As June unfolds and we celebrate Pride Month, we're shining a spotlight on the incredible LGBTQ+-owned businesses that are part of the Xcelerate community. These business owners are a kaleidoscope of creativity, cultivating safe and inviting spaces where ALL are welcomed to express their authentic selves. Support and shop with PRIDE this month and every month!
Andréa Montoya LLC is a creative strategy consulting firm based out of Portland, Oregon with a passion for crafting the stories and moments that help you stand apart from the crowd. They partner with mission-led organizations to tell stories of impact, build community, and reach new audiences. As a Women- BIPOC- Queer-owned business, Andrea leverages a network of local BIPOC creatives to bring your story to life. Andréa always leads her work with integrity & equity and keeps community at the forefront of everything that they do.
Founded by Julia Baker after struggling with gastrointestinal issues, Brothy redefines health food with a positive approach. They offer delightfully sippable broths, simmered for over 20 hours with top-quality ingredients sourced from local farms. Using pasture-raised beef and chicken and certified organic produce, their broths are rich in gut-healing collagen. Follow @brothypdx on Instagram.
Business 4 Good helps Women owned & operated companies to demystify tech tools and use them to build 'Tequity' - True Equity in Business. After all, business should be built with good business tools of operations, leadership & technology.
Veronica Yanhs is the founder and CEO of Business Laid Bare, a consultancy that offers operations consulting and implementation to help impact-driven startups, nonprofits, and small businesses build sustainable and pleasurable growth. A project manager at heart, Veronica carefully crafts Orgasmic Operations strategies while ensuring that organizations fall in love with their operations and enhance their People, Profits, and Presence. Follow @businesslaidbare on Instagram.
Charlie Henderson is a zealous human being whose passions lie in human connection, pleasure, and somatic system-based healing. Their deepest desire is to support people in experiencing an authentic relationship with themselves, true liberation of the body, and the fullest expression of their desires. Their teachings seamlessly integrate their expertise in dance, Tantra, Yoga, and meditation, incorporating insights from Western neuroscience, psychology, and trauma healing to offer a comprehensive and holistic approach. Follow @charliehenderson_coaching on Instagram.
Rebecca Martinez is the Co-Founder and President of Cora Center, Portland's first BIPOC & LGBTQ+ psilocybin service center. Cora Center’s mission is to advance community health by providing a space for safe, ethical, and meaningful psilocybin experiences. They do this by collaborating with skilled facilitators, abiding by the highest standards of safety, and centering the wellbeing of participants throughout their work. Cora Center seeks to bridge the gap between theory and practice by creating opportunities for new facilitators to receive supervision, mentorship, and apprenticeship. Follow @coracenterportland on Instagram.
Dust Avengers is a trauma-informed organizing and cleaning service that helps individuals reclaim their living spaces as safe, functional sanctuaries. They specialize in working with neurodivergent clients, LGBTQ+ folks, and those navigating life transitions, offering compassionate, judgment-free support. Their approach blends practical solutions with emotional care, ensuring each client feels seen, respected, and empowered in their own home. Follow Dust Avengers on Facebook.
Emilly Prado AKA DJ Mami Miami is an author, creative, and strategist with international accolades in writing, journalism, teaching, activism, and entrepreneurship. She’s passionate about collectively building spaces for joy, connection, and transformation. She offers numerous creative services for individuals and businesses alike including public speaking, DJing, workshop facilitation, consultation, and book sales. Whether she’s guiding artists through career growth, producing unforgettable events, or amplifying BIPOC voices, Emilly brings a holistic, heart-centered approach to everything she does. Follow @emillygprado on Instagram.
Exit Bliss isn’t here to slap a Band-Aid on your business problems—they’re here to build real solutions that actually stick! For LGBTQ+ professionals and business owners, that means ensuring your legacy, your voice, and your impact aren’t erased, overlooked, or lost in transition. As experts in Change Management, Organizational Development, and Succession Planning, Exit Bliss doesn’t just fix things—they future-proof them. Follow @exitbliss on Instagram.
