In this episode of The Business Gay Podcast, host Calan Breckon speaks with CEO & Co-Founder of Bindr, Mary Richardson.

Mary brings over 6 years of experience in building startups, marketing, community building, public speaking, and software to her role as CEO. Her experience in being involved in software companies, as well as her social awareness enables her to build a loyal community around Bindr. She has won several pitch competitions and awards, including a Women In Tech: Diversity and Inclusion Award and the first ever 2SLGBTQIA+ Entrepreneur Award with a $60,000 prize at this years StartupFest in Montreal.

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Links mentioned in this episode:

• Bindr.Dating





• Mary Richardson on LinkedIn

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Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

• [00:00:17 ] Mary wins a pitch competition at Startupfest, crucial for queer entrepreneurs.





• [00:01:40 ] Bindr is an inclusive dating app for LGBTQ+ users that does not require specifying sexual orientation.





• [00:03:32 ] The app rapidly gained users and offers resources, including free support for the community.





• [00:06:34 ] Mary shares experiences of discrimination on dating apps and discusses the challenges for bi and pansexual individuals.





• [00:10:11 ] Bindr offers a label-free experience, promoting diverse identities in a welcoming environment.





• [00:13:37 ] Securing funding is challenging for queer founders, with less than 0.5% of VC funding reaching LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.





• [00:18:56 ] The startup avoids predatory offers and focuses on strategic pitch competitions for funding.





• [00:22:31 ] Bindr is available on major platforms, continually improving based on user feedback.





• [00:24:17 ] The app grows by 500 to 2,000 users daily, adapting features based on user requests.





• [00:26:02 ] Mary's goal with Bindr is to combat conversion therapy and foster a safe community for users.