Start Out- for LGBTQ Entrepreneurs with Host Catherine Gray Ep. 431

On this episode of the Invest In Her Podcast, host Catherine Gray welcomes Irene Tang, Director of Data and Insights at StartOut, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. Irene brings a wealth of experience from her past roles at Google and CBS Interactive, now using her expertise to advance data-driven initiatives that highlight the unique challenges and successes of LGBTQ+ founders. Based in Houston, Texas, Irene is a passionate advocate for creating opportunities and visibility for underrepresented entrepreneurs, particularly in communities where support systems may be limited. Catherine and Irene discuss StartOut’s groundbreaking research, which revealed that LGBTQ+ founders receive just 0.5% of startup funding, despite making up approximately 7-10% of the population. They explore the impact of StartOut’s initiatives, including mentorship programs, investor introductions, and their Growth Lab accelerator, which has helped founders scale their businesses and secure significant funding. Irene shares inspiring success stories, such as Avocademy, a UX/UI education platform that dramatically increased its revenue after joining the accelerator, and Carbon Reform, a startup revolutionizing air purification that has raised over $5 million. This episode sheds light on the importance of financial inclusion and the role of LGBTQ+ investors in fostering innovation. https://www.startout.org/ www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels  

Om Podcasten

INVEST IN HER podcast, hosted by founder of She Angel Investors, Catherine Gray- features phenomenal female founders and funders. The podcast is part of a multimedia platform to connect women with funding resources. If you are a woman seeking funding, this podcast is for you. You will learn about the various ways to get funded, meet guests who you can connect with, learn how to overcome obstacles, and discover how funding can be made simple for female founders to understand and to access. Host Catherine Gray is a Film Producer, Author and Tedx Speaker and champions the funding of women who are tremendously underfunded- receiving less of 2% of venture capital funding. Each week the show has on guests that are female angel investors and general partners who are women that have started their own fund- and have a focus on funding women, LGBTQ and Bipoc. She also showcases women business owners who are seeking funding. The show is all about education and connection- providing investment resources for women looking to launch or scale their business. Listeners are female entrepreneurs who want to connect with resources- which can include funding, coaching, accelerators, mentorship, events and more. Many female founders find it challenging to find funding. She Angel Investors has created an e course to address that issue – it is called “6 Ways to Fund Your Business”- Funding Made Simple for Female Founders. Here is the link https://bit.ly/35nFCnO Women of all ages and ethnicities can connect to learning, events, education and contacts through the INVEST IN HER podcast and the SHE ANGEL INVESTORS platform. The show delivers invaluable information to those women in business who are seeking funding, knowledge and insights on how to take their business to the next level. As an angel investor, entrepreneur and a woman who raises funds and helps others to connect to funding – Catherine provides a wealth of knowledge and a large rolodex to connect her guests to funding resources. Catherine is producing a movie to raise awareness about the underfunding of women and how you can be a part of the solution. She is on a mission to encourage more women to become angel investors and fund managers, and to accelerate the funding of diverse women across the U.S. and around the globe. Catherine Gray is also the Co-Founder of the She Angels Foundation- that gives grants to female founded nonprofits that are helping women to thrive. Women and Girls initiatives only get two percent of charitable giving. In both the for-profit world and the nonprofit world- women are coming up short. Women can join the SheAngelsFoundation.org for a tax-deductible donation- details are on the site- and then once a member – you can enjoy the salons at members homes for free. The salons consist of amazing, accomplished women- and provide complimentary food, drink and entertainment. It is a wonderful sisterhood that helps so many women. We have provided grants the help women of domestic violence get back on their feet, the same for formerly incarcerated women, women veterans and more. Plus, women in Science, Blockchain and more. In her Ted Talk, “Fund Women- Save The World”, Catherine talks about why women are underfunded. The people making the decisions in the investment world are typically white men- and because people tend to invest in people they identify with, it is no wonder most of the money goes to men. We need more women angel investors, and more women at the decision-making table in order to change this scenario. Her Tedx talk is here https://youtu.be/Ms-tROEeLn4 Subscribe to the INVEST IN HER Podcast to stay connected with what is happening in the investment world for women- and learn how it can benefit you. Join the conversation. www.SheAngelInvestors.com