Galvan Consulting provides administrative and operational support for mission-driven CEOs and solo business owners who are juggling countless demands. By taking on time-consuming tasks, they create space for leaders to focus on growth, creativity, and rest. With a commitment to affirming each client’s brilliance, Galvan Consulting offers support that lightens the load rather than adding to it. Follow @galvan.consulting on Instagram.
Justine (she/her) is a passionate community builder, event planner, and event designer. The founder of Together Events, she helps clients achieve meaningful impact through thoughtful celebrations and ensures that every event she designs is unique, inclusive, and memorable. Justine began her career in local political spaces and honed her event design skills in nonprofit spaces, planning national and international events for a large foundation. She is passionate about incorporating socially conscious practice into her work through ethical vendor sourcing, minimizing waste during events, and providing an inclusive service for clients of all shapes and sizes. A proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Justine lives in Portland, OR with her husband and two children. Follow Justine @greatergood.events on Instagram.
Haley is a Queer film photographer --currently based in Portland, Oregon but travels up and down the west coast often, documenting the candid, emotive, authentic, and in-between moments. They are available for weddings, branding, couples, portraits, family, maternity and birth photos. Follow @hal3_ on Instagram.
Helen is a woodworker, designer and teacher creating custom wood and upholstered furniture for individuals and businesses in the Portland area and beyond. She collaborates closely with her clients to bring thoughtful, one-of-a-kind pieces to life. Rooted in values of care and collaboration her studio is committed to expanding who feels welcome in the world of woodworking.
Dr. Montserrat Andreys, a queer and Latine sport chiropractor, is the founder and clinical director of Hey Doc Clinic, an interdisciplinary healthcare practice centering the wellness of queer, trans and BIPOC folx in Portland, OR while serving the community at large. The clinic is committed to social and healthcare justice by operating with a lens of equity, diversity and inclusion. Hey Doc Clinic is founded on the eight pillars of wellness: physical, social, emotional, occupational, financial, spiritual, intellectual and environmental. Dr. Andreys' mission is to model these principles of wellness in support of a healthful staff, providers and patients making decisions by weighing the benefits and impact to all three groups. Follow @heydocclinic on Instagram.
Julz Clementine is a muralist, educator, + surface pattern designer based in Portland, Oregon. Her work blends tactile materials with bold visual storytelling. From murals and city street placemaking to swimwear and stationery, her art spans a wide range of mediums and surfaces. Julz has collaborated with a variety of brands and organizations including Burgerville, Portland Art Museum, Storey Publishing, Thunderpants, Nutcase Helmets, and more - always aiming to spark joy and offer a fresh, playful perspective. As a mama and queer artist, Julz is deeply committed to empowering others to connect with their creativity through accessible, hands-on art workshops and experiences. Her practice centers community, inclusion, and play, using art as a tool for connection, reflection, and finding meaning in everyday life.
Lauren is dedicated to helping the community move through and beyond conflict for better living and working relationships. She works as a mediator for landlord/tenant disputes, a community mediator, and a workplace mediator. Additionally, Lauren offers equity-informed training on conflict styles, de-escalation, and conflict navigation. She has received extensive facilitation and mediation training and has volunteered as a Restorative Justice Facilitator, a small claims mediator, and a board member for the Oregon Mediation Association. Contact Lauren Gross Mediation and Facilitation for more information regarding her services.
Lavender Moon Wellness provides intuitive, inclusive, trauma-informed massage & herbal consultations in NE Portland. Owner, Samantha Paquette's experience as a massage client highlighted the importance of body care, inspiring her to share the benefits of massage with others. She aims to make massage accessible to everyone, shifting the perspective from it being a luxury to it feeling like an option to anyone and everyone. As a former doula and now a mother, Samantha has a special dedication to supporting prenatal and postpartum clients, understanding firsthand the importance of self-care in providing the best for our families. Follow @lavendermoonpdx on Instagram.
