What Q.Digital does

Q.Digital, Inc. is a 100% LGBTQ+-owned and operated digital media company headquartered in San Francisco, founded in 2008 by Scott Gatz. It operates a vertically diversified portfolio of owned-and-operated LGBTQ+ media brands: Queerty (entertainment), LGBTQ Nation (news), Outsports (sports, acquired from SB Nation in March 2024), GayCities (travel), INTO (Gen Z culture, relaunched 2021), and LGBTQ Outpost (shopping). The company's underlying technology is the Q.Digital Audience Accelerator, a first-party onsite data targeting platform offering LGBTQ+ subsegment and affinity targeting across programmatic (PG, PMP) and, as of June 2026, Connected TV inventory, integrated with DoubleVerify for brand suitability and supported by a free benchmark-intelligence tool for advertisers.

Q.Digital monetizes almost exclusively through advertising sold to enterprise brand advertisers that want to reach LGBTQ+ consumers at scale. Revenue streams include direct and programmatic display/video, CTV, tentpole event sponsorships (The Queerties, Pride50, Power 100, Best of GayCities, So.Gay Pride House), custom branded content and influencer video series (e.g., Nissan's 'DRIVEN', Chevrolet's 'Authentic Voices of Pride'), and creative services/experiential activations. Pricing is fully quote-based and channel-led through a field sales team (CRO Justin Garrett, VP of Sales Joel Dantas-Shoemaker); benchmark data is provided free of charge as a sales-enablement tool. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales with a Distribution Alliance (So.Gay, Autostraddle, PinkNews, Grindr) that extends inventory reach.

The customer base is anchored by multi-year flagship partnerships with Fortune 500 brands — notably Lexus (10+ years), San Francisco Travel (12+ years), Nissan (multi-year), and Chevrolet — alongside a broader set of 65+ brands that advertised in 2023 across automotive, travel, financial services, telecom, hospitality, streaming, and spirits. Q.Digital is Comscore #1 ranked LGBTQ+ digital publisher (9.6M UUV in June 2023), NGLCC and ANA certified Diverse Supplier, and winner of multiple industry awards including the GLAAD Barbara Gittings Award (2025) and ANA AIMM 'Most Culturally Effective Brand Award' (2024, Nissan campaign). Q1 2023 set a revenue record with +55% YoY growth driven by The Queerties, and the 2026 Queerties generated 2.5M votes, 1.41B media reach, and $627M+ total media value.

Name

Q.Digital

Legal name

Q.Digital, Inc.

Website

https://q.digital

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Q.Digital is a 100% LGBTQ+-owned digital media company operating Queerty, LGBTQ Nation, Outsports, GayCities, INTO, and LGBTQ Outpost, selling targeted display, video, CTV, branded content, and tentpole event sponsorships to enterprise brand advertisers via its first-party Audience Accelerator data platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBTQ Digital Media Advertising

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)

SIC

Retail-Record & Prerecorded Tape Stores (5735)

akta.pro primary industry

Music & Audio Streaming Platforms (BPAMAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Publishing Networks & Multi-Author Publications (MPACAIAG)

Keywords

• LGBTQ digital media
• Programmatic advertising
• Branded content production
• Audience targeting platform
• Connected TV advertising

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Digital Advertising: Direct and programmatic (PG, PMP) display, video pre-roll, high-impact units, and mobile takeovers across owned-and-operated Q.Digital properties (Queerty, LGBTQ Nation, GayCities, INTO, Outsports, LGBTQ Outpost) and the Distribution Alliance network. Sold via enterprise field sales and Audience Accelerator targeting.
2. Tentpole Event Sponsorships: Presenting and category sponsorships of major tentpole events including The Queerties (annual March awards in LA, 14th annual in 2026), Queerty Pride50, Outsports Power 100, Best of GayCities Travel Awards (16th year), Team LGBTQ, Soccer Power 26, 25 Under 25, and So.Gay Pride House — offering share-of-voice, dedicated display/video, custom first-impression takeovers, and branded site skins.
3. Branded Content & Custom Video Production: Multi-year custom influencer-led branded video series (e.g., 'DRIVEN presented by Nissan' — 9-video series featuring Jason Collins, David Archuleta, R.K. Russell, Jenna Lauranzo, Vanessa Parish; 'Authentic Voices of Pride presented by Chevrolet') run as pre-roll and high-impact units, including custom recap and social extensions.
4. Creative Services & Experiential Activations: Custom creative production and experiential event partnerships (e.g., So.Gay Pride House, Lexu

