MambaOnline attended the recent LBQ Business Network Session hosted by the Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) in partnership with the LGBTQIA Business Network and The Q Networq in Johannesburg.
The 22 September session at the Soweto Equestrian Centre brought together a vibrant mix of community entrepreneurs and queer networks with a shared goal: to strengthen economic participation and support the growth of queer-owned businesses.
The event, part of the lead up to Soweto Pride 2025, focused on pitching, enterprise development, and circulating resources within queer business communities, creating a platform where queer entrepreneurs could network, learn, and collaborate. Businesses from across sectors were represented, reflecting the diversity and innovation of the LGBTQIA+ business community.
A Platform for Empowerment
Fundi Ndaba, Founder of the LGBTQIA Business Network, shared why these sessions are crucial for queer businesses.
“Being different often disempowers us to engage with people who are not like us. As a result, we miss out on opportunities and cannot easily share our challenges,” Ndaba said. “The LGBTQIA Business Network was created as a platform where you can register your business and participate in initiatives like coaching, workshops, and more. We want to empower the community on readiness for diversity, inclusion, and equity in corporate spaces.”
Ndaba highlighted the importance of collective engagement for queer businesses. “Collective engagement is better than doing it alone. If you go out as a sole person who’s different from others in the room, it becomes difficult.”
The network is also working on a database of LGBTQIA+ businesses to better track engagement opportunities with corporate partners, ensuring that queer entrepreneurs have visibility and access to key markets. Ndaba added, “We exist, but we don’t exist in the spaces we engage with. This platform helps us to be seen, recognised, and supported.”
Strengthening the Pink Rand
For the Q Networq, which co-hosted part of the session, the collaboration was a natural fit. “It was important to be part of it because we want to strengthen the Pink Rand and ensure queer-owned SMEs get the platform to grow their businesses,” CEO Alyssa Conley explained.
Conley highlighted the focus on equipping queer entrepreneurs with practical tools. “It’s about learning what’s important for business, how to pitch effectively if you’re pivoting, and what sustainability really means. We’re also building an online platform where SMEs can register and gain exclusive access to business toolkits. Next year, we’ll expand this with live sessions, hopefully in-person too.”
Looking beyond South Africa, Conley added: “We’re collaborating with partners in Botswana, Lesotho, and Mozambique to understand the challenges queer-owned SMEs face across the region. The aim is to give them access to resources and opportunities that help them grow in the business space.”
Promoting Economic Circulation Within Queer Communities
Jade Madingwane, Executive Director of FEW, the organisation behind Soweto Pride, emphasised the importance of keeping economic resources within queer circles.
“The LBQ Business Network is really about making money move within queer spaces. As LGBTQI+ people, we contribute a lot to the economy, and it’s crucial that we circulate resources within our communities,” Madingwane said.
She also highlighted the broader context of the event as part of a series leading up to Soweto Pride Weekend on 26 and 27 September. “It’s about reclaiming our streets, setting a footprint of LGBTQI+ presence, and ensuring families, allies, and communities march with us.”
Madingwane pointed out that this year’s march seeks to spotlight male figures as allies in LGBTQI+ spaces, challenging traditional narratives that often focus on women allies. The march, she said, is both a political statement and a celebration of visibility and pride.
Looking Ahead
The LBQ Business Network session signals a growing momentum for economic empowerment within South Africa’s queer community. Through collective engagement, visibility, and strategic support, queer entrepreneurs can build a resilient ecosystem where businesses can thrive and resources circulate internally, strengthening the community as a whole.
Ndaba concluded with an invitation to all queer entrepreneurs: “We encourage you to register with the LGBTQIA Business Network when our website launches in the coming weeks. Let’s create sustainable strategies that allow our businesses and communities to flourish.”
