Apply - VentureOUT

Applications open · February 2027 pilot cohort

Apply to

VentureOUT

Start or develop income that supports your LGBTI+ mission. We are selecting one leader from each of 5 to 7 organisations for the February 2027 VentureOUT incubator: two weeks online, one week in person in Sofia and three months of follow-up mentoring.

Deadline: 29 November 2026 · 23:59 Sofia time

5 - 7

organisations, one leader each

2 + 1

2 weeks online + 1 week in Sofia

3 months

of follow-up mentoring

€100,000

First place: a grant for €50,000, two runner-up awards of €25,000

Key dates

Apply by 29 November 2026 at 23:59 Sofia time. Application review: 30 November to 6 December. Shortlisted interviews: 7 to 13 December. Everyone will receive a decision by 18 December.

21 OCT

Online information session & Q&A

29 NOV · 23:59

Applications close (Sofia time)

30 Nov – 6 Dec

Application review

7 – 13 Dec

Shortlisted interviews

By 18 Dec

Everyone receives a decision

Feb 2027

Incubator begins

What you’ll gain

Direct access to experienced entrepreneurs

Work with accomplished serial entrepreneurs who have built businesses and turned ideas into income. Bring your challenges and get practical feedback on how to develop an offer, find customers and generate income that supports your mission.

Three months of follow-up mentoring

Get support to put your learning into practice, test your assumptions and decide what to do next. Work towards a clear next-step plan: what you will offer, who might pay, what you need to test and how the income could strengthen your mission.

Connections with like-minded leaders

Build relationships with fellow LGBTI+ leaders who can challenge your thinking, share practical experience and support your progress. Bring your own experience to help them move forward too.

A place in the inaugural VentureOUT cohort

Join a small group of leaders from 5 to 7 organisations taking part in the first programme, with room for meaningful exchanges and attention to your own idea.

The opportunity to win seed funding

Present your proposal at Demo Day for the chance to win €50,000 for first place or one of two runner-up awards of €25,000 each to develop your organisation’s income-generating activity.

Who can apply

You must be a founder, director or another key decision maker of a legally registered CSO or social enterprise with a clear LGBTI+ mission and community benefit, working for communities in one or more of the eligible countries below.

Independent LGBTI+ social enterprises and CSO-owned enterprises are both eligible. Registered displaced organisations are eligible, including those registered in a host country, if they continue serving communities from an eligible country.

If you lead a CSO

You can apply with an early income idea and no previous sales

If you lead a social enterprise

You must already have an earned-income stream.

Earned income means payment for goods or services, such as training, consultancy, products, events or use of a space. Grants and donations do not count. LGBTI+ ownership alone is not sufficient.

You take part personally

Apply as the leader who will personally take part in the interview, programme and mentoring.

You have your organisation’s backing

You must have your organisation’s backing and the authority to make decisions and take this work forward.

One place, in English

There is one place per organisation. The programme is in English. Exact dates and online hours will be shared with accepted applicants.

Your commitment

VentureOUT offers intensive support to a small cohort. In return, we expect you to make this work a priority: attend the full programme, complete the agreed work between sessions and stay engaged through mentoring. Accept a place only if you and your organisation are ready to commit the time. If circumstances change, tell us promptly so we can discuss the situation and, where necessary, offer the place to another applicant.

How we select

We assess your motivation, ability to execute, the thinking behind your income idea or activity, willingness to learn and adapt, and community connection and mission. We select the strongest applicants on merit. Existing sales do not automatically earn a higher score. Only where final scores are equal will preference be given to organisations working in hostile environments or led by or working with under-represented and marginalised groups within LGBTI+ communities. These factors do not add points or override a higher score.

Costs and scholarships

There is no participation fee for the first cohort. You cover your travel and accommodation. VentureOUT provides lunch and dinner during the seven-day Sofia programme. No daily allowance or per diem is provided.

If selected and your organisation faces financial difficulties, you can apply for one of two scholarships supporting your travel and accommodation. Travel support is reimbursed. We will explain how to apply in the selection notification and confirm arrangements before recipients book. Scholarships support participation costs and are separate from the Demo Day seed funding awards.

Eligible countries

Our scope follows ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map country coverage, including Turkey.

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom.

How to apply

Answer five short questions. No business plan, pitch deck, video or financial projections are required. If shortlisted, you will take part in one 30-minute online interview; no presentation is needed. For questions or an accessible way to apply, contact connect@ventureout.lgbt.

Online information session and Q&A

Join us on 06 November 2026 at 13:00 CEST / 14:00 Sofia time for a 1-hour online session in English. Meet the VentureOUT team, hear what we are looking for and ask questions about eligibility, the programme and your application.

Attendance is optional and does not affect selection. Send questions in advance to connect@ventureout.lgbt. We will publish answers to common questions afterwards. Register to receive the joining link by email.