StartOut Growth Lab — LGBTQ+ Startup Accelerator
StartOut
Free (no equity, no cash grant)
LGBTQ+ startup accelerator — no equity taken
StartOut Growth Lab is a 6-month virtual accelerator for LGBTQ+-founded companies at the seed-to-Series-A stage. Sponsored by J.P. Morgan and other corporate partners, the program provides mentorship from 200+ industry mentors, fundraising workshops, legal and financial pro bono services, and an 18-month business roadmap. No equity taken. Since 2017, 119 graduated companies have collectively raised $933M and created 4,536 jobs.
- Funding type
- Program
- Level
- Private
- Amount
- No cash grant or equity investment. Program costs fully subsidized by corporate sponsors (J.P. Morgan and others). Participants receive pro bono legal and financial services — estimated value $15,000–$50,000 per company.
- Realistic amount
- No direct cash disbursement. Value is in mentorship, pro bono services, investor introductions, and community access. Co…
- Deadline
- Annual — Cohort 18 applications close June 26, 2026. Program begins September 7, 2026. One cohort per year.
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- subsidized services
Who qualifies
- Founder or co-founder must identify as LGBTQ+
- Company must have Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) or fundraising exceeding $200,000
- Company must be at seed-to-Series A stage
- Focus on scaling: expanding customer base, raising capital, or entering new markets
- Company must be based in the United States or Canada (verify current cycle scope)
- Participants are encouraged to become StartOut Giving Members ($125/year) to access full benefits
- Only companies at the scaling stage qualify — pre-revenue or pre-product companies should apply to Spark Lab (earlier stage program)
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Demographic eligibility: lgbtq-owned
- Minimum $200,000 annual revenue
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Not applicable — program delivers services, not cash
Ineligible expenses
- Not applicable — no direct cash disbursement
How to apply
-
1
Confirm eligibility: $200K ARR or fundraising, seed–Series A stage
Check that your company has passed $200K in annual recurring revenue or cumulative fundraising and has LGBTQ+ founder(s). If pre-revenue or pre-product, apply to StartOut Spark Lab instead.
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2
Create a StartOut account and apply
Apply through startout.org/growth-lab by June 26, 2026 for Cohort 18. The application requests business details, LGBTQ+ founder information, current revenue/funding traction, and your primary scaling goal.
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3
Interview (if selected for the next round)
Strong applicants are invited for a virtual interview with the StartOut selection committee. Interview covers your scaling roadmap, use of program resources, and readiness for intensive mentorship.
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4
Participate in 6-month program (September 2026–February 2027)
Attend virtual workshops on fundraising, sales, legal, and HR. Work 1-on-1 with an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR). Receive an 18-month personalized growth roadmap with milestones. Access pro bono legal and financial advisory services from lead sponsors.
Requires $200K+ ARR or fundraising — not for pre-revenue startups. Growth Lab companies raised a cumulative $933M post-program. The 1-on-1 EIR relationship and investor introductions are the highest-value outputs, not the workshops.
Deadline & timing
Applications for Cohort 18 close June 26, 2026. Program runs September 2026 through February 2027. Cohort 19 expected to open applications in spring 2027. Founders interested in joining should also become StartOut members ($125/year giving membership) to access the full network and application portal.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.