Steph Bairey is the founder of Lingua Ink Media LLC, a queer-owned Portland web and marketing studio. She works with businesses, authors, and nonprofits who care about what they do and want a modern online presence that shows it. After 35 years building and running content systems for corporate newsrooms and software teams, Steph now brings that rigor to clients who don't have a marketing team of their own. She also runs a small press imprint, Lingua Ink Books, which publishes and supports independent authors with a focus on underrepresented voices. Find both at linguainkmedia.com.
Danielle has spent years at the crossroads of movement, energy, yoga, meditation, nature, and design — deepening an Ayurvedic practice rooted in both ancient wisdom and lived experience. She holds a Master of Arts in Ayurveda from Mt. Madonna Institute and has been in private practice for many years.Then came the remembering. In that remembering, she met Ayurveda — and though this ancient science traveled from far away, it felt startlingly close. As she studied, she was struck by the deep resonance between Ayurveda's principles and her Italian heritage. She has since come to understand that the tenets of Ayurveda are universal — the Science of Life belongs to all of us, and in her view, stands among the greatest Truths known.Through Ayurveda, Danielle also found her way back to another part of herself. Like many grandchildren of immigrants, she had grown up at a distance from her roots. Her grandfather traveled from Damascus, Syria as a young man, working hard to build a new life — one that, in its striving, left the old world behind. Ayurveda has been the quiet whisper guiding her home, back to the wisdom that lives in her bones, her heritage, and her community.Her work meets you where you are — in the tender early days of postpartum, the profound shifts of peri-menopause and menopause, the beauty of aging well, or the quiet art of creating home. With gentle mentorship, Danielle guides you back to the intelligence already within you. Follow Danielle @livingartsayurveda on Instagram.
MakeWith Hardware & Learning Center is a new, queer-owned business dedicated to building individual skills for collective resilience in Portland, OR and beyond. They provide a curated collection of products, services and workshops on home maintenance, repair, emergency preparedness and other "resilience skills". Originally from outer SE Portland, MakeWith owner, Aria, is an educator, designer, and all-around DIY enthusiast. With MakeWith, Aria is excited to create a welcoming space for EVERYONE to learn and shop, especially women, queer and BIPOC folks. Follow @makewithpdx on Instagram.
Mason Rose is a Portland-based photographer and director whose work centers the queer and trans community. Specializing in conceptual portraiture, he creates images that are ethereal, intimate, and intentional. Beyond portraiture, they photograph weddings and direct music videos. Find them on Instagram @masonrose__ or inquire through their website at masonrose.photography.
Chef Nikeisah Newton, the 2024 “Game Changer” award winner from Dine Diasporas & Black Women in Food, is dedicated to advocating for the Sex Worker community and other marginalized groups. Through her pioneering business, Meals 4 Heels, Chef Newton offers a healthy and flavorful approach to vegan and gluten-free cuisine, continuing her mission to bring visibility and allyship to those often overlooked. Follow @meals4heels on Instagram.
Michelle Helman Consulting empowers change agents to enhance their leadership, communication, and facilitation skills, enabling them to build trust and co-create solutions with their teams and collaborators. With a passion for turning obstacles into opportunities, they bring over 20 years of local and global experience at the intersection of public health, education, violence prevention, and business. Follow Michelle Helman on LinkedIn.
Hi I'm Nikiea aka Chef Cokiea. I am the owner of CoKiea's Kitchen LLC were we take veggie, fungi, legumes and mushroom and turn them into delicious Vegan wholesome hearty meals. We cater and do events. You can find us at the Sellwood, OHSU, People's co-op, and People's Market Rockwood Farmers Markets. Follow Nikiea @Cokieaskitchen across all social media platforms.
