On August 3, 2-4:30 p.m. ET, join the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and entrepreneurs from the LGBTQIA+ community for the Proud Innovation program. You’ll hear from entrepreneurs like Stacey Pierce and Jules Weldon, co-founders of OME Gear who overcame struggles to succeed in business together with the Wanderr, a cart and gear hauler that converts to a comfy chair or cot.

Register today and get inspired by their story and many others, and learn how to turn your ideas into commercial success.

Attendees will:

• Hear how LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs and small business owners are making valuable contributions to local, regional, and national economies.
• Learn what steps you need to take when applying for funding to jumpstart your business venture.
• Discover the resources available to assist with growing your small business.
   

Register today
 

Agenda

(All times ET; subject to change)

2:00 – 2:02 p.m.   Program welcome and overview

• Sean Wilkerson, Innovation Outreach Specialist – National Programs, Office of Innovation Outreach, USPTO 

2:02 – 2:05 p.m.  Leadership greetings  

• Jack Fleming, Acting Chief Communications Officer, USPTO

2:05 – 2:30 p.m.  Understanding the value of LGBTQIA+ business 

• Justin Nelson, Co-Founder and President, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
• Brian Richardson, CEO, StartOut
• Irene Tang, Program Director, StartOut

2:30 – 2:35 p.m.  Break 

2:35 – 3:00 p.m.  Achieving success: Learn how innovators are turning their ideas into commercial successes 

• Stacey "Stace" Pierce and Julie "Jules" Weldon; Co-Founders and Co-CEOs, OME Gear®; podcast hosts; and producers of the Wanderr® 5-in-1 recreational hauler that converts to a chair and cot
• Sean Wilkerson, Innovation Outreach Specialist – National Programs, Office of Innovation Outreach, USPTO (moderator)

3:00 – 3:05 p.m.  Break 

3:05 – 3:40 p.m.  Finding funding opportunities: Learn about funding opportunities, and how to leverage them to take your intellectual property to the marketplace  

• Wolf Starr, Managing Partner, the Pride Fund 
• Ben Stokes, Founding Partner, Chasing Rainbows
• Dan Cavallari, Primary Patent Examiner, USPTO (moderator)

3:40 – 3:45 p.m.  Break 

3:45 – 4:15 p.m.  Building connections for growth: Discover networks to build your company and expand your skills 

• Jack Beck, Executive Director, TurnOUT
• Corey R. Martin, Managing Director of Creative Marketing, Lippe Taylor
• Tarik Perkins, Director of Programming, StartOut
• Matt Skallerud, President, Pink Media (moderator)

4:15 – 4:30 p.m. Wrap-up and resources   

• Sean Wilkerson, Innovation Outreach Specialist – National Programs, Office of Innovation Outreach, USPTO