ABOUT THE FUND
The Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund supports Georgia State student entrepreneurs, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures.
THE LO.
Laura Mitchell, Co-Founder & CEO
Graduate Student
[email protected]
Jessica Duveen, Co-Founder & COO
Community Member
[email protected]
PROBLEM
Despite an estimated 21 million females
identifying as queer/LGBTQ, there are very few spaces for us to connect and find community, on or offline. Although government legislation and LGBTQ rights have come a long way, social attitudes still lag behind and our rights are not guaranteed. This makes connection and community ever important for queer women.
SOLUTION
The LO is a membership-based
hybrid social and professional
community for queer (LGBTQ) women.
BUSINESS MODEL
Subscription-based memberships.
TARGET MARKET
LGBTQ women between 28 – 50 who are
looking to network or find community.
KEY COMPETITORS
Her, Lex
USE OF FUNDS
50% Marketing,
30% Product Development,
20% Legal,
What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
Building a better world by combining your creativity, curiosity, and grit.
What is your long-term goal for the company?
We believe that community is a catalyst for joy, growth, and resilience–and that it’s currently very hard for most queer women to find. Our ultimate goal is to be the go-to community for queer women to connect and network with like-minded women–nationally, then globally. A safe and empowering space that’s accessible from anywhere, so tapping into your community is never further away than picking up your phone, or logging onto your computer. The overarching social impact mission driving us as we grow –to empower queer women everywhere, simply by connecting them.
What advice can you offer to entrepreneurs?
Others may not be able to see your vision until you build it–don’t let that stop you. Trust your gut.
What role has Atlanta played in your entrepreneurial journey?
Atlanta is for the bright-eyed, the creative, the dreamers. Every step of the way since starting The LO., we have felt the support of Atlanta, particularly the start-up network here. Everyone seems to support entrepreneurship here, especially entrepreneurship on a mission to make the world better. From Start It Up Georgia to the TechStars Female Founders Catalyst Program, we have felt the Atlanta love and the way it supports diverse founders. I honestly can’t think of a better place to start The LO. than the Capital of the New South.
What is the most challenging part of entrepreneurship?
The most challenging part of entrepreneurship is pushing past the first part: believing that we can be and are the people to build this. Once you are there, you can push past the waves of imposter syndrome, bootstrapping, and mental fatigue on days when your creativity is just zapped. Beyond that, I believe that it’s about continuing to re-inspire yourself with what you’re doing so that you have the endurance and determination to keep going. I’ve found the things that help the most with maintaining your motivation in the start-up journey are: having a co-founder, being around other start-up founders/companies, and taking self-care breaks even before you realize they are needed.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I (Laura) set a goal to travel to 30 countries by the age of 30, and actually did it!
FOUNDER INTERVIEW
COMING SOON
ABOUT THE FUND
The Marcus Foundation supports Georgia State student entrepreneurs, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures.