The Pride Fund is a Columbus, Ohio-based investment fund attempting to raise $10 million to invest in LGBT-themed or LGBT-owned businesses. Founded in 2019, the fund has invested in a producer of CBD sparkling drinks, a queer TV service provider, and an owner of rental communities in Texas. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}

In 2024, Pride Fund CEO Densil Porteous and Managing Partner T. Wolf Starr were invited to the White House by the Biden administration to participate in an LGBTQ+ Venture Capital Roundtable. ⁷

History and Activities

The Pride Fund is an LGBT-focused investment fund that provides capital and resources to founders and entrepreneurs who want to create LGBT-themed or LGBT-owned businesses. The Pride Fund seeks to raise $10 million to invest in LGBT businesses, and it requires a minimum of $100,000 from investors to join the fund. ^{1 2}

The Pride Fund was founded in 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. ³

As of August 2025, the Pride Fund’s investment portfolio included W*nder, a producer of CBD sparkling drinks; S’More; Rizse; REvry, a LGBT and queer TV service; OpticSurg, a telehealth service; CollegeCash, a service to help students reduce student loan debt by generating content campaigns for businesses; and Casata, an owner of rental communities in Austin, San Marcos, College Station, and other locations in Texas. ^{4 5 8 9 10 6}

In 2024, the Pride Fund began accepting grants from donor-advised funds through Inspire Access, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that focuses on directing investment capital to women and racial minorities. ^{11 12}

Also in 2024, Pride Fund CEO Densil Porteous and Managing Partner T. Wolf Starr were invited to the White House to participate in a Biden administration LGBTQ+ Venture Capital Roundtable. ⁷

That same year, Pride Fund CEO Densil Porteus was invited to give an interview on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and describe what LGBT pride meant to him. ¹³

Leadership

Densil Porteus is the chief executive officer-emeritus of the Pride Fund. Proteus began at the Pride Fund as a venture partner in 2019, becoming the CEO in 2020. He stepped down as CEO and was given the title CEO emeritus in March 2024. Proteus is also the executive director of Stonewall Columbus, an LGBT organization in central Ohio, and is the founder of DePorteous Consulting, a consulting firm focused on board management and organizational capacity building for LGBT engagement. Previously, Proteus was the chair of the board of directors for the Create Columbus Commission; vice chair of the board of directors for Equitas Health; director of marketing and communications for the Ohio State University Wexner Center for the Arts; client success consultant for Chegg, Inc.; and held various positions concerning enrollment and counseling at Columbus College of Art and Design, University of California San Diego, Stanford, the Drew School, and Kenyon College. ^{14 15}

The managing partner of The Pride Fund is T. Wolf Starr. Starr is also the managing director of United States Angel Collective, a partner at Vessel, the managing partner of the Ohio Impact Fund, the chief executive officer of Venture Atlas, and a board member of the Buckeye Angel Network. Previously, Starr was a partner at LOUDX Venture Studios, a senior advisor with Connects Columbus, the director of community relations at Warhol and Wall St., the founder of Small Business Beanstock, and the director of development at Gateway Film Center. ^{14 16}

1. “The Pride Fund.” The Pride Fund. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://pride.vc/.
2. “Contact x FAQs.” The Pride Fund. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://pride.vc/contact/.
3. “The Pride Fund.” Private Equity International. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.privateequityinternational.com/institution-profiles/the-pride-fund.html
4. “Portfolio.” The Pride Fund. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://pride.vc/portfolio/
5. “W*nder.” W*nder. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://wnder.com/.
6. “Casata.” Casata. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.casata.com/.
7. “Pride Fund at The White House: A Milestone for LGBTQ+ Venture Capital.” July 16, 2024. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://pride.vc/pride-fund-at-the-white-house-a-milestone-for-lgbtq-venture-capital/.
8. “Revry.” Revry. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.revry.tv/.
9. “OpticSurg.” OpticSurg. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.opticsurginc.com/.
10. “CollegeCash.” CollegeCash. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.yourcollegecash.com/.
11. ^[1] “Pride Fund Now Accepting DAF Dollars Through Inspire Access.” The Pride Fund. July 25, 2024. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://pride.vc/pride-fund-now-accepting-daf-dollars-through-inspire-access/
12. “Inspire Access.” Inspire Access. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.inspireaccess.org/.
13. “Pride Fund CEO Densil Porteous shares his personal meaning of Pride on NYSE Floor Talk.” The Pride Fund. July 31, 2024. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://pride.vc/pride-fund-ceo-densil-porteous-shares-his-personal-meaning-of-pride-on-nyse-floor-talk/
14. “Team.” The Pride Fund. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://pride.vc/team/.
15. “Densil Porteous (He/They).” LinkedIn. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/densil/details/experience/.
16. “Wolf Starr.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/twstarr/details/experience/.