b'TECHNOLOGYan LGBTQ2SA+ community that would start a conversation around the issues we face in the tech industry.The first QueerTech meetup launched as a town hall within Shopifys Montreal office. It attracted a crowd of tech talents from the LGBTQ+ community who were interested in meeting peers and sharing their experiences. Over the years, the organization has grown to 6,000 members from across Canada. While its organizers feared the COVID-19 pandemic would bring the initiative to a halt, the decision to go virtual over the last 18 months has only spurred its growth.As we moved on with our program virtually, we were surprised to see a huge spike in membership growth from the rest of Canada, Testaouni reports. In the past year, weve seen people come from Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and all over AtlanticCalvin Cheng, second from right, with his team at Edgehog, a nanotechnology firm he founded in 2017Canada. That really showed us there is a need for this community, whether its in-person Bond used these early experiences aseveryones ideas are welcome, and we all feel or remote. motivation to pivot the culture from within.accepted and respected. SETTING THE STANDARD In 2016, he started Gradient Spaces, anCheng stresses that while he never ran QueerTech isnt alone in its mission toLGBTQ+ inclusion non-profit organizationup against overt barriers himself in the tech champion diversity and inclusion withinfor innovators, which he led for four years.industry, he recognizes that some firms can tech. Entrepreneurs like Taylor Bond,I remember when we were hosting our firstdo more to show they believe in diversity, co-founder of SalesRight and sales leader conference for Venture Out, and speakersequity and inclusion (DEI). Sometimes at Box Hub, are also doing their part to from the industry who were publicly out orit just comes down to subtle clues in the create a more welcoming playing field, willing to talk about their sexuality were fewenvironment like pride flags in the office or often through initiatives and collaborationsand far between, he recalls. Now its beenevents that recognize women entrepreneurs, with QueerTech. incredible to see all the improvements thatsays Cheng. As a business leader, anything Like many industry veterans, Bondhappened over the past five years, and to seeyou can do to show employees that its OK to admits that he too was once reluctant tomore people bringing their authentic selvesbe yourself, or thats its OK to be out, goes a to work and talking more openly about theirlong way. bring attention to his sexuality when startingbackgrounds. Thats good for their careers out in tech. The bro culture was alive andand empowering for future generations. Testaouni, Bond and Cheng are all well within the venture capital landscape,Venture Out was Canadas first LGBTQ+on different paths in their tech careers. he says, and he had a hard time engaginginclusion non-profit organization forCommon to all three, however, is a firm with that culture. I had to go to networkingearly-stage professionals in tech andbelief in the power of community, be it events where, frankly, I just didnt have muchentrepreneurship. Since launching in 2016 itthrough initiatives like QueerTech, Venture in common with a lot of the people there,has broadened its mandate to encompass aOut and Gradient Spaces, or through the explains Bond. Getting venture capital is sobroader social impact framework. culture they create at their own start-ups. much about building relationships, but it wasCalvin Cheng is another gay techTo have a community where you can talk tough to find common ground and shared,professional who is effecting change fromto like-minded people, share stories and lived experiences to build rapport. So therewithin. In 2017, he founded Edgehog, acompare notes is valuable, says Cheng. Its were definitely barriers. firm that uses licensed, anti-reflection glassan important resource, especially for people Bond also acknowledges that LGBTQ+technology from the U.S. to enhance solarearly into their career who may not feel entrepreneurs, as well as visible minorities,panel technology on spacecraft, among othercomfortable in their skin or are not sure if have a history of being under-representedapplications. For Cheng, the advantagethey should come out. in the sector. The tech industry is still veryof building a company from the groundAdds Bond: Our goal is to keep male-dominated, and for a long time, equity- up was the ability to establish a culture ofcommunities like these alive so that the next seeking communitieswhether its women,inclusion and diversity at its foundation. Asgenerations can experience fewer struggles refugees, black, LGBTQ2S+have beenthe founder, I get to set the tone, he says.and be able to bring their full selves toseverely under-indexed, he says. And here, that means creating a place wherethe field.Issue 2 2021 | QBiz CANADA |17'