Invest in LGBTQ+ Founders

Even though 7.1% of the U.S. population identifies as LGBTQ+, only 0.5% of the startup funding raised in 2023 went to LGTBQ+-founded companies. 

Despite this underrepresentation, data shows that companies with LGBTQ+ founders are more likely to be successful in several key areas, creating 36% more jobs, 114% more patents, and exiting at a 44% higher rate than the average founder. 

And though there’s still a long way to go to make sure LGBTQ+ founders have equitable access to funding, we’ve identified a list of funds, accelerators, and grants focused on investing in creating opportunities for these founders (Should your fund or accelerator be included? Let us know!).

Venture Funds, Grants, and Accelerators for LGBTQ+ Founders

In alphabetical order

360 Venture Collective: We fund & accelerate pre-seed & seed stage venture scale tech-enabled companies led by historically underestimated founders building in the fin-tech, health-tech, prop-tech, and future of work sectors.

Backstage Capital: We invest in overlooked and underestimated startups led by women, people of color,  and/or LGBTQ+ founders in all industries. We invest in scalable, venture-backable startups whose founders live and breathe their product or service.

Chasing Rainbows: We believe in investing in LGBTQ+ founders who are often overlooked yet outperform in the market.

Colorful Capital: Colorful Capital is a venture capital firm bringing capital support to enterprises founded and led by members of the broad LGBTQ+ community.

Define Ventures: Define Ventures focuses on investing in early stage digital health companies that will redefine healthcare.

DiverseCity Ventures: DiverseCity Ventures accelerates positive social, economic, and environmental impact through entrepreneurship. As an impact-oriented venture capital firm, we invest in pre-seed technology-driven companies with large addressable markets, product-market fit, a dynamic founding team, and high probability of outsized returns.

Diversity VC: Diversity VC is working with entrepreneurs, investors and universities in order to create an industry that is free from bias.

Elevate Capital: We are a team of investors who help underserved entrepreneurs reach their highest potential by providing the venture capital and mentorship needed to build a successful company.

Female Founders Fund: We invest in category defining businesses.

Gaingels: Our Mission is to foster social change through business and create a more diverse, inclusive and accessible venture ecosystem at all levels of leadership.

LGBT Capital: Focused on the LGBT Consumer segment as a credible investment sector and to demonstrate the business case for advancements in LGBT equality and inclusion globally.

Loud Capital’s Pride Fund: We strive to empower LGBTQI+/queer entrepreneurs, companies, investors, and our communities through investment and uplift.

National Pride Grant: An early stage fund for small businesses; A total of $25,000 for 25 LGBTQIA+ business owners.

Overlooked Ventures: We support founders who operate early-stage technology companies who are historically overlooked and provide them capital, resources, and connections to scale their business.

Pipeline Angels: Pipeline Angels is changing the face of angel investing and venture capital, as well as creating funding for trans women, cis women, nonbinary, two-spirit, agender, and gender-nonconforming founders.

Queer to Stay: "Queer to Stay: An LGBTQ+ Business Preservation Initiative” is an effort that supports, uplifts and preserves small businesses that serve the LGBTQ+ community, particularly multiply-marginalized queer people.

Rethink Impact: Rethink Impact is the largest, US-based venture capital firm investing in female and non-binary leaders using tech to solve the world’s biggest problems.

StartOut: StartOut accelerates the growth of the LGBTQ+ community to drive its economic empowerment, building a world where every LGBTQ+ entrepreneur has equal access to lead, succeed, and shape the workforce of the future. StartOut supports LGBTQ+ founders by connecting them with investors (VCs and angels) through our investor portal.

Unconventional Ventures: Scalable tech with impact at the core, founded by diverse founders being women, people of color and/or LGBTQ+.

Before You Go

Founders: If you’re preparing to raise your first round and want to build your confidence, we’re here to help! Learn about our Pre-Raise Prep Package for Digital Health Startups here. 

This affordable service will provide you with the knowledge and confidence you need to present, negotiate, and close funding opportunities with ideal investors. 

Even if you’ve never been part of a fundraising effort before, you’ll understand exactly what you need to do to maximize the value of your startup in an investor’s eyes.

Whether we work together or not, we wish you much success in your startup journey!