Founder Education
Workshops on business formation, pricing, branding, operations, fundraising, sales, marketing, compliance, and digital tools.
Building Incubator Villages for LGBTQ+ Founders
Outbound is a One Million Small Startups initiative creating local founder communities for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs across North America, starting in Chicago.
We help queer entrepreneurs, creatives, nonprofit builders, freelancers, and small business owners move from idea to launch, from launch to revenue, and from isolation to community.
Local infrastructure for founders who need more than inspiration.
Outbound connects practical business support with affirming local networks, so founders can build ventures with community, tools, mentorship, and visibility.
Chicago pilot
Founder circles
Mentor office hours
Partner-hosted events
Program model
What is Outbound?
Outbound is a community-based incubator program designed to help LGBTQ+ founders move from idea to launch, from launch to revenue, and from isolation to a stronger founder network.
We are building “incubator villages”: local support communities where founders can access mentorship, workshops, peer accountability, business tools, visibility, and practical support from people who understand both entrepreneurship and LGBTQ+ community needs.
Why Outbound Exists
LGBTQ+ founders often build without enough access to safe business networks, early capital, mentors, affordable professional services, and visible founder communities. Some founders are also building while navigating family rejection, discrimination, unstable housing, underemployment, health-care barriers, or lack of local support.
Outbound exists to close that gap by creating affirming local ecosystems where LGBTQ+ founders can build real ventures, not just attend inspirational events.
Founder community
Who Outbound Serves
Outbound is not only for venture-backed tech startups. We support founders building technology startups, service businesses, creative businesses, nonprofits, community projects, local retail, media, events, wellness, education, real estate-related ventures, and online businesses.
LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs
Queer creatives
Trans and nonbinary founders
Immigrant LGBTQ+ founders
Black, Indigenous, and founders of color
Rural, suburban, and urban founders
Solo and first-time founders
Nonprofit and community project founders
Small business owners, freelancers, and creators
Program pillars
How Outbound Helps
Mentorship and Office Hours
Access to mentors, operators, service providers, founders, technologists, creatives, and community leaders.
Peer Founder Circles
Small cohorts where LGBTQ+ founders meet regularly for accountability, feedback, referrals, and emotional support.
Startup and Small Business Tools
Templates, guides, AI tools, open-source resources, vendor lists, launch checklists, and practical systems for early-stage founders.
Visibility and Storytelling
Founder spotlights, demo nights, local showcases, community markets, pitch practice, and media opportunities.
Capital Readiness
Support preparing for grants, crowdfunding, loans, sponsorships, investor conversations, and revenue-based growth.
Safe Local Spaces
Pop-ups, workshops, coworking days, founder meetups, and partner-hosted events in affirming environments.
First pilot
Starting in Chicago
Outbound is launching its first incubator village in Chicago. The Chicago pilot will bring together LGBTQ+ founders, mentors, community organizations, sponsors, business owners, and local partners to test the model before expanding to other communities across North America.
The goal is to build a repeatable village model that can later support founders in cities, suburbs, small towns, and rural communities.
Chicago is the first proving ground.
The pilot is designed to test a practical, partner-led model for local LGBTQ+ founder support that can travel without becoming generic.
Founders
Mentors
Partners
Founder support
What Founders Can Access
Outbound helps founders answer practical questions: What should I build first? How do I explain my business? How do I get my first users or customers? How should I price this? What legal or compliance issues should I consider? How do I apply for grants or sponsorships? How do I build without doing everything alone?
Business idea validation
Launch planning
Brand and website guidance
Pitch and grant application support
Founder circles
Mentor office hours
Community events
Templates and startup resources
Technical guidance
Marketing support
Partner referrals
Opportunities to showcase their work
Connection to OMS2 programs and tools
Partnerships
Partner With Outbound
Outbound is looking for partners who can provide space, mentorship, sponsorship, technical support, professional services, founder referrals, programming support, and funding.
LGBTQ+ centersCoworking spacesUniversitiesFoundationsLocal businessesCorporate ERG groupsLaw firmsAccounting firmsMarketing agenciesTech companiesReal estate partnersInvestorsBanks and credit unionsCity economic development groups
Get involved
Ways to Get Involved
Community Organizations
Partner on referrals, events, space, and local founder support.
Partner With UsOperating principles
Our Values
Outbound respects privacy and founder autonomy. Participants do not need to publicly disclose their identity or personal story to receive support.
Safety
Dignity
Economic mobility
Community ownership
Practical support
Accessibility
Intersectionality
Confidentiality
Founder autonomy
Local leadership
A Program of One Million Small Startups
Outbound is part of One Million Small Startups, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to help more people start and sustain small ventures. Outbound applies the OMS2 mission to the specific needs of LGBTQ+ founders by building affirming founder ecosystems, practical business support, and local incubator communities.
Organization
- Name
- One Million Small Startups
- Status
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- EIN
- 88-1253404
- Website
- oms2.org
Support the pilot
Help Build the First Outbound Incubator Village
Your support helps launch the Chicago pilot and build a repeatable model for LGBTQ+ founder communities across North America.
Founder workshops
Venue costs
Mentor programming
Founder resource guides
Microgrants
Accessibility support
Technology tools
Community events
Marketing and outreach
Chicago pilot operations
Expansion planning
FAQ
Common Questions
Is Outbound only for tech startups?
No. Outbound supports startups, small businesses, nonprofits, creative ventures, service businesses, and community projects.
Do I have to be publicly out to participate?
No. Outbound respects privacy and safety. Participants do not need to publicly disclose their identity or personal story to receive support.
Is Outbound only in Chicago?
The first pilot is starting in Chicago, with plans to expand across North America through local partnerships.
Can allies participate?
Yes. Allies can support as mentors, sponsors, partners, volunteers, and service providers.
Is this part of OMS2?
Yes. Outbound is a program of One Million Small Startups.
Will there be funding for founders?
Outbound may pursue sponsorships, grants, and donor support to create founder resources, programming, and possible microgrant opportunities.
Build with Outbound from the beginning.
Founders, mentors, partners, sponsors, and donors can help shape the first village before the model expands across North America.