GAINGELS 100

The inaugural Gaingels 100 list spotlights some of the world’s most innovative, influential and inspiring LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. Compiled by leading LGBTQ+ investment syndicate Gaingels, the campaign tells the stories of a hundred different LGBTQ+ business people making real change in many unique ways; from artificial intelligence and the climate emergency, to agriculture and reducing our dependence on plastics.

Lorenzo Thione, managing partner of Gaingels and co-founding chair of StartOut, the leading LGBTQ+ non-profit network serving LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, said: “Great, world-changing businesses are founded every day by people of colour, women, trans individuals, and visible and invisible members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The Gaingels 100 is one way we can amplify the stories of these incredible leaders so the next generation can see what’s possible for them, too.”

Here we’ve pulled out five inspiring stories from this year’s Gaingels 100 list to give you an idea of the wealth of queer experience and expertise that is being showcased by the business leaders of today and tomorrow.

ANGELICA ROSS: Lifting trans people up through technology

TAKING MULTIFACETED TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

Many people recognize Angelica Ross as an entertainer and public figure: she is an accomplished speaker, a talented actress and singer (Pose, American Horror Story, Claws), and a passionate human rights advocate focusing on Black liberation around the world especially for Black queer and trans folks. Fewer people might be aware of this dynamic woman’s career in technology and business: Angelica is also an entrepreneur, as the Founder and CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises.

Angelica always had a knack for technology—she is a self-taught programmer, and for a time, she was a self-employed webmaster, photo retoucher, graphic designer, and more. Eventually, after returning home to Wisconsin to provide care to her mother, Angelica got a