HackOut: The World's Largest LGBTQIA-themed Entrepreneurship Weekend

HackOut Has Been Postponed to 2023

Questions About Our Next HackOut? Sign up to stay updated:

From Ideas to startups

#HackOut

🏳️‍🌈 STARTUP & STARTOUT 🏳️‍🌈

HackOut is the world's largest LGBTQIA-themed entrepreneurship weekend.

The hardest part of starting up is starting out, and the purpose of this event is to inspire potential entrepreneurs in the LGBTQIA community to learn the ropes of validating an idea for a startup or lifestyle business and turn that idea into a business venture.

Over an extended weekend, you'll meet and work with 100+ other LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs, validate your ideas, and learn how to create a real company.

Throughout the weekend you'll meet industry expert mentors, be exposed to sponsors from industry technology companies, and potential investors and successful founders — all of who will support you start out and start-up. Regardless of your professional background or experience, your community is here to support you! It'll be a weekend you'll never forget.

The weekend is organized and presented by StartOut, the national nonprofit supporting LGBTQIA entrepreneurs.

2021 LEADERSHIP TEAM

HackOut is run by an amazing team of volunteers

Katherine Anthony (RKA)
Co-Facilitator & Programming Lead

CEO - E uphoria .LGBT

Katherine is the founder of Euphoria.LGBT, a proud trans woman, professional front-end developer, and relentless optimist. She loves technology, bringing great ideas to life, and dresses with pockets.

Julian Bryant
Co-Facilitator & Programming Lead

Product Manager & iOS Developer

Julian has been the lead HackOut Facilitator for multiple years (2019, 2018). He's facilitated countless StartUp Weekend events with TechStars and also works as a Product Manager and iOS Developer for his own small business.

Cindy Lamar
Lead Organizer

Life & Executive Coach

Cindy is a Life/Executive Coach for Magneto Consulting LLC, helping women and the LGBTQ+ community explore what is important, create forward movement, and achieve harmony in business and in life.

Taylor McCaslin
Lead Organizer

Principal Product Manager - G itLab

Taylor is a multi-disciplinary investor, technologist, and Principal Product Manager @ GitLab. He also runs an angel fund: Product Trust Investments

Natalie Rose Demary
Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Transgender (she/her), Logistics Operations Officer (TXARNG), Digital Marketing consultant & coach (BizFit), Advisory Board (SXSW)

Erica Dozier
Attendee Experience & Marketing Communications

Founder - Thai Fan Meet

Erica is the Founder of Thai Fan Meet, writer, and web developer in training. She promotes respect and diversity combating the intolerance of racial, sexual, and gender discrimination.

Violet Skinner
Application Lead

Operations Manager - Code Louisville

Violet is a personable person with personality who has participated twice in HackOut events. They work in tech education currently but also has experiences with digital agencies and startups.

Patrick McHugh

Graphic Designer

Chief Creative Officer - Euphoria.LGBT

Patrick is the cofounder of Euphoria.LGBT and a HackOut 2019 alum. He is a UX/UI & graphic designer, web developer, and gradient connoisseur.

Nick Vivion

Mentor Coordinator

Communications Consultant

Nick amplifies tech brands and execs with PR, content and integrated communications.

Karlo Martin

Mentor Coordinator

Partner: Pharmaceuticals and BiotechReal World Evidence

Karlo is a patient advocate and pioneer in bringing access to personalized medicines to global markets.

Tony Uceda
Sponsorships

Development Director - StartOut

Tony serves as the Director of Development at StartOut and is a LatinX Advocate

#HackOut in the News

Are you press? We would love to talk to you!
Share your email below for media inquiries :-)

HackOut, an LGBTQ+ Startup Hackathon, Goes Virtual and Adds Prize Money

Built In

Creating a safe digital space for LGBTQ+ Entrapanuers

HackOut’s LGBTQIA+ hackathon is going global (and virtual) for 2020

SexTech Guide

The US’s only hackathon for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs is the latest to replace its in-person live events with a fully virtual lineup for its upcoming 2020 hackathon.

7 WAYS TECH IS CHANGING FOR THE BETTER IN 2020

Built In Austin

Based on our reporting from every major U.S. tech hub, there’s a strong case for optimism in an uncertain year.

HackOut Makes Safe Space for Budding LGBTQ Entrepreneurs

The Austin Chronicle

Since the inaugural weekend in 2014, HackOut has risen to an international scale

Texas VC Report: [...] The World's Only LGBTQIA+ Startup Weekend

Crunchbase - June 5, 2019

Crunchbase coverage of 2019 HackOut and winner Solace

Hackathon hopes to inspire LGBTQ entrepreneurs

Spectrum News

Leaders in the Austin tech scene are doing their part to further LGBTQ inclusion in the industry.

The Big One: Why We Need Inclusive Hacking

Austin Business Journal

Social-business lessons are valuable and a way to connect with new people and new ways of thinking.

The First StartOut HackOut Weekend Hosted by HomeAway!

blog.HomeAway.com

Startup Weekend HackOut aims to teach potential LGBTQIA entrepreneurs how to launch their ideas.

LGBTQ startups learning
the keys to success

KHOU 11 - khou.com

This weekend, members of the LGBTQ community in tech are learning how to grow their startups.

A special Pride Month event: Startup Weekend HackOut

LinkedIn Pulse

"We wanted to keep the cost low and the diversity and inclusion high."

Connecting Displaced LGBTQ Youth with Emergency Housing

Austin Inno

Safenight connects well-vetted hosts who can offer a safe place to stay for queer youth in need.

Trans founder 'hopes to God' you'll never have to use her app

Built In Austin

"I explained how I’m bisexual, how I’m trans ... and [my father] didn’t want me living in the house."

How StartOut Austin Empowers LGBTQ Entrepreneurs

Dig South

LGBTQ entrepreneurs in Austin, Texas can tap into a growing support system thanks to StartOut.

CONTACT US

Send a message, we'll reply :-)

Name

Message

Submit

HackOut 2020 Recap

LGBTQ+ Startup Hackathon, Goes Virtual & Adds Prize Money in 2020

Built In Austin - August 19, 2020

Livestream recording of final 2021 pitches:

2020 HackOut Winning teams

We had 10 amazing teams present their business pitches at HackOut, however only 5 made it through to final presentations. Learn more about our final 5 teams:

TRID

1st place & Fan Favorite

Trid is a safe e-commerce platform revolutionizing the shopping experience by curating options to try on in your home, tailored to your style preferences independent of gender. All gender identities welcome!

Team: Graham Hawley, Joshua Walker, and Pavel Valishin

Queer Healers

2nd place

Queer Healers is creating a directory so experienced Queer healers can be found, booked, and reviewed by people seeking their offerings. Think body, esoteric, and ritual workers, doulas, herbalists, coaches, etc.

Team: Bridget Conway-Taylor, Marisa Hall, Sky Davis and Gala Mukomolova

ARTAI

3rd place

ARTAI empowers both students and professionals of the fine art world by directly connecting them with clients. By showcasing products in a curated & modern online platform using VR technology to simulate the gallery experience.

Team: Pauly Ramirez, Karlo Martin, Becs Prager, Amy Detwiler, Chan Heng Hong