About Us

Our Background

PLUS was launched on 17 May 2017 as a response to a consultation, conducted by The Other Foundation, with business owners and individual service providers who related to small or medium enterprises and big businesses, and technical specialists who agreed that there was traction to support LGBTI owned businesses through a business network or chamber of commerce. Exclusion from even the scarce employment opportunities that are available and workplace discrimination are continually identified by LGBTI people in southern Africa as factors that affect them deeply. At the same time, some LGBTI-owned small businesses are thriving and others are eager to do better by tapping into the LGBTI markets. And some big companies are committed and eager to ensure greater diversity in their workforce and to ensure LGBTI inclusion in their supply chains. At the level of international economic development policy, “inclusive economic growth” and development approaches that “leave no-one behind” are at the top pf the policy agenda.

  • Provide education and mentoring to LGBTI+ and allied businesses and professionals.
  • Strategize with corporate partners, other business organizations and the broader community to strengthen opportunities and equality for LGBTI+ businesses and professionals in the region.
  • Broadcast news and information essential to the success of LGBTI+ business enterprises and professionals on a local and national level.
  • Provide marketing/media platform to draw the LGBTI+ consumer to: events/news/reviews/promotions/education/and other opportunities.
  • Partner with the financial services sector to improve members’ access to capital to start or grow their business.

How We Help Businesses Succeed

GLOBAL LGBT Business Sector

  We are proud to be affiliated with The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), located in Washington, DC and is the leading organization in the LGBT+ Business Growth space. The NGLCC, the business voice of the LGBT community, is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunities for the LGBT business community. It is the exclusive third-party certifying body for Certified LGBT Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) companies. Over 1/3 of Fortune 500 recognize this certification and partner with NGLCC to create fully LGBT-inclusive supply-chains. The LGBT owned businesses represented by the NGLCC generate over US$1.7 trillion in economic impact, creating jobs and innovate business solutions nationwide.

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