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Q.Digital is the #1 Comscore-ranked LGBTQ+ digital media company, operating a portfolio of owned-and-operated editorial brands (Queerty, LGBTQ Nation, GayCities, INTO, Outsports, LGBTQ Outpost) that collectively reach 13MM+ LGBTQ+ consumers. The company sells digital advertising, branded content, tentpole event sponsorships, and programmatic (PG, PMP) plus Connected TV (CTV) inventory to enterprise brand advertisers through a direct sales team and a proprietary first-party data Audience Accelerator targeting platform.

Product overview

Q.Digital operates a portfolio of owned-and-operated LGBTQ+ media brands (Queerty for entertainment, LGBTQ Nation for news, Outsports for sports, GayCities for travel, INTO for Gen Z culture, and LGBTQ Outpost for shopping) atop a shared Audience Accelerator targeting platform. The Audience Accelerator is the unifying advertiser-facing layer that powers first-party data-driven audience targeting, Connected TV (CTV) ad products, Programmatic Guaranteed (PG) and Private Marketplace (PMP) inventory, and DoubleVerify brand suitability targeting across all properties. Recurring tentpole programs — The Queerties, Pride50, 25 Under 25, Pride Finder, Pride in Pictures, Power 100, Team LGBTQ, Out for Good, Best of GayCities, and Soccer Power 26 — run across these brands, and the Native Son Channel is a dedicated editorial channel launched on Queerty to amplify Black gay and queer voices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Queerty: Pop culture and entertainment site for the LGBTQ+ community; home of The Queerties awards.
• LGBTQ Nation
• Outsports
• GayCities
• INTO
• LGBTQ Outpost
• Q.Digital Audience Accelerator

Products and services

• Queerty Queerty is Q.Digital's flagship LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture site covering news, politics, arts, celebrities, and culture, anchoring The Queerties awards program and editorial franchises such as The Queerty Interview, Pride50, and Out for Good.
• LGBTQ Nation LGBTQ Nation is Q.Digital's LGBTQ+ news and current events site, described as the most-followed LGBTQ+ news outlet, with editorial franchises including Pride in Pictures, Good News, Families, Black History Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month.
• Outsports Outsports is Q.Digital's LGBTQ+ sports site covering athletes, fans, and leagues, anchored by tentpole franchises such as Team LGBTQ, Power 100, Soccer Power 26, Out Athletes, and Ballin' Out.
• GayCities GayCities is Q.Digital's LGBTQ+ travel and city guide social network featuring more than 13,000 queer-friendly destinations, with Pride Finder, Pride in Places, and the annual Best of GayCities Travel Awards.
• INTO INTO is Q.Digital's LGBTQ+ Gen Z culture and lifestyle publication celebrating thinkers, fighters, and unapologetic authenticity, anchored by the annual 25 Under 25 changemakers franchise.
• LGBTQ Outpost LGBTQ Outpost is Q.Digital's LGBTQ+ shopping and e-commerce destination hosting branded storefronts including the Outsports store.
• Q.Digital Audience Accelerator The Q.Digital Audience Accelerator is a first-party data-driven audience targeting platform that provides advertisers with turnkey access to LGBTQ+ sub-segment and affinity groups including Travel, Entertainment, Health & Wellness, Sports, Automotive, Financial Services, Shopping & Retail, Technology & Gaming, Hispanic Audiences, and African American Audiences across all media formats including CTV.
• The Queerties The Queerties is Q.Digital's annual LGBTQ+ entertainment awards program hosted by Queerty, featuring 25+ voting categories and culminating in a live awards event each March in Los Angeles.
• Q.Digital CTV Ad Products Connected TV advertising inventory powered by Q.Digital Audience Accelerator 1P