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June 5, 2023

NEW YORK, NY —  The LGBT+ VC Summit, presented by LGBT+ VC, a global nonprofit dedicated to LGBTQIA+ prosperity, is thrilled to announce the lineup of keynote speakers who will be sharing their insights and expertise at the historic event. Day One of its summit, taking place on June 20, will bring together thought leaders from the venture capital industry and the LGBTQ+ community to discuss what's new, now, and next for tech and finance. 

The inaugural Summit will feature a keynote conversation with David Karp, founder and former CEO of Tumblr, one of the “queerest social media platforms.” David Karp will share their personal journey, startup experiences, and the importance of LGBTQIA+ investment. Joining them on stage will be investor and LGBT+ VC co-founder, Tiana Tukes, who will facilitate an engaging discussion on topics including tech’s role in advocacy, the New York venture ecosystem, and the broader innovation economy. 

In addition to the keynote conversation, the summit will host a diverse range of speakers who will contribute their insights on various aspects of investment in LGBTQ-led ingenuity and tech-enabled innovation. 

These include leaders from premier venture capital firms, successful LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights in the business world. The discussions will cover topics such as family tech, sports, generative artificial intelligence, fund formation, and the role of venture capital in driving LGBTQIA+ prosperity. 

"We are excited to bring together influential voices from the LGBTQ+ community and the venture capital industry at our inaugural Summit–a first in the world'' said Jackson Block, co-founder of LGBT+ VC. "This Summit signals to financial markets that all LGBTQIA+ people deserve dignity, equality, and investment. But most importantly, it is a promise to our youth that every LGBTQIA person is worthy of investment.”

The LGBT+ VC Summit is proud to be supported by Amazon and Amazon Web Service. Thanks to their generosity, there are a few freemium spots available. 

Passes and tickets for the LGBT+ VC Summit are available now at https://www.lgbtvc.org/programs/summit. Join the programming for insightful conversations, meaningful networking, and inspiration as we shape the future of investment together. 

See below for the keynote speaker background and stay updated with the latest news and updates on the LGBT+ VC Summit by following them on social media.

About the LGBT+ VC Summit

The LGBT+ VC Summit (June 19th - 23rd) convenes LGBTQ+ and ally leaders from the technology and venture capital industries to discuss what's new, now, and next. The Summit is a platform for thought-provoking discussions, networking opportunities, and knowledge sharing to inspire LGBTQ+ and ally individuals in their investment journeys. 

About the 2023 LGBT+ VC Summit Partners

The 2023 LGBT+ VC Summit is presented by LGBT+ VC and is proud to have the support of our partners, including Amazon Web Services. 

Press Contacts

Tiana Tukes and Jackson Block - press@lgbtvc.org

About LGBT+ VC:

LGBT+ VC is the first nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to LGBTQ and ally venture capital community. The nonprofit is creating a global network for thousands of LGBTQ and ally investors by 2030. Investors Jackson Block and Tiana Tukes co-founded LGBT+ VC to support LGBTQIA+ prosperity. To learn more about their educational programs and support the charity, visit lgbtvc.org

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

David Karp, Founder & Former CEO of Tumblr, ally and friend of LGBT+ VC

David Karp is a New York City native, attending the Bronx High School Science before dropping out at age 15. In 2005, at age 19, Karp started his own development agency, Davidville. In 2007, his team launched Tumblr, the home and platform for more than 200 million creators and one of the “queerest social media platforms.” In 2013, Tumblr was acquired by Yahoo for $1.1 billion. Previous work includes Frederator Studios, UrbanBaby, Davidville and Tumblr.

March 29, 2023

NEW YORK, NY — On behalf of Governor Hochul, Deputy Director Chanel Lopez presented LGBT+ VC with a proclamation for International Transgender Day of Visibility at their launch celebration hosted at Netflix. The proclamation from Governor Hochul is a significant milestone for venture capital, reinforcing the importance of LGBT wealth and prosperity. 

