Hunter Sunrise is a serial entrepreneur having founded thirteen businesses over the past two decades. The business that started it all, Hot Diggity! Dog Walking + Pet Sitting, is the largest pet care company in Pacific Northwest, and it is the second largest employer of LGBTQ staff in the region. Learn how Hunter got started in business, how he continues to blend his passions with his businesses, and how you can transform your next great idea into a successful business enterprise.

Ingrid and Shannon recently graduated with their MBAs from Boston University and MIT. Now, they're putting their entrepreneurship education to the test with their new startup Levio, a diverse community of LGBTQ+ travelers who swap homes to feel welcomed and accepted, get relevant recommendations, and save money. Not only are they building a startup together, but they're also building a life together; they've been dating since 2014 and live in Boston's South End with their French Bulldog Stella.

Ellie Anne Dote is founder and owner of EllieGirl Creations, a marketing firm in Fresno, California that specializes in helping small business owners understand their identity as the basis for their entire marketing campaign. With over 25 years of experience in the graphic design industry and 10 years in the website design industry, Ellie uses her design expertise to create powerful user experiences for her clients and their prospective customers. She works with folks all over the country, and by the end of our conversation today, you can learn how to get in touch with her.

Jax Wheatley is the Chief Financial Officer Every Small Business Owner Needs. With over 18 years running their own business, Rainbow Tax & Accounting, Jax loves providing quality, affordable accounting services to individuals, small business, and non-profit organization. When not busy running their own business, Jax dedicates their free time expanding economic opportunities serving as the board treasurer for PABA, Portland’s LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce.

Lisa Snyder is a Portland-based feminist, the Founder and Co-Creator of Tokeativity, a Cannabis Community for Women, and the owner of Elle*Eye Web Design Consulting. With nearly two decades of entrepreneurial experience, she continues to be recognized for her work in Time Out New York, Go Magazine, Oregon Leaf, PUSH Magazine, CannabisTours.com, Stoner Magazine, The Weed Blog, and Splimm.com, among many others.

Christof is the Founder and CEO at Hornet Networks, the world’s premiere gay social network. Founded in 2011 with the mission to provide gay men the opportunity for meaningful connections, Hornet has grown to 25 million total users, creating a community that comes together around shared experience and common interests. Christoff identifies as a serial software entrepreneur & investor, he serves as the President of the LGBT Foundation, and he lives with his partner of 21 years, Juan, in San Francisco.

John Graham is the CEO & co-founder of iObjx (i-objects), a NEW entertainment lifeform. His company utilizes artificial intelligence to automatically assemble an event’s photos and videos into an automatic cinematic experience during a live event. As a seasoned start-up founder, John started and self-funded his first business from 1994-2005, and as a marketing guru he has led the national marketing for brands including McDonald’s, Sony, M&M Mars, and DeVry University. I had the pleasure of meeting John through the StartOut online network for LGBTQ entrepreneurs, and I’m thrilled to share his entrepreneurial journey.