Business Workshop: Building an Affirming Trans Business

This isn't your average small business class. Designed exclusively for transgender, gender diverse, and non-binary people aged 18+, this session is the first in a five-part series to build your entrepreneurial confidence — with a twist that actually speaks to your lived experience.

Forget cookie-cutter advice that doesn't resonate. You’ll get real-world frameworks, relatable examples, and honest reflections on what it means to start and run a trans-led business — from structure to pricing to visibility — without the noise. Think of it as business 101, but with heart, nuance, and zero assumptions.

Our facilitator, Sam Dengate (he/him), has over a decade of entrepreneurial experience building T Gen Gyms, and even took home the 2026 Victorian Pride Award for Excellence in Small Business. He’ll be on hand to answer questions you won't find on Google — the messy, practical, sometimes awkward ones we all wonder about.

What You’ll Learn:

• Small Business 101 — the foundations, structures, and supports available
• Capitalism vs. Commerce — understanding the difference and choosing your path
• What’s actually possible — and the choices you have (spoiler: you have more than you think)
• Pricing, visibility, and building your personal support toolkit
• Q&A — bring your burning questions and get real answers

This is a peer-led, lived-experience session — not legal, financial, or professional advice. Take what serves you, leave the rest. Whether you’re dreaming of leaving your 9-to-5 or just curious about what it looks like to work for yourself, this workshop is a safe space to explore and grow.

If you’ve ever thought ‘I want to start my own thing,’ or ‘How do I even begin?’ — this is your starting point. No obligation to attend all five workshops — pick the ones that speak to you.