Business Owners Take Pride in Living Their Authentic Truth
At the beginning of Pride Month 2023, Crunchbase announced it would start tracking the amount of venture capital dollars invested in founders who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
This announcement represents a massive shift for many entrepreneurs who had previously felt the need to hide their identities from investors.
"I've heard founders say they delete any mention of same-sex partners, advocacy work, or involvement in anything LGBTQ+ while raising capital as they fear investors will see it during due diligence," said Chasing Rainbows General Partner Patrick Driscoll in an article posted on Tech Crunch.
In "Waving a Rainbow Flag All Year Long," we profiled three founders who identify as members of the LGBTQ community. Two years later, we spoke to a new group of entrepreneurs, specifically asking them, “How can people become more aware of life as LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs so they can best empower and support you?”
Here are some of their answers:
Chef Kuukua Yomekpe, Asempe Kitchen
"Life (as an LGBTQ+) is challenging but rewarding because being visible daily empowers others to be themselves. To empower LGBTQ+ founders and support diversity in its many forms, choose to spend your money with those businesses."
Nadean Carson, OYA Construction
“The funny thing is, my life as an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur is like any other entrepreneur's. I face the same challenges that every one of us faces. What does change is that I am passionate about bringing more LGBTQ+ people into my field (construction), where they haven't typically been welcomed. I am trying to normalize any "otherness" about me as a woman in construction or an LGBTQ+ person in construction to open the doors for others in this industry.”
Amy Quichiz, Veggie Mijas
““Most of the time, we are creating the blueprint for the next queer generation such as starting a new organization specifically for queer BIPOC folks. Give us the resources, take time to exchange experiences with each other, we want the advice. Justice work can cause a lot of burn-out. Therefore, giving us a hand and/or making sure how we are taking care of our mental health as a collective is important.”
Adrienne Cooper, A Barrel Above Consulting
“The reality is that the biggest difference for me, as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, is that I'm much more interested in uplifting my community so that we all can soar rather than just profiting off the backs of my fellow marginalized folks without further concern. So often it feels like businesses make use of awareness holidays by offering goods at a discount. But I would offer the opposite as a suggestion: feature queer producers, rather than products with a rainbow on them, and increase the price because you're going to contribute additional funds to organizations that are committed to protecting our lives, livelihood, and freedoms. The best way our community can be supported is by making space for us to teach you what we need. Listening is the greatest gift you can give to anyone.”
Photo: Mariana Pelaez
It takes tremendous courage to come out in your personal life. It may feel overwhelming to do the same professionally. However, there are opportunities available for LGBTQ+ business owners. Certified LGBTBE® companies have access to hundreds of corporate representatives and supplier diversity professional contacts and are also eligible for scholarship programs, mentorship and leadership training, and other business development tools. Learn more here.