OnCourse Design is a bilingual (EN/ES) business training and learning & development partner based in Portland, OR, with roots in Puerto Rico. Led by Dr. Yara Cruz, Managing Director, OnCourse Design helps businesses train and develop their teams through custom learning programs: employee onboarding, custom e-learning and microlearning, AI adoption, and workforce reskilling. We also design and build custom LMS and CRM platforms, not just configuring off-the-shelf software, but building the architecture, learner pathways, and dashboards around how your business actually works. Learn more at www.oncoursedesign.com.
OpenHAUS is a Black-owned, LGBTQ-owned, women-owned coworking business in Northeast Portland. Founded in 2015 by Cole and Day Reed, both business and life partners, openHAUS prioritizes inclusivity and fosters positive experiences for BIPOC, queer, and femme-identifying people. They created openHAUS in response to the dominance of cis-white male spaces in coworking, aiming for a more inclusive environment while still welcoming everyone.
PAZ Hair Lounge is a BIPOC-friendly and gender-inclusive salon that embraces all hair textures. Owner, Yannely Ayala, has fulfilled her passion of creating a beauty salon where clients feel welcomed and stylists earn an equitable rate. Follow @pazhairlounge on Instagram.
Kiyoko Williams, OTD and owner of Power to the Pelvis, provides pelvic health occupational therapy services addressing physical and psycho-emotional conditions. With a focus on the BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ communities, Power to the Pelvis welcomes everyone interested in learning and growing together. Kiyoko aims to empower individuals in their daily lives through education, behavioral strategies, movement, and hands-on techniques, collaborating with clients to harness their innate wisdom. Follow @power.to.the.pelvis on Instagram.
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Ray2ZCooking is a gourmet meal delivery service founded and run by Chef Rachel Casanova. Using her vast culinary background she creates new menus weekly and brings gourmet meals directly to your door with zero sign up fees or subscriptions. Her mission is simple- make life easier, help make eating healthier more accessible and provide nourishing meals for people of all ages no matter their walk of life. Follow @ray2zcooking_ on Instagram.
Rooted 2 Spirit (R2S) is a Black-Lgbtq-woman owned coaching business that offers tarot centered sessions. R2S COACHING offers Single, Couples, and Family sessions. R2S leans into the belief that we are all connected energy that has the ability to reshape our reality through the help of our highest consciousness and our spirit guides. Tarot is a medium that is used to connect to those energies of high vibrations. Follow @rooted2spirit on Instagram.
Rooted Remedies Apothecary is Eugene's community apothecary. Kassaundra, founder and herbalist of Rooted Remedies, opened the doors to this brick and mortar in November 2022, with the intention to cultivate a space where community can gather and find more empowerment in their healing journeys through plant medicine, 1:1 consultations, and classes/workshops. Rooted Remedies Apothecary has gathered over 25 Oregon-based herbal businesses, creating a local, holistic place of health and healing. Follow @rootedremedies.co on Instagram.
Royal Rose is the Natural Smoke alternative. The company's line of sustainable and eco-friendly wraps and pre-rolled cones are organic and handmade using locally sourced and sustainably farmed roses. Follow @royalrosepdx on Instagram.
Sally Moon Meditation provides meditative bereavement support and memorial art for pet parents. Sally Moon helps clients through heartbreak, finding resilience & inner peace, & also transforms wool into a celebration of love. Follow @sallymoon.meditation on Instagram.
