Since the pandemic, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce has noticed an uptick in members expressing interest in launching a business, the group's president and CEO Jason Rae said.
In response, the organization is teaming up with Harley-Davidson Inc.'s supplier diversity program to launch an eight-week entrepreneurship bootcamp — something the chamber has been wanting to do for years, Rae said.
"We've seen more individuals coming to us ... really focused on how do you start, where do you go, what are all the pieces that you need?" Rae said. "We thought this is a really prime opportunity right now to really support LGBTQ entrepreneurs."
The bootcamp sessions will be led by industry experts who are members of the chamber and cover topics including legal structure, market research, business financials, startup financing and supplier diversity.
With the intention of building a supportive community for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, the chamber is aiming to have 20 participants in the program's first cohort, Rae said.
"While it's 2022, the studies that we continue to see about the number of people who are not out at work ... is sobering," Rae said. "We really want to help provide that space where, as a community, they can feel supported, they can feel safe to bring their full self to this."
Additionally, Rae said he hopes to increase the number of local certified LGBT Business Enterprises, which are eligible for corporate contracts with companies looking to diversify their supply chains, Rae said.
The bootcamp program is a fit for people who have an idea for a business or entrepreneurs with existing businesses that have been around for less than two years and have less than $1 million in annual revenue. It's designed to apply to any industry, Rae said.
Applications to participate are due by April 11 and the sessions will be on Wednesday evenings from late April through mid-June. The first and last sessions will be at Harley-Davidson's Milwaukee headquarters and the other sessions will take place virtually.
Looking ahead, the chamber aims to make the bootcamp an ongoing program that would host pitch events and run cohorts for specific segments of the LGBTQ+ community, such as for queer people of color, Rae said.
