Famm Connect, a LinkedIn-like social networking platform for the LGBTQ+ community

Perez (she/they) and Di Regolo (she/her) are also the creators of Famm, an LGBTQ+ marketplace featuring a curated selection of apparel, home goods, beauty products, and service providers. The couple, who hail from Northern California and are parents to a three-year-old, view Famm Connect as an extension of their e-commerce site, with both serving as integral parts of the queer economy.

Cat and Marianna are a married couple from northern California. (Image credit: heyfamm)

Putting inclusivity at the forefront

Famm Connect founders say it is designed to be a safe space where LGBTQ+ professionals can network, find mentors, and collaborate on future business ventures. The platform aims to be a go-to social network for LGBTQ+ members, enabling them to easily connect with others who share similar goals or interests.

The app includes features such as a feed for sharing and discovering posts, direct messaging, and a section for managing and cultivating connections. While the app is straightforward, a unique feature is its “Open to” tags, which users can add to their profiles to indicate their purposes for using the app, such as being open to coffee chats, mentoring opportunities, volunteering, and more. This way when users reach out to others, these tags can make their intentions clear.

What sets Famm Connect apart from platforms like LinkedIn is its focus on addressing the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ members, who often struggle to express themselves, share their views, discuss workplace challenges, or openly identify as part of the community. Members of the LGBTQ+ community have often said they have had to pay a price to reveal their sexuality or gender identity on a mainstream social network like Linkedin at the cost of career prospects.

Famm Connect is different from Linkedin, a popular social networking platform for professionals. (Image credit: heyfamm)

Famm Connect stands out by putting inclusivity at the forefront and valuing the LGBTQ+ community, creating a more open platform that emphasises inclusive businesses. The goal set out by the founders is to bring LGBTQ+ professionals and businesses under one roof, growing them together while also addressing the inequalities that members of the community face in the professional world.

Famm Connect is currently an invite-only platform, and users can join the waitlist to access the social network. The app is free to download on iOS and Android and is currently live in the US, Canada, and the UK.

With over 1.4 million LGBTQ+ owned businesses in the US, there is also a business aspect behind Famm Connect. Users can list their businesses or services for free, with premium features set to be launched in 2025.