Through my professional experience, I can help liberate those who are bound to high interest debts and more. I want to prepare my clients for any type of scenario and give them the confidence that comes from having true financial stability. It is vitally important to always hope for the best, but to be prepared for the worst and have protection in place in times of uncertainty. It is a fundamental process of mine to strategize maintaining and growing the wealth that we all work so hard to accumulate over our lifetimes; and, when the time comes, the proper way to enjoy the fruits of our labor without problematic tax issues and deficits. Samantha M. Davis, MBA. Financial Representative CA Insurance License #4465727. Contact Sammy at samantha.m.davis@pacificadvisors.com
Sam Starns is an adventure elopement photographer based in Roseburg, helping clients curate intentional intimate wedding days in Southern Oregon and beyond in places like Alaska, Norway, Scotland, and all around the Western US. She encourages her couples to immerse themselves in their environment as a way to connect and be present on their wedding day. As an extension of her place-first and experience driven approach, she also recently opened one of the country's few meditative bee hut experiences just outside of Roseburg. Sam has been featured in Travel Oregon, Junebug Weddings, NatGeo, and has a TEDx Talk online about eloping your life. Follow @samstarns and @heathenhoneyor on Instagram. Follow @samstarns on Instagram.
Jane provides embodied expressive arts therapy and community groups centering queers, parents, and creatives. Their body-centered and creativity-forward support expands connection and deepens trust to self and others, especially during periods of transition or flux. From gentle movement explorations to messy painting journeys to guided visualization and beyond, this integrative approach is an empowering way to feel your way into who you are becoming. Follow @shapeshift_tending on Instagram.
As a trans custom jewelry designer, Dazza Wong-Sjarif knows the importance of telling your unique story. Whether it's a timeless piece reflecting your journey or a statement creation expressing your individuality, Dazza will collaborate with you to craft a masterpiece that captures the essence of who you are. Follow @sjarifstudios on Instagram.
SkinLove Esthetic Studio is a queer owned Estheic studio which provides skincare and waxing services for all skin types, bodies and genders. Allison offers a range of skin care services, all customized to the unique needs of each client. SkinLove offers gender neutral and gender affirming waxing services and caters to all body types, shapes and sizes. Follw @skinlovepdx on Instagram.
Erin Kelley is a writer, astrologer, and transformational mentor with a feral heart. She guides women through the mysteries of midlife, helping them create a more fulfilling, vibrant, and abundant way of being as they step into their most powerful chapter yet. Through her deeply soulful, devotional approach, Erin offers astrological consultations and mentorship, stewards several charmed offerings, and hosts The Nature of Invisible Things podcast. Follow @slow.magick on Instagram.
Dahlia Hanson, the owner of Speed-O-Cappuccino, has turned a unique journey into a vibrant business. Drawing on the skills and resilience honed from her experience in sex work, Dahlia created Speed-O-Cappuccino, a queer bikini barista and vegan food cart. Here, indulgent, over-the-top vegan fare is served with flair and authenticity by a team of queer sex workers, making it a one-of-a-kind culinary haven. Follow @speedocappuccino on Instagram.
Stemly Tutoring offers one-on-one online tutoring in math, science, and executive functioning for middle school, high school, and college students. Our all-women team of expert STEM tutors creates personalized, engaging lessons tailored to each student’s needs and goals. Families choose us for our specialized support, empowering approach, and strong academic results. Follow @stemlytutoring on Instagram.
Sweet Pea Consulting + Design focuses on providing small business support to organizations that primarily serve womxn, LGBTQIA2S+ folks and BIPOC communities through Consulting, Web Design, Graphic Design, and Social Media Management Solutions. Follow @sweet_pea_consulting on Instagram.
Tara Sonali Miller and Zeyah Alicia Rogé are co-owners of the Bhakti Yoga Movement Center (the BYMC). Their vision is to foster a space that encourages folks to connect with themselves and others in just, intentional, and generative ways. Movement practices at the BYMC center accessibility, trauma-informed approaches, cultural respect, and community. As the only South Asian and queer owned yoga space in Portland, intersectionality and honoring the roots of yoga are central to the BYMC community. Follow @thebhaktiyogamovementcenter on Instagram.
The Boutique COO is a US-based business support agency helping entrepreneurs scale through done-for-you marketing, admin, and operational services. Founded by Makena Finger Zannini, the company specializes in delivering lean, values-driven solutions that boost profitability and reclaim founders’ time. With a proven track record of increasing business profit, TBC is the behind-the-scenes partner powering sustainable growth. Follow the @theboutiquecoo on Instagram.
