StartOut Innovation Table is on a mission to amplify the stories of LGBTQ+ founders shaping a more equitable future. Harnessing the power of storytelling, we connect, learn, and inspire, advocating that everyone deserves a seat at the table.
Our podcast showcases diverse founders and leaders sharing their unique journeys across industries. From the discovery phase to team building and overcoming adversity with grace, these stories illustrate the transformative power of empowering LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.
Ivan Hsiao talks building Trans Health HQ and winning StartOut Demo Day
Ivan Hsiao, Founder and CEO of Trans Health HQ, discusses building a digital health platform to improve transgender healthcare through education and reform, sharing insights on community leadership and creating win-win situations in this interview.
4 May 2025
Kat Gabrielle talks Money, Power, and Respect
Today’s episode features the powerhouse that is Kat Gabrielle— a dynamic voice in the social impact space and someone who truly shows up for founders. Kat is the Founder of The Well Work, Chief Community Impact Officer at MyCofounder.Ai, and a serial social impact entrepreneur with a legacy of building mission-driven ventures.
She's also our Mentor in Residence for the Spark Lab Incubator, and serves as StartOut’s go-to expert on Non-Dilutive Funding and Founder Growth. Founders know Kat for her bold insights, her real-talk mentorship, and her unwavering commitment to building inclusive, sustainable businesses.
This conversation was led by Allison Wright, Director of Education at StartOut, whose leadership is shaping how LGBTQ founders access knowledge, mentorship, and community.
Check out Kat's website for The Well Work (https://www.thewellwork.co/) referenced in the episode which has incredible resources including the Funding Database (https://lively-sky-489.myflodesk.com/v7m35l5106) which is relevant for so many founders.
27 Mar 2025
Justin Ayars talks serial entrepreneurship and founding EqualityMD
Justin Ayars (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinayarsjd/) is a former history teacher at a British military boarding school and former healthcare trial lawyer turned 15-year serial entrepreneur and award-winning healthtech founder.
He has the mind of a philosopher, heart of a poet, and spirit of a starship captain.
At all times, curiosity remains his true North Star.
Justin is the Founder & CEO of a revolutionary new LGBTQ+ inclusive healthcare company called EqualityMD (https://www.equalitymd.com/).
EqualityMD’s LGBTQ+ inclusive telehealth & prescription fulfillment platform connects patients with culturally competent providers nationwide accounting for each patient's unique needs and intersectional identities.
For $79/month, members enjoy 36 virtual visits per year (12 primary care, 12 urgent care, 12 mental health) AND have access to 1,000+ medications (including PrEP) that we fill and mail to you for FREE!
We proudly serve all LGBTQ+ adults and our wonderful straight allies in all 50 states (both insured and uninsured), as well as small businesses and nonprofits.
No premiums. No deductibles. No copays. No BS. Just affordable, affirming care on YOUR terms.
EqualityMD’s telehealth and prescription fulfillment platform is a safe digital space where patients can have secure telehealth sessions with culturally competent providers, get their prescriptions filled and delivered for FREE, and feel empowered to become the superheroes of their own healthcare stories.
30 Jan 2025
Building a Bold Brand: Dapper Boi's Journey of Authenticity
Tune into the Season 2 premiere of StartOut Innovation Table as Caroline sits down with Vicky and Charisse Pasche, the dynamic co-founders of Dapper Boi. This innovative clothing company is breaking down barriers in the fashion industry by creating gender-neutral clothing designed to fit all bodies.
Vicky and Charisse share their inspiring journey of resilience and self-discovery, from overcoming personal challenges to navigating the high stakes world of startups. Hear the incredible story of their Shark Tank appearance, where they bravely defied the Sharks' advice and achieved remarkable success despite the odds.
Instagram: @dapperboi and @meet_the_pasches
Tiktok: @dapperboisquad
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MeetThePasches (https://www.youtube.com/@MeetThePasches)
2 Oct 2024
StartOut Awards Sneak Peek with Perrin Quarshie
Our 13th Annual StartOut Awards is right around the corner! Check out our special episode with Perrin Quarshie, recipient of our 2024 Peter Sisson Next Generation Award and founder of RealBlocks (realblocks.com).
Join us on October 10 (https://bit.ly/4gaHGzz) in NYC as we honor Perrin along with our LGBTQ+ entrepreneur community.
About Perrin Quarshie:
Perrin was most recently the Founder & CEO of RealBlocks (https://www.realblocks.com/about-us), an alternative investments platform that helps managers expand their firm’s distribution footprint and automating manual processes for onboarding investors. The firm raised over $23M in venture capital over three rounds and serviced over $77B in assets before being acquired in early 2024.
