What is "startout"

StartOut is a nonprofit organization that helps aspiring entrepreneurs in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ("LGBT") community. Its goals are to help entrepreneurs start new companies or expand their businesses, and to use 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 January 2013 had over 5,000 participants attending its events in its local branches of San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City and Austin. Its Board of Advisors includes a number of prominent VCs and entrepreneurs, including Patrick Chung (Venture Partner at New Enterprise Associates), Amy Errett (Partner at Maveron Capital), David Blumberg (Founder of Blumberg capital) and Chip Conley (Founder/CEO of Joie de Vivre Hotels and entrepreneurship author).

StartOut has a variety of programs and services such as 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).

StartOut events have been attended by LGBT entrepreneurs such as Mitchell Gold, Chip Conley, Kara Swisher, and Megan Smith. StartOut has a partnership with the Hetrick-Martin Institute. On June 7, 2010, members of the StartOut Board of Directors rang the Opening Bell on the New York Stock Exchange.