Reality
Europe's LGBTI+ CSO incubator
Funding is
dwindling
becoming more and more competitive.
Priorities shift. Grants end. Political attention moves on.
The needs of our communities do not.
To protect our work and determine our own future, we need more than one way to sustain it.
Solution
Capability + capital = agency
Build income.
Claim agency.
Self-generated revenue gives LGBTI+ organizations another source of strength.
VentureOUT gives leaders of LGBTI+ CSOs and social enterprises the practical know-how to start or develop income that supports their mission. Two weeks online, one week in Sofia and three months of follow-up mentoring.
Not instead of grants. Alongside them.
PROOF
The Steps
We built the model.
Not a pilot. Not a proposal. A business that opens every day.
WHY
HOW
We created The Steps, Europe’s largest LGBTI+ social enterprise: a bistro, event venue and community space in central Sofia, wholly owned by the Foundation.
IMPACT
Commercial activity generates revenue. The model reinvests 100% of profits in Single Step’s mission.
We built the model.
Now we want to help others build theirs.
Program
Three weeks. Two online. One in Sofia.
From idea to
viable model.
Our February 2027 incubator will help leaders from 5 to 7 organisations explore an income opportunity, test their assumptions and develop a practical approach. CSOs can bring an early idea while social enterprises can develop an existing earned-income activity. The programme is delivered in English, with one participant per organisation.
Work directly with accomplished serial entrepreneurs and learn alongside other LGBTI+ leaders, with three months of follow-up mentoring to put your ideas into practice. At Demo Day, present your proposal for the opportunity to win seed funding for your organisation: €50,000 for first place and €25,000 each for two runners-up.
No lectures for the sake of lectures.
No pitch theater.
The objective is something that can work.
Audience
For LGBTI+ organizations ready to build
You do not need
a business plan.
Open to founders, directors and other key decision makers of legally registered European CSOs and social enterprises with a clear LGBTI+ mission and community benefit. CSOs may apply before making their first sale.
Social enterprises must already earn income from goods or services. We welcome applications from 49 eligible countries and from registered displaced organisations serving these communities.
OPEN TO LEADERS OF LGBTI+ CSOS AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN 49 ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES
We are building your income,
not your final report.
Why VentureOUT
Built by people who have done it
Mission. Business.
Capital. Execution.
Single Step Foundation
knows the reality of running an LGBTI+ organization and has built The Steps as a working social-enterprise model.
IVAN DIMOV
combines investment banking and venture capital experience with building Single Step and The Steps.
Konstantin Kunev
Invitation
Our future is ours to build
Apply to VentureOUT
Applications close on 29 November 2026 at 23:59 Sofia time. Shortlisted interviews: 7 to 13 December. Decisions by 18 December. Incubator: February 2027.
If you are not an organization but can contribute as a mentor, funder or partner, we want to hear from you too.
Ready to apply?
Tell us what you are thinking
You do not need
a finished idea.
Complete the application to be considered for the pilot February 2027 cohort. A previous expression of interest does not count as an application.
Mentoring, funding or partnership enquiries: connect@ventureout.lgbt