew Kimball
Bryan Janeczko
staff
Jonathan Lovitz, Director of
board of
directors
board of
governors
Patrick Grosso, StartOut Chair & Former CTO,
Mike Sullivan, Chair, Board of Governors;
Online Buddies
Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Vivienne Ming, StartOut Vice Chair & Co-Founder &
Thomas Brown, CEO, Ad Altius Advisors
Communications & Operations
chapter steering
committees
AUSTIN
Claude Baudoin, Richard Bellamy, Tina Cannon,
Dan Driscoll, Pete Fajkowski, Jonathan Jimmy
Flannigan, Michael Griffin, Scott Good, Liz Grow,
Dr. Steve Kramer, Isaac Levy, Altaf Remtulla,
Ravel Thai, Michael Ybarra, Michael Witbrock
BOSTON
Andrew Archer, Daniel Heller, Patrick Grosso,
Sarah Hodkinson, Elizabeth Keyser, Matthew
Murphy, Josh Schanker, Mike Schultz, Joseph Teja,
Caroline Young
CHIC AG O
Steven Acosta, James Bain, Joel Bosch, Adam
Contois, Anneke Diem, Timo Kim, Meg Mcgrath,
Edwin Medina, Brian Mullins, Scott Munn,
Heather Roberts, Mary Shea, Tash Shore
LO S ANGEL E S
Marc L. Bass, Chad Billmyer, Alex Capecelatro,
Nader Dajani, Christopher Fraley, Dwayne Gathers,
Anthony Glomski, Serge Gojkovich, Brian Seth
Hurst, Vincent Jones, Seth Levy, Jeremy Manning,
John McCann, Brian Pines, Natalie Spiro,
David Spitzer, John Volturo
NEW YO RK
Carlo Cisco, Hamish Cook, Patrick Grosso,
Jonathan Lovitz, Patrick McConville, Lucas Pattan,
Hector Pro
SAN FRAN CISCO
Kevin Aries, Michael Belkin, Brian Backus, Joe
DiPasquale, Bobbie Dunn, Cristian Fournies,
Thomas McAfee, Chris Sinton, Scott Thacker,
Teresa Tuan
Managing Partner, Socos; visiting scholar, Redwood
Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, UC Berkeley
Tom Burke, Managing Director, Burke Venture Group
Robert Clauser, StartOut Treasurer & COO, The
Jared Delaney-Smith, Associate, NEXT Fund,
Unigo Group; former CFO & Treasurer, WNET
Credit Suisse
Chris Sinton, StartOut Secretary & Chair Emeritus;
Anne Dorman, Consulting CFO & Angel Investor
former Co-founder, founding President, CEO,
Network for Good; Co-founder, NetAid;
Amy Errett, Founder & CEO, Madison Reed; former
Senior Director, Cisco Systems
General Partner, Maveron; CEO & Owner, Oliva
James Bain, Head of Sales, Parking Panda
Chris Fraley, Partner, evolve
Michael Berl, Director Of Marketing, Uber;
Thomas Gaynor, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
Founder & CEO, Kyotofu
Alex Greenbaum, Vice President, Sales and
Alex Capecelatro, Founder & CEO, At The Pool & Yeti
Marketing, American Excursionist
Nicole P. Dogwill, Partner, Joseph & Cohen San
Bryan Janeczko, Co-founder, StartOut; Founder,
Wicked Start; Former Co-founder, NuKitchen
Joe DiPasquale, StartOut Co-Founder; Founder &
CEO, Regroup
Bruce Kikuyama, Senior Financial Advisor,
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Sarah Hodkinson, Director, Marketing & Sales
Strategy, PayPal
Mark Lacy, Owner, Founder & CEO,
Benchmark Research
Charles Lorum, Regional Director, New York for
Gen Next
Len Lanzi, Executive Director, Los Angeles Venture
Association
Carla McKay, Founder & CEO, Crush
Conor Madigan, Co-Founder & President, Kateeva
Mary Shea, Founder & CEO, RevvEX Group
Ramona Pierson, Co-Founder & CEO, Declara
Darren Spedale, StartOut Co-Founder, Founder &
CEO, FamilyByDesign; Private Banker, JP Morgan
Mike Schultz, Associate, Foley & Lardner LLP
Chase
Jim Sherman, Founder & CEO, Hamptons Lane;
Lorenzo Thione, StartOut Co-Founder; Founder &
Angel Investor
CEO, The Social Edge; Founder & CEO, Powerset;
Tony Nominated Producer
Jim Spare, President & COO, Interlude Ltd
Marie Trexler, Former Managing Director, Intel
David Spitzer, Founder & CEO, Upper Diamond
Capital
Scott Thacker, CEO, Ivory Consulting Corp.
Michael Witbrock, Founder & CEO, Curious Cat
© 2015 StartOut
Design by Josh Silverman, Startnership
Company, Ph.D. Computer Science Carnegie Mellon
Andres Wydler, CleanTech Entrepreneur
Chris Young, Partner, Revel Partners
Gabe Zichermann, Consumer/Employee Engagement
Design Expert; Conference Chair, GSummit;
Founder & CEO, Dopamine and Gamification Co