The Quiet Revolution Of Queerpreneurs

A lexicon once explained the word "queer,"
Equating it simply with counterfeit coins.
But I had heard the fake are those
Who wear rehearsed smiles upon their face.
Not the ones who cast their masks aside—
Deceiving neither self, nor soul beside.
Ah! Now I understand—
That’s why queer means one-of-a-kind!

- Ankita Anand

In a world where conformity has long been the currency of acceptance, queerness has often been mislabelled as a counterfeit—an aberration rather than an asset. Yet, as poet Ankita Anand reminds us, authenticity is neither rehearsed nor replicated. And it is precisely this authenticity that powers the emerging domain of queerpreneurship—a distinct, defiant, and dynamic form of entrepreneurship where members of the LGBTQIA+ community turn exclusion into innovation, and marginalization into momentum.

The Queer Imperative: Inclusion as Innovation

The growing visibility of queer-led businesses is not a sidebar in the story of economic development—it is a core chapter. At a time when global economies are shifting toward models that prioritize inclusivity, sustainability, and diversity, queer entrepreneurs are leading by example. They build ventures not merely for profit but for presence—asserting their identity, creating safe spaces, and establishing inclusive value systems.

Alok Vaid-Menon, for instance, is not just a fashion designer. Their gender-fluid clothing line is an act of resistance against the binary norms that dominate not only fashion but corporate culture. Each product they create is a manifesto stitched in cloth, signaling that style and gender, like entrepreneurship and queerness, need not conform to societal scripts.

What makes such queer ventures unique is not just the identity of their founders, but the business models they adopt. Research shows that queer entrepreneurs, drawing upon personal experiences of exclusion, often prioritize empathy, flexibility, and intersectionality in their organizational structures. This aligns closely with the stakeholder theory of business, which posits that value creation should serve all stakeholders—employees, communities, and customers—not just shareholders.

Markets on the Margins: When Identity Meets Enterprise

The systemic barriers faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals—ranging from familial rejection to denial of credit—often limit access to formal employment. Yet these very constraints have catalyzed the growth of micro-entrepreneurship among queer individuals, particularly in the Global South. Take, for example, PeriFerry in Chennai, founded by Neelam Jain. This social enterprise trains and places transgender individuals in formal employment. But it is more than a recruitment agency—it is a model of intersectional economics, merging skill-building with advocacy, and entrepreneurship with dignity.

Kalki Subramaniam, a multifaceted transgender rights activist, artist, and entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu, is an exemplar of “empowerment through enterprise.” As the founder of the Sahodari Foundation, the organization in the country dedicated to championing transgender visibility and rights, she has tirelessly worked to uplift her community. The Redwall project, launched by her in 2018, documents the firsthand accounts of over 500 transgender and gender-diverse survivors of sexual abuse across India. As part of this community art project, participants imprint their red palm on handmade paper alongside their stories, which are exhibited in academic institutions and galleries for public viewing and to show resistance against abuse. Through her work, Kalki proves that when transgender individuals are given opportunities—whether in advocacy, art, or entrepreneurship—they don’t just break barriers; they redefine them. Her story is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the transformative power of inclusive platforms.

Similarly, Trawah, a Kolkata-based boutique run by a collective of trans women artisans, exemplifies what we term “community-centric capitalism.” Their handmade jewellery and home décor are sold both online and in local exhibitions, proving that when given platforms, queer artisans do not just survive—they thrive.

These are not anomalies. They reflect a larger theoretical framework where queer-led ventures function as economic units of solidarity, rather than mere firms in a market. Such models mirror Amartya Sen’s capabilities approach, suggesting that development should be measured not only in GDP but in the freedoms, people have to live dignified lives.

Theory in Practice: Queerpreneurship as SDG Activism

What connects these stories to global agendas is their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Queerpreneurship actively advances SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Consider Diversity Dialogs, a consulting firm in India that helps businesses integrate queer inclusion into their HR and compliance practices. Co-founded by queer activist Ankit Bhuptani, the firm does more than advise companies—it re-engineers institutional DNA. Here, the queer identity is not just a badge—it is a business advantage, a cultural insight, and a moral compass.

Internationally, U.S.-based Fluide, a queer-owned beauty brand, rejects gender binaries in its product design and marketing. It doesn’t merely sell makeup—it sells liberation. Its success in the hyper-competitive beauty market proves that inclusivity is not charity—it’s strategy.

Entrepreneurial Barriers: Structural, Legal, and Cultural

Yet, the path of the queerpreneur is far from frictionless. India’s lack of gender-neutral identification in banking systems, coupled with conservative lending policies, makes it nearly impossible for many trans and non-binary individuals to access capital. Similar barriers exist across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Moreover, many economic datasets and incubator programs overlook queer categories entirely, making policy-making and impact assessments virtually impossible. This absence is not accidental—it reflects what scholars like Ahl and Marlow call a “gendered entrepreneurship epistemology”, which must be queered, questioned, and ultimately overhauled.

The Way Forward: Building a Queer Economic Ecosystem

To realize the full potential of queerpreneurship, interventions must be intentional and multi-sectoral. Governments must legislate inclusive business policies, such as tax incentives for queer-owned enterprises and simplified legal documentation processes. Incubators and accelerators must prioritize intersectional representation, while banks should be trained in non-discriminatory practices and offer gender-sensitive financial products.

Corporates too have a role beyond rainbow capitalism. Supplier diversity programs, internal mentorship networks, and investment in queer start-ups can transform inclusion from a CSR checkbox into a business philosophy.

Academia must do its part—by generating intersectional data, building queer entrepreneurship curricula, and amplifying lived experiences over theoretical abstraction. The time has come for business schools to treat queer economic agency not as a niche topic but as a vital strand in the discourse of innovation.

Concluding remarks

Queerpreneurship is not just about representation—it is about reimagination. It challenges the ways we define success, structure organizations, and distribute power. It reminds us that authenticity can be more strategic than conformity, and that dignity is as central to enterprise as profitability.

Queerpreneurs do not conform to borrowed ideals or scripted identities. They build enterprises not only to sustain livelihoods but to reshape the very values that define success. In casting aside conventional templates, they redefine entrepreneurship as an act of courage, inclusion, and collective advancement. Their ventures remind us that the most radical kind of business is not just profitable—it is principled. It sees everyone, includes everyone, and leaves no one behind.

(Gagan Deep Sharma is a Professor in Management at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, and Parul Sharma is a Doctoral Scholar in Management at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi)