StartOut Overview

Organization Overview

StartOut.org • [email protected]

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StartOut is an organization dedicated to fostering and developing entrepreneurship within the LGBT community. It is established to connect those in the LGBT community who want to form entrepreneurial ventures, provide support for existing entrepreneurs, and connect entrepreneurs with funding, education, networks, and other external resources.

Why StartOut?

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Role of StartOut

Connecting Entrepreneurs

Educating Entrepreneurs

Mentoring Entrepreneurs

Connecting with Venture, Angel, and Other Sources of Funding

Providing Local Resources

Promoting the Visibility of Role Models

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Online networking on StartOut website

• Online resources to connect LGBT entrepreneurs

• Job boards, FAQs, resources and links

Broad-based structured networking events

• Includes entrepreneurs who currently have a business as well as those looking to start one

• Structured to maximize networking potential (e.g., identification tags, other identification activities)

Connecting Entrepreneurs

Specialized networking events

• Subgroup events for those with a particular industry interest

• Closed events designed for existing entrepreneurs who have achieved a certain level of success

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Educating Entrepreneurs

Guest Speakers and Presentations• Successful high-profile LGBT entrepreneurs speak

about their experiences• Specific presentations indicated to be of interest by

StartOut members

Pitch Sessions • Mock pitch sessions from startup teams, with

structured feedback from StartOut

Expert Panel Discussions• Local LGBT entrepreneurs speak on topics of

interest to StartOut members

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Mentoring Entrepreneurs

Connects new start-ups with successful, more established entrepreneurs

• Mentors may take a more “advisory” role or a more “hands-on” role depending on the desires of both mentor and mentee

• Mentors may choose to serve on a start-up’s Board of Directors / Board of Advisors

StartOut will construct and maintain a “library” of potential Mentors and their interests

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Connecting to Venture, Angel, and Other Sources of Funding

Provide venue for Annual Funding Contest (starting 2010)

• StartOut will provide a venue for a VC/Angel funded annual business plan (or seed-stage business) competition for LGBT entrepreneurs

Engage gay and gay-friendly Venture and Angel investors

• attend StartOut networking events

• become special guest presenters• take part in panel discussions

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Providing Local ResourcesEntrepreneur Forums• StartOut may create ongoing small-group

forums of entrepreneurs to discuss issues related to starting a business

• Forums may serve as an ‘informal’ board of advisors for an entrepreneur’s startup or venture

Support Resources of Interest to LGBT Entrepreneurs

• Create a list of support resources of specific interest to the LGBT entrepreneur

• Lawyers, consultants, finance persons who have experience with issues related to LGBT entrepreneurship

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Promoting the Visibility of LGBT Entrepreneurs as Role Models

Provide opportunities for successful LGBT entrepreneurs to share their experience with others

• Press coverage, stories, articles• Invited Lecturers or Speakers at business

forums and non-LGBT entrepreneurship organizations

• Speakers/Lecturers at entrepreneurship classes or seminars at national colleges and at high-schools

Special networking events for successful LGBT entrepreneurs to connect and share experiences with other LGBT entrepreneurs

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Main source of information about StartOut• Upcoming events, news, about the organization

• Commentary / blog on issues of interest to the LGBT entrepreneur

Online message boards• Post information and connect entrepreneurs with similar interests and goals

• Job boards, cofounder matching, etc.

Resource center for LGBT entrepreneurs, including support services, local organizations, etc

Online registry for persons interested in StartOut; Records current position, interests, etc

Online donation page

Website - www.StartOut.Org

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StartOut’s Structure

501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization

Management Committee

Board of Advisors

National Organization with Local Networks

• New York

• San Francisco

• Others to come (Boston, Austin, Denver, etc)

National resources via the StartOut website

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Management Committee

Robert Clauser (Founder, Media & Entertainment Holdings)

Joe DiPasquale (Founder, Regroup. com)

Peter Hopkins (Founder, Bigthink.com)

Bryan Janeczko (Founder, NuKitchen)

Darren Spedale (Founder, A-List Global Media)

Lorenzo Thione (Founder, Powerset)