The Rose residents had a unique opportunity to meet the Rose House Guest-in-Residence Michael Belkin, who is the CEO and Founder of Distinc.tt, a social-lifestyle network for the LGBT community. Going into the dinner I was relatively unaware of the challenging situation for gay people when it comes to meeting and connecting with their peers. However, after the dinner conversation I am more aware and understand the issues related to the LGBT community. Also, I gained insights regarding business from Mr. Belkin’s experiences as a Silicon Valley Entrepreneur.
When the first version of Distinc.tt was getting developed by Mr. Belkin during his Harvard Business School years, he explained that his original vision was quite different from the product they have currently. When he first developed the application, it was directed towards people in the 20s like himself who want to meet others who are also gay, in a similar fashion to Facebook. But because it is the first LGBT+ social network for people of all ages, many teenagers who were previously unable to join other LGBT+ social networks started to join instantly. Teenagers found Distinc.tt much welcoming and felt safer expressing their concerns such as, ‘how do I tell my parents?’ and ‘what do I do if I am interested in this person but he/she is straight?’ With supportive answers and feedbacks, teens gained courage and a feeling of belonging.
I was surprised to find out that business rarely ends up with what you start with. Mr. Belkin stressed the importance of being ready to adapt and change business plans according to the environment. When starting an entrepreneurship, finding someone who you can respect as your business partner plays a significant role in the process as well. Running an entrepreneurship sounds like a demanding but worthwhile experience for anyone who is passionate about a cause.
Especially in a technologically developed world, it is important for young adults to connect to peers and be included in their community. I am glad to know that people like Mr. Belkin is striving to create a comfortable place for gay teens to share their thoughts and feelings.