LGBTQ+ people face many barriers to full participation in the innovation economy. Oftentimes, the disparities can be the greatest for queer Black, Brown, and transgender people. Fewer than 1% of venture dollars is deployed to LGBTQ+ founders. The nonprofit’s programming plans to make business and technology investing more accessible, from Stonewall to Silicon Valley.  

“We have to do more than just talk about the problems. We have to take action and that’s what Tiana and Jackson are doing to change the dynamic to make sure the LGBTQ+ community gets included in the innovation economy in a real way,” said New York City Councilman Erik Bottcher.

The launch celebration was attended by more than a hundred venture capitalists, tech executives, and community leaders in the ecosystem, who highlighted the importance of inclusive investment in the innovation economy.

“We know when queer and trans people prosper, everyone benefits,” said Jackson Block, co-founder of LGBT+ VC.

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit brings investors together to celebrate innovation in all its forms. Through its tours, masterclasses, and Summit, LGBT+ VC champions emerging and diverse voices, curates innovative experiences, and forges a new generation of out and allied investors. It's already seen demand from all over the world. The organization’s vision by co-founders, Jackson Block and Tiana Tukes, is to create a global network of over ten thousand L.G.B.T. and allied investors by 2030. 

The Stonewall riots brought Pride. Last night delivered Prosperity. LGBT+ VC is supplying the investors of innovation. 

“Our work pays tribute to the past and is a promissory note to the future,” said co-founder, Tiana Tukes, “We are building blueprints for today’s LGBT investor.”  

About LGBT+ VC:

LGBT+ VC is the first nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to L.G.B.T. and allied venture capital industry professionals. The nonprofit is creating a global network for thousands of L.G.B.T. and allied investors by 2030. Investors Jackson Block and Tiana Tukes co-founded LGBT+ VC to address unmet needs in the innovation economy To learn more, visit lgbtvc.org

Contact:

press@lgbtvc.org

March 22, 2023

NEW YORK, NY –  LGBT VC announced its launch on Wednesday. The nonprofit plans to bring active and aspiring investors together to celebrate innovation in all its forms. Through its tours, masterclasses, and Summit, LGBT VC will champion emerging and diverse voices, curate innovative experiences, and forge a new generation of out and allied investors. 

“Our work pays tribute to the past and is a promissory note to the future,” said Tiana Tukes, “We are building blueprints for today’s LGBT investor.”

LGBTQ+ people face many barriers to full participation in the innovation economy. Less than 1% of VC funding is deployed to LGBT-founded companies. Oftentimes, the disparities can be the greatest for queer Black, Brown, and transgender people. The nonprofit’s programming plans to make venture capital and technology investing more accessible, from Stonewall to Silicon Valley. 

The organization’s vision by co-founders, Jackson Block and Tiana Tukes, is to create a global network of over ten thousand L.G.B.T. and allied investors by 2030.

 “When queer and trans people prosper, everyone benefits,” said Jackson Block. 

Block and Tukes met on the investment team of an early-stage VC fund. After realizing the opportunity, they launched LGBT+ VC to leverage the collective power of funders in the ecosystem. The organization serves angel investors, scouts, venture capitalists, and limited partners.

Membership in LGBT+ VC is open to active and aspiring LGBT venture capital investors, as well as allies who support the organization’s mission. To learn more about the organization, visit lgbtvc.org. Save the dates for the inaugural Summit, June 19th and 20th 2023 to take place in New York City.

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About LGBT+ VC:

LGBT+ VC is the first nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to L.G.B.T. and ally venture capital industry professionals. The nonprofit is creating a global network for thousands of L.G.B.T. and allied investors by 2030. Investors Jackson Block and Tiana Tukes co-founded LGBT+ VC to address unmet needs in the venture capital community. To learn more about LGBT+ venture capital™, visit lgbtvc.org

Contact:

press@lgbtvc.org