Perrin began his career in engineering at NAC International, where he completed several nuclear energy infrastructure projects in the United States and in Japan. After NAC and prior to RealBlocks, Perrin completed his MBA at the MIT Sloan School of Business, during which time he worked at Barclays as a summer associate in Real Estate Investment Banking, conducting M&A Transactions for various REIT and Private Equity sponsors. LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrinq/)
About the 13th Annual StartOut Awards
Get your ticket & join us in NYC on October 10th! (https://bit.ly/4gaHGzz)
The StartOut Awards is the premier celebration of the nation’s LGBTQ+ entrepreneurial community. Our signature event recognizes outstanding LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs across industries.
By recognizing and honoring business leaders for outstanding representation of the LGBTQ+ community, the StartOut Awards bring further visibility and prominence to the dynamic, innovative, and exceptionally diverse field of LGBTQ+ community members fueling the American entrepreneurial spirit.
Join us on October 10th in NYC as we honor Perrin Quarshie (Next Generation Award) along with Vivienne Ming (Trailblazer Award), Tristan Schukraft (Leadership Award), & Fearless Fund (Advocate Award).
Follow Startout on Instagram @startoutcommunity (https://www.instagram.com/startoutcommunity/?next=%2F&hl=en) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/560076/admin/notifications/all/).
Innovation Table Host: Caroline Rotenstreich
26 Sept 2024
StartOut Awards Sneak Peek with Vivienne Ming
Our 13th Annual StartOut Awards is right around the corner! Check out our special episode with Vivienne Ming, recipient of our 2024 Trailblazer Award and Co-founder of Socos Labs (socos.org).
Join us on October 10 (https://bit.ly/4gaHGzz) in NYC as we honor Vivienne along with our LGBTQ+ entrepreneur community.
About Vivienne Ming:
Vivienne Ming, theoretical neuroscientist, entrepreneur, author, and mother of two, is featured frequently for her research and inventions in The Financial Times, The Atlantic, and the New York Times. Her AI inventions have launched a dozen companies and nonprofits with a focus on human potential: education, workforce, and health.
A self-described "professional mad scientist", Vivienne founded The Human Trust (https://www.thehumantrust.org/) to fight some of the world's most pressing problems, and she travels the world sharing the stories of these astonishing projects.
In her free time, Vivienne works to design AI systems to help treat her son’s diabetes, predict manic episodes in bipolar sufferers, and reunite orphan refugees with extended family members. She sits on the boards of numerous companies and nonprofits, including UC Berkeley's Neurotech Collider Hub and RFK Human Rights. LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivienneming/)
About the 13th Annual StartOut Awards
Get your ticket & join us in NYC on October 10th! (https://bit.ly/4gaHGzz)
The StartOut Awards is the premier celebration of the nation’s LGBTQ+ entrepreneurial community. Our signature event recognizes outstanding LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs across industries.
By recognizing and honoring business leaders for outstanding representation of the LGBTQ+ community, the StartOut Awards bring further visibility and prominence to the dynamic, innovative, and exceptionally diverse field of LGBTQ+ community members fueling the American entrepreneurial spirit.
Join us on October 10th in NYC as we honor Vivienne Ming (Trailblazer Award) along with Perrin Quarshie (Next Generation Award), Tristan Schukraft (Leadership Award), & Fearless Fund (Advocate Award).
Follow Startout on Instagram @startoutcommunity (https://www.instagram.com/startoutcommunity/?next=%2F&hl=en) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/560076/admin/notifications/all/).
Innovation Table Host: Caroline Rotenstreich
6 Jun 2024
Pride Month Special Episode! Equity Summit Sneak Peek with Tracy Chan
Tracy Chan, CEO of Splash (https://www.splashmusic.com/), joins us for this special #PrideMonth episode to give you a sneak peek of our 5th Annual Equity Summit (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/5th-annual-startout-equity-summit-tickets-873615947817?aff=StaffPB) coming up on June 20th!
About Tracy Chan
Tracy Chan began his career as a product manager at YouTube and has led creator-focused product and development at Spotify, Twitch, and SoundCloud. Now, he is the CEO of Splash, the world’s most advanced music company specializing in AI-based tools and games for music creation and performance.
He has been named to Billboard Indie Power Players (2023), Billboard’s Movers and Shakers list (2023), Billboard Power List (2022), Fast Company's Inaugural 'Creator 25' List (2022), and Rolling Stone’s Future 25 (2020). LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracypatrickchan/)
About the StartOut Equity Summit
Register for virtual attendance or join our in-person waitlist (https://startout.org/event/5th-annual-startout-equity-summit/)
Delve into crucial conversations surrounding intersectionality within the queer community, address the systemic inequities faced by LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, and celebrate the achievements of StartOut entrepreneurs. This event is free and open to all and will be streaming live from the LinkedIn offices in San Francisco.
