HackOut: The World's Largest LGBTQIA-themed Entrepreneurship Weekend
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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.
HackOut is run by an amazing team of volunteers
Katherine Anthony (RKA)
Co-Facilitator & Programming Lead
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.
Co-Facilitator & Programming Lead
Product Manager & iOS Developer
Lead Organizer
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.
Lead Organizer
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.
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.
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 amplifies tech brands and execs with PR, content and integrated communications.
Partner: Pharmaceuticals and BiotechReal World Evidence
Karlo is a patient advocate and pioneer in bringing access to personalized medicines to global markets.
Sponsorships
Development Director - StartOut
BECOME A 2022 SPONSOR
Sponsor the world's largest virtual
national LGBTQIA-themed entrepreneurship Weekend
Are you press? We would love to talk to you!
Share your email below for media inquiries :-)
Built In
Creating a safe digital space for LGBTQ+ Entrapanuers
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.
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.
The Austin Chronicle
Since the inaugural weekend in 2014, HackOut has risen to an international scale
Crunchbase - June 5, 2019
Crunchbase coverage of 2019 HackOut and winner Solace
Spectrum News
Leaders in the Austin tech scene are doing their part to further LGBTQ inclusion in the industry.
Austin Business Journal
Social-business lessons are valuable and a way to connect with new people and new ways of thinking.
blog.HomeAway.com
Startup Weekend HackOut aims to teach potential LGBTQIA entrepreneurs how to launch their ideas.
KHOU 11 - khou.com
This weekend, members of the LGBTQ community in tech are learning how to grow their startups.
LinkedIn Pulse
"We wanted to keep the cost low and the diversity and inclusion high."
Austin Inno
Safenight connects well-vetted hosts who can offer a safe place to stay for queer youth in need.
Built In Austin
"I explained how I’m bisexual, how I’m trans ... and [my father] didn’t want me living in the house."
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 :-)
HackOut 2020 Recap
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
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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.
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Team: Pauly Ramirez, Karlo Martin, Becs Prager, Amy Detwiler, Chan Heng Hong
Podium
Finalist
Break the echo chamber.
Team: Li bearden, Misha Kessler
Pride Dr.
Finalist
A safe place where telemedicine meets the LGBTQ+ community where they live.
Team: Justin Ayars, Illyana Bocanegra, Mario Nouel
HackOut 101:
seMINARS
Learn skills from industry experts that will be useful during HackOut
Fundraising as Underestimated Founders
Watch the recording on Youtube
Idea Validation
Co-Founder & President of Capital Factory
Maximizing Mentorship
CEO of The Mentor Method
How to Pitch
MBA Associate at Eniac Ventures
Volunteers
Our amazing staff of volunteers who help make the event a success.
Interested in volunteering as a mentor or advisor in 2021? Send us a message
Take a look at our amazing team of 2020 Volunteers:
Sarah Sharif
Dedicated Advisor
Tracy Smith
Dedicated Advisor
Natalie Rose
Dedicated Advisor
Grant Carlile
Dedicated Advisor
Carly Johnson
Expert Mentor
Aayush Iyer
Expert Mentor
Adrianna Cantu
Expert Mentor
Hayley Netherton
Expert Mentor
Elizabeth Pranger
Expert Mentor
Drew Stern
Expert Mentor
Erica Prenga
Expert Mentor
Asher Diaz
Expert Mentor
Jenn Starr
Expert Mentor
Kelly Karsnia
Expert Mentor
Jenna Ritten
Expert Mentor
Michael Humphries
Expert Mentor
Radissen Ramoutar
Expert Mentor
Tony Pham
Expert Mentor
Steve Kramer
Expert Mentor
Ben Wilde
Expert Mentor
Ojas Patel
Expert Mentor
Daniel Senyard
Expert Mentor
Alex Edelstein
Expert Mentor
#HackOut is a StartOut Event
The national nonprofit supporting LGBTQ entrepreneurs