StartOut Growth Lab Accelerator is sponsored by StartOut. The StartOut Growth Lab Accelerator promotes diversity within startup communities by hosting a new virtual cohort of early-stage companies every six months. It offers mentorship, community, and resources to help LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.

Startup Accelerator for LGBTQ+ Founders | StartOut Growth Lab Build boldly with expert guidance that meets you where you are. Ready to Scale? We’ve Got Your Back.

Join StartOut’s five-month virtual accelerator designed to fast-track your growth with expert support every step of the way. As a Growth Lab founder, you’ll receive: Strategic guidance from our Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR), a seasoned founder with decades of experience dedicated to helping you make smarter, faster decisions.

1:1 mentorship from an experienced founder in your industry, our Graduates in Residence (GIR), who have been where you are and know how to help Curated workshops with top experts covering a broad range of topics, including fundraising, storytelling, sales, legal, HR, refining your tech stack, and more.

A personalized 18-month growth plan tailored to your business goals, with clear milestones across revenue, fundraising, and team building. Pro bono legal guidance and financial advice from our lead sponsors Applications are now open for Cohort 18. Apply by June 26th.

Join Growth Lab Cohort 18 Apply by June 26, 2026 • Program begins September 7, 2026 This isn’t just an accelerator. It’s a launchpad. You’ll compress years of growth into months, with the right mentors and community in your corner, and a clear path to scale.

Create an account with StartOut or login to your founder profile Complete the Founder’s application Answer the Growth Lab-specific questions on Page 6 Where Growth Meets Belonging Learn and grow alongside fellow LGBTQ+ and allied founders who champion your success, challenge your thinking, and celebrate your progress every step of the way.

This is where community becomes a strategic advantage: Peer learning with founders on a shared path Cohort connection through curated sessions and events A lasting network of mentors, alumni, and allies The centerpiece of Growth Lab is a polished, actionable 18-month business plan that guides your next stage of scale.

Over the course of the program, you will: Define your growth strategy Develop a plan to successfully raise capital Align your product milestones with market traction Establish KPIs and measurable targets By graduation, you’ll have a structured, investor-ready plan that communicates your company’s next chapter and helps you execute it. Head of Growth Lab & Entrepreneur-in-Residence Which One Is Best For Me?

Annual Revenue/Funding: > $200,000 in ARR and/or raise Annual Revenue/ Funding: > $50,000 in ARR and/or raise Focus: Scaling & capital raising Focus: Strengthening a scalable business model Key Criteria: Expanding customer base & Market Expansion Key Criteria: MVP developed, initial market demand demonstrated Deliverable: 18-Month Business Plan Deliverable: 5-Month Business Plan Special Thanks to Our Growth Lab Sponsors In 2017, StartOut Director, Andres Wydler, and law partner, Tom Gaynor, discussed the idea of combining the best practices of an accelerator program with the community-based model of StartOut.

Scribbling their initial ideas on a napkin, they wanted to support LGBTQ+ founders in scaling their businesses through a cohort-based approach. They brought their idea to Peter Sisson, a serial entrepreneur, who helped build out the GrowthLab’s very first curriculum. Tom’s law firm, DLA Piper, provided the space and equipment.

Peter became StartOut’s first Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) to manage the program. Together, they launched StartOut GrowthLab’s first cohort. Former Executive Director of StartOut Since 2009, StartOut has built a community of over 18,000 members.

Every year, we provide support to over 700 individual founders. We connect them to expertise, peers, community, and capital. This powerful combination of financial support, skills development, and community contributes to helping fuel innovation, wealth generation and equal access to economic opportunity.

Join our growing community today.