SO Five Year Report 1.5.indd
Transcription
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