The Friendly Spreadsheet offers personal and business financial skills coaching. It's owned and run by Kat Sklar, CPA (they/them), who especially enjoys working with neurospicy folks and artists. When not talking numbers, Kat can be found writing or wandering Portland 'collecting data' for their map of the best sweet treats around town.
The Needs Languages is a consulting practice led by Nicole Shir, an inclusion and belonging expert, who consults and coaches individuals and teams on effective communication, authentic connection, and inclusive workplace culture. It offers a unique approach that focuses on how people process information (rather than solely on observable behaviors), drawing on deep expertise in accommodating diverse abilities, resolving conflict, building resilience, and even navigating challenging or “dark” personality traits. Tailored for HR professionals, managers, and organizational leaders, its services strengthen leadership and followership dynamics by aligning communication with patterns of human connection to boost engagement and performance.
The Reframe Collective is a creative home for dreamers of all ages, offering community events, arts adventures, and handcrafted creations. They believe every moment is an opportunity to reshape the world, enhancing our tools for growth and living into the change we seek. Their open-air classroom and maker space host various programs like Re.Imaginaries Pre.School and The Tool School. Caitlin Pearl O’Quinn (they/them), a certified Health, Drama, and Art Teacher with extensive experience, leads the effort at The Reframe Collective to empower young people through a creative curriculum. They are committed to being a neuro-affirming, Covid-cautious community, ensuring a safe environment for all participants. Follow @thereframecollective on Instagram.
Ash Wylder supports neurodivergent and highly sensitive people, especially those shaped by major life events, in writing powerful, publishable manuscripts without sacrificing their well-being. Through The Storybreath School, Ash offers trauma-informed, neuroscience-backed coaching and group programs that transform tender ideas into finished books.
Unlock Collective is a queer-owned and operated creative design and consulting agency. Polly and Oliver empower and celebrate businesses owned by the beautifully different - the queer visionaries, neurodivergent innovators, and passionate advocates for equality - creating authentic brands and client experiences that honor your unique voice while amplifying your mission. They empower their clients to stand out by embracing what makes them unique instead of following the crowd. Their creative magic brings big ideas to life for small businesses and entrepreneurs who need a brand identity, website, or marketing strategy that feels genuine. Follow @unlockcollective on Instagram.
Jessi Slavich is a licensed massage therapist, holistic esthetician, mental health peer support specialist, and founder of Vena Cava Holistic Facials in Slabtown, NW Portland. Her studio specializes in microbiome-healing treatments and sculpting buccal facials — rooted in anatomy, myofascial release, and lymphatic drainage — alongside flower essence consultations and regular community events including sound baths and educational workshops. Vena Cava is a proud space for gender-affirming, trauma-informed care that helps clients return more fully to themselves. Jessi has been featured in the New York Times, Dr. Tiina Meder's podcast The Skin We're In, and Ecotone literary magazine.
Virtual Assistant Bunny, LLC is a woman and queer-owned business specializing in administrative support for mental health therapists in private and group practice. Founded by Bunny A. (she/her), the business helps clinicians reduce administrative tasks so they can focus more on their clients and the work they love. Bunny is passionate about creating organized, sustainable systems that help therapists feel supported in their day-to-day operations. As a queer, intersex, and genderfluid professional, she especially enjoys working with values-aligned businesses, LGBTQ+ clinicians, and practices committed to providing affirming care. Check out Virtual Assistant Bunny, LLC's website to learn more: virtualassistantbunny.com.
Viva Maria is a professional, texture-inclusive hair care brand based in Portland, OR, committed to being toxic-free and low-waste. Follow @vivamariabeauty on Instagram.
Well Endowed philanthropy puts big money in small pockets by partnering with nonprofits to raise funding to sustain their work and create a just world. They bring creativity and innovation to the world of philanthropy.
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