Follow Startout on Instagram @startoutcommunity (https://www.instagram.com/startoutcommunity/?next=%2F&hl=en) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/560076/admin/notifications/all/).
Innovation Table Host: Caroline Rotenstreich
26 Mar 2024
Jonathan Mentor on His Scientific Approach to Growing Revenue for Underrepresented Startups
Jonathan Mentor is the founder and CEO of Successment, a revenue growth partner for startups that empowers disadvantaged tech entrepreneurs.
We discuss the various methodical processes Jonathan has created in order to help founders “go slow to grow fast,” enabling them to execute and achieve measurable success for their ventures.
Checkout Jonathan’s website here: jonathanjmentor.co (http://jonathanjmentor.co/)
19 Mar 2024
Dylan Lew’s Reflections on Growth Lab and the Power of Authenticity in Business
Dylan Lew is the co-founder and CEO of Ecotone Renewables, a company tackling the problem of food waste with creativity and efficiency.
We discuss Dylan’s time in the StartOut Growth Lab and how the unique experience served as catalyst for many of his core learnings as a founder, including the importance of bringing one’s identity to the table.
Find out more about Dylan and Ecotone Renewables: www.ecotonerenewables.com
On social media: @ecotonerenew
The StartOut Growth Lab is a startup accelerator that offers top quality mentoring, education, and networking opportunities for companies that happen to be founded or cofounded by LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.
Find out more about the StartOut Growth Lab: www.startout.org/growth-lab/ (http://www.startout.org/growth-lab/)
12 Mar 2024
Gold Hood on Solving Problems Not Projects and Harnessing Technology to Stay True to Human Connection
Gold Darr Hood (she/they) is a former StartOut Growth Lab participant and the founder and CEO of Full, a company on a mission to put clean air back into major metro areas to reignite human connection and transform communities. We talk about how as a serial entrepreneur, Gold has “followed the problem” which has led her to different nexus points, improving the nutrition, air quality, and way of life for many communities.
Connect with Gold on LinkedIn Below:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gold-darr-hood (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gold-darr-hood)
5 Mar 2024
Robert Mison on the Key Differences Between Mentorship and Management and the Art of Prioritization
As a legal consultant and StartOut mentor, Robert Mison discusses how to embrace vulnerability, mentor with purpose and prioritize effectively.
Find Robert on LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/robertmison
Find out more about the StartOut mentorship program:
www.startout.org/mentors
27 Feb 2024
Patrick Driscoll on Managing Through Adversity and Human-First Leadership
In addition to serving as a StartOut Board Member and Mentor, Patrick Driscoll is a General Partner at Chasing Rainbows, a VC firm committed to empowering and investing in LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. We discuss the hurdles that confront LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, the importance of being a human-first leader, and how his life has been enriched by his involvement in StartOut.
Get in touch with Patrick below:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickedriscoll/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickedriscoll/)
Insta - @paddyodreezy (https://www.instagram.com/paddyodreezy/?hl=en)
X - @PaddyO_Dreezy (https://twitter.com/PaddyO_Dreezy)
Find out more about Chasing Rainbows VC
Website - https://www.chasingrainbows.vc/
20 Feb 2024
Jo Norris on Venture Ideation, Collaboration, and Building Culture
Jo Norris is the co-founder and CEO of Carbon Reform, a climate technology company on the mission to democratize access to carbon removal solutions. Guided by their core pillars of health, climate and equity, Carbon reform is innovating solutions to decrease building energy costs and improve indoor air quality.
Checkout Jo and Carbon Reform on all socials below:
Instagram: @carbonreform https://www.instagram.com/carbonreform/
LinkedIn: Carbon Reform https://www.linkedin.com/company/carbon-reform (https://www.linkedin.com/company/carbon-reform)
LinkedIn: Jo Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-norris/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-norris/)
13 Feb 2024
Brian Richardson on LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurship
Hear from StartOut CEO Brian Richardson on how social justice has guided his career, the importance of cultivating and empowering queer entrepreneurs, and how the three pillars of StartOut are revolutionizing our world.
Find out more about StartOut: https://startout.org/
Find out more about this podcast: https://startout.org/podcast
11 Feb 2024
Introducing the StartOut Innovation Table
The StartOut Innovation Table is on a mission to amplify the stories of LGBTQ+ founders shaping a more equitable future. Harnessing the power of storytelling, we connect, learn, and inspire, advocating that everyone deserves a seat at the table.
Our podcast showcases diverse founders and leaders sharing their unique journeys across industries. From the discovery phase to team building and overcoming adversity with grace, these stories illustrate the transformative power of empowering LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. By providing support and resources, we unlock untapped business value, driving inclusivity and economic progress for all.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100
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Quality
35
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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