JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM)
presented the Leadership Award yesterday to keynote speaker Peter Thiel
at StartOut's First Annual LGBT Entrepreneurship Awards in San
Francisco. StartOut, a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to
fostering and developing entrepreneurship within the LGBT community,
held the awards ceremony at San Francisco's W Hotel at an event honoring
business leaders for both their accomplishments and their personal
commitments to the entrepreneurial and LGBT communities.
Jack Stephenson, director of mobile, e-commerce and payments at JPMorgan Chase; Peter Thiel, technology entrepreneur and PayPal co-founder; and StartOut Founder Darren Spedale at last night's StartOut LGBT Entrepreneurship Awards ceremony in San Francisco. (Photo: Business Wire)
Jack Stephenson, director of mobile, e-commerce and payments at Chase,
presented the award to technology entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist
and PayPal co-founder Thiel. "As a pioneer and visionary, Peter has
helped to build the next generation of tech entrepreneurs both in
Silicon Valley and across the globe," said Mr. Stephenson. "His
leadership and achievements have been an inspiration to the LGBT
entrepreneurial community, and we're proud to honor him tonight
surrounded by such exceptional talent and innovative spirit."
With approximately one million LGBT-owned small businesses nationwide,
the LGBT market is helping boost the nation's economic recovery,
accounting for more than $600 billion in consumer spending annually.*
StartOut is playing an important role in supporting entrepreneurs who
develop and grow small businesses, which are the growth engine of the
U.S. economy.
StartOut founder Darren Spedale, who kicked off the awards ceremony,
said, "Tonight's event marks the first time that entrepreneurs in the
LGBT community are officially recognized for their dedication, passion,
and commitment to creating a positive environment where startups and
growing businesses founded by LGBT individuals can support each other
and thrive." He added, "Visionaries like Peter Thiel are demonstrating
the very best of what great entrepreneurs can achieve.