Europe is a continent wealthy in range, from its multitude of languages and traditions to the numerous methods folks categorical who they’re. It’s this patchwork of identities, backgrounds, and views that fuels innovation, resilience, and cultural depth. Our variations don’t essentially need to divide us, they’ve the facility to make us stronger, extra inventive, and extra related.
As we enter June, Satisfaction Month serves as each a celebration and a reminder. Whereas progress has been made within the combat for LGBTQ+ rights, the journey is much from over. Discrimination, inequality, and lack of illustration nonetheless impression hundreds of thousands throughout the continent. Satisfaction isn’t just about parades and visibility, it’s a name to motion, an opportunity to uplift voices which have lengthy been silenced, and to recommit to constructing a fairer, extra inclusive society.
In that spirit, we’ve put collectively a listing of 10 impactful European startups and organisations which are working to make the world extra inclusive for LGBTQ+ communities. From social platforms and journey apps to enterprise capital and accessibility instruments, these ventures are putting group, visibility, and fairness on the coronary heart of what they do.
Wawsome: Whereas it’s not particularly centered on the LGBTQ+ group, this Amsterdam-based internet accessibility platform is on a mission to assist companies construct inclusive on-line experiences. Whether or not it’s adjusting distinction, growing textual content measurement, enabling display screen reader compatibility, or making certain keyboard navigation, Wawsome makes it simpler for web sites to be extra accessible. With only a single line of code, websites can meet WCAG 2.1 and European Accessibility Act requirements, making them usable for folks with disabilities whereas enhancing the expertise for all customers.:
Past compliance, Wawsome views accessibility as an opportunity to broaden impression and construct model belief. Its AI-powered instruments, akin to accessibility monitoring, reporting, and customisable widgets, are designed for e-commerce websites, small companies, and socially accountable organisations alike. With real-time changes and intuitive design, Wawsome helps firms do the suitable factor whereas staying forward of authorized necessities, embracing inclusivity not simply as an obligation, however as a core worth.
Podimo: Based in Copenhagen in 2019, Podimo is a premium subscription platform providing unique, ad-free podcasts and a rising catalogue of audiobooks. Presently out there in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and past, the app blends worldwide favourites with regionally curated content material, accessible through cellular or internet.
They’re strongly dedicated to inclusion and illustration, with a transparent effort to uplift LGBTQ+ voices. The platform hosts a lot of queer-focused podcasts, together with Sabor a queer, Nosotrxs, Maricoin, and Cazamariposas, offering a stage for various tales and lived experiences throughout the LGBTQIA+ group. By its content material and collaborations, Podimo helps foster a extra inclusive audio ecosystem the place all listeners can really feel represented and heard.
OutOfOffice.com: Based mostly in Friedberg, Out Of Workplace is a full-service journey firm with a mission to make tailored holidays inclusive for all, no matter who you like or the place you’re going. Specialising in bespoke itineraries, they mix deep international experience with private service to craft journeys which are each unique and welcoming. From traditional prepare journeys by way of Italy to crusing journeys within the Maldives, every itinerary is curated with care, transparency, and suppleness.
Based in 2016 with the LGBTQ+ group in thoughts, Out Of Workplace has grow to be a worldwide chief in inclusive luxurious journey. Their staff of LGBTQ+ journey specialists understands the distinctive wants of queer travellers and ensures each journey is seamless and affirming. Whether or not it’s a honeymoon, group journey, or cultural escape, Out Of Workplace helps travellers discover the world freely and with type.
Mattr.Social: Based mostly in London, Mattr.Social is a relationship app constructed for people who find themselves bored with superficial swiping and are searching for extra real, character-based connections. Designed to be inclusive from the beginning, the app is very welcoming to neurodivergent people and people in search of a extra accessible, trustworthy method to meet others. It makes use of a personality-driven matching algorithm (not primarily based on reputation or look), limits matches to only 4 per day, and options instruments like temper monitoring, an “Honesty Field,” and psychological well being breaks to help person wellbeing.
With verified profiles, safety-first design, and perks like reductions for date nights and wellness merchandise, Mattr is creating an area the place everybody can really feel seen, revered, and supported. Whether or not you’re neurodivergent, neurotypical, or just searching for one thing totally different, Mattr’s mission is to assist customers join as their true selves, with out judgment, stress, or performative metrics. Based in 2021, it’s quietly redefining what on-line relationship can really feel like.
Identification VC: Based mostly in Berlin and Zurich, Identification VC is a enterprise capital agency backing early-stage startups led by LGBTQ+ founders or C-level executives. With investments starting from €250K to €1.5 million, the fund helps firms from pre-seed to Collection A throughout all sectors aligned with international megatrends. The staff believes that range is a key driver of innovation and long-term enterprise success, and is working to convey the LGBTQ+ group’s historical past of cultural transformation into wider startup ecosystems.
Based in 2023, Identification VC presents hands-on help from a staff of traders who perceive the distinctive challenges LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs face. They’ve additionally launched the primary pan-European research on LGBTQ+ startup founders, gathering insights from over 500 founders throughout 20+ nations. Alongside funding, Identification VC runs the League of Unicorns, a rising group area the place queer founders and traders can join, collaborate, and entry alternatives, with no need a heat intro.
diversidays: Based mostly in Paris, Diversidays was based to deal with the dearth of range in digital and tech professions throughout France and past. The organisation helps job seekers and entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds, together with ladies, folks with disabilities, people from underprivileged neighbourhoods and rural areas, and people dealing with discrimination resulting from age, origin, or sexual orientation. Its mission is to make the tech world extra accessible and inclusive, utilizing digital instruments as a springboard for profession progress and social mobility.
Since 2017, Diversidays has supported over 13,000 folks and helped speed up 500 entrepreneurs throughout ten areas of France. By initiatives like DéClics Numériques and the Management Program, it presents coaching, mentoring, visibility, and connections to a broader community of alternatives. The organisation additionally works intently with public establishments and personal companions to create instruments that promote illustration and share success tales, contributing to a extra open and various digital economic system.
Compete Proud: Sports activities and queerness haven’t at all times gone hand in hand. For a lot of LGBTQ+ athletes, the enjoying area has lengthy been a spot of silence, concern, or invisibility. Compete Proud is right here to alter that. Based mostly in Madrid and based by Spanish Olympian Javier Raya, the platform is a daring voice for Variety, Fairness and Inclusion (DEI) in sports activities—supporting athletes at each stage, from grassroots competitions to the Olympic Video games. Backed by the IOC Younger Leaders programme, Compete Proud presents protected areas, shares empowering athlete tales, and delivers workshops, webinars and consultancy that deal with all the pieces from popping out journeys to inclusive sponsorship and management improvement.
The undertaking is led by a staff that deeply understands what it means to be out, seen and proud in sport: Olympic Gold Medalist Matthew Mitcham focuses on schooling and variety; Nikki Symmons, a former worldwide hockey participant and early LGBTQ+ advocate in Eire, leads athlete engagement; and Gema Hassen-Bey, a Paralympic fencing pioneer, brings a strong voice on inclusion and accessibility. Collectively, they make Compete Proud greater than a platform—it’s a motion to make sport safer, extra seen, and really inclusive for everybody who competes with satisfaction. Based in 2022, it’s already leaving a long-lasting mark on the worldwide sports activities group.
Collective: Based mostly in London, Collective is a brand new sort of social platform constructed by and for the LGBTQ+ group. In contrast to conventional relationship or social media apps, Collective is targeted on fostering significant connections—whether or not romantic, platonic, inventive or skilled. It presents a protected, ad-free area for queer folks to search out new associates, journey buddies, occasion companions, and extra. The app is constructed round pursuits reasonably than likes or followers, encouraging offline meetups and real-world interactions in a more healthy, much less performative on-line area.
Based in 2023 by queer technologist Callum, Collective is a direct response to the rising loneliness and fragmentation throughout the LGBTQ+ group—an issue exacerbated by mainstream platforms and the decline of bodily queer areas. Collective offers precedence to trans, non-binary, and queer ladies, providing an area the place all identities are uplifted. With an emphasis on belonging, authenticity, and solidarity, the app is positioning itself as a queer super-app—a digital neighbourhood bar for all the pieces from dialog and creativity to emotional help and group constructing.
BE DIVERSE: Based mostly in Madrid, BE DIVERSE is a Variety & Inclusion consultancy providing strategic steering and customised programmes that foster inclusive, equitable, and various work environments. Initially centered on LGBTQ+ inclusion, the agency has advanced right into a trusted community of consultants with experience in areas akin to inclusive management, cultural consciousness, unconscious bias, and trans inclusion. Their companies embody D&I technique consulting, coverage improvement aligned with native and EU laws, management coaching, cultural transformation initiatives, and employer branding to reinforce inner and exterior communication.
BE DIVERSE follows a structured, data-driven methodology constructed round inner diagnostics, tailor-made technique design, and KPI-based implementation. With over 10 years of experience, 40+ shoppers, and a 95% satisfaction charge, their work has earned them partnerships with main international manufacturers like IBM, Netflix, and UNICC. Based in 2021, BE DIVERSE continues to drive significant organisational change throughout Spain and Europe.
Babaiola: Based mostly in Sassari, Italy, Babaiola is the primary social journey platform devoted to the LGBTQ+ group. Obtainable as a cellular app, it helps customers uncover gay-friendly motels, golf equipment, and occasions whereas connecting with over 35,000 registered members. With greater than 20,000 listed lodging and over 1,000 LGBTQ+ occasions, customers can work together in actual time, discover journey companions, and discover curated metropolis profiles created from day by day information aggregation throughout over 200 LGBTQ+ web sites.
Constructed on values of inclusivity, respect, security, and accountable innovation, Babaiola was based in 2017 to foster and grow to be a welcoming area for various identities and experiences. It helps its mission by way of day by day podcasts, clear communication, and energetic promotion of social sustainability.
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