5 Companies Led By LGBTQ+ Founders & Executives
Observed each June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, Pride Month is a celebration of the diverse, powerful individuals who belong to the LGBTQ+ community.
In honor of the month, we’re highlighting some of the innovative founders and executives leading businesses you should know.
Business Leaders Who Identify As LGBTQ+
Stephanie (Lampkin) VanPutten is the co-founder and CEO of Blendoor, the mobile job-matching application that mitigates unconscious bias. A seasoned professional in the tech industry, VanPutten has founded two startups and served in roles at companies including Microsoft, and TripAdvisor.
New York-based global eCommerce enablement and analytics platform MikMak is led by Founder and CEO Rachel Tipograph. The tech leader’s accomplishments include becoming Gap’s youngest-ever Global Director of Digital and Social Media.
Pocket Sun serves as co-founder and managing partner of SoGal Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in seed-stage investments for diverse entrepreneurs outside of Silicon Valley. Sun hosted season 5 of the reality show Start-Up. She also hosts a Chinese business podcast and is a thought leader on social media.
Her daughter’s pulmonary arterial hypertension diagnosis led Martine Rothblatt to found United Therapeutics in 1996. The Silver Spring-Maryland-based biotechnology company isn’t the only business Rothblatt started. She also founded Sirius Satellite Radio along with David Margolese and Robert Briskman.
Nitin Rai is the founder and managing partner of the Oregon-based fund Elevate Capital, where entrepreneurs are fostered through support and mentorship. Before taking on the role of venture capitalist, Rai worked as a software technology leader and entrepreneur.
Learn More Company Information
While these individuals are particularly worthy of celebration in June, their leadership impacts their companies all year long. You can learn even more about these people and their companies by joining Owler Community today!
