By John Kregler, StartOut This October, we’ll gather together in lower Manhattan for a second year as we celebrate the 12th Annual StartOut Awards at Tribeca 360. The premier gala honoring our nation’s LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, the StartOut Awards recognizes exceptional queer founders and leaders and creates space for future generations…

By John Kregler, StartOut Long Nguyen (he/him) started Everfit.io five years ago in San Francisco. His SaaS fitness platform helps transform how gyms and fitness coaches launch and run their businesses online. …

Amrei Dizon is a proud 42-year-old lesbian from Quezon City, Manila, Philippines. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, Amrei often felt different in a society that lacked representation for people like her. …

By John Kregler, StartOut Dyllen Nellis (she/her) is a current member of the StartOut Growth Lab’s 11th cohort with her company, Dyllen’s College Essay Advice. She always wanted to pursue an entrepreneurial path and manages to do so as a full-time college student at Stanford. Dyllen’s College Essay Advice empowers…

By John Kregler, StartOut Pete Zheng (he/him) grew up in Pittsburgh, where his parents owned and operated a Chinese restaurant. In these formative years helping his family business, Pete got the spirit of entrepreneurship instilled in him. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, he moved to New York for…

By John Kregler, StartOut Alla Adam (she/her) is a European-born investor and Lean Startup and VC Coach. The author of “Million Dollar Coach Playbook,” “Million Dollar Investor Playbook,” and “Million Dollar Negotiator Playbook,” Alla provides her coaching & mentoring expertise to founders, investors, and VC firms all across the world. …

By John Kregler, StartOut Sam Sugarman (he/him) is an Investor at Fearless Fund, a venture capital fund focused on pre-seed, seed, and series A-stage investments founded by women of color. In his role, Sam focuses on new investment opportunities, working with existing portfolio companies, and supporting Fearless Fund’s fundraising efforts. …

By John Kregler, StartOut Time and time again, when we ask founders what they need help with the most as they build out their innovative startups, access to capital comes back as the number one answer. …

By John Kregler, StartOut Tye-Leigha Hagood (they/them) — or Tye for short — is a Black Trans Queer filmmaker, passionate about the revolutionary act of telling LBGTQ+ stories on a mainstream level. Tye found their passion for film early in childhood, writing their first screenplay in the 6th grade. Searching…