Dot429, a new social network for LGBT professionals, on Saturday afternoon held its inaugural Los Angeles event poolside at the Avalon Hotel.
The event — which follows dot429’s launch events in San Francisco, Chicago and New York — hosted some of L.A.’s most connected LGBT leaders, from financiers to filmmakers, for a Beverly Hills brunch.
“Our aim with dot429 is to give LGBT professionals a better way to connect with each other,” says CEO Richard Klein. “Many LGBT people face discrimination in the workplace and in their daily lives. Dot429 wants to counteract that through a network of structured mentorships, the creative exchange of ideas and professional support.”
Celebrity chef Mirko Paderno, of L.A.’s Oliverio Restaurant, crafted the menu while members mingled — plus, a portion of the event’s proceeds went to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention for gay and questioning youth.
Dot429’s events, including monthly networking brunches and a series of more intimate dinners, aim to introduce people with common professional goals.
“We want dot429 to be both a great place to connect and also a place that stimulates the mind and creates conversation,” says Sabrina Riddle, chief creative officer.
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Dot429.com goes live in April and will feature member profiles, articles written by industry leaders, listings of exclusive networking events, mentoring opportunities and more.
“We started with 500 founding members who are leaders in their fields and have now expanded to over 4,000 members even before we’ve launched,” says Klein. “Members include luminaries such as fashion designer John Bartlett, celebrity chef Elizabeth Falkner, CEO of Joie de Vivre hospitality and business author Chip Conley, and civil rights activist Kate Kendell. We have leaders in every field of business, design, health, law, politics, entertainment and leisure.”
The organization will first focus on the LGBT communities in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago, and eventually go nationwide. Membership perks range from access to articles to priority entry to events, depending on what you pay for.
For more information, visit www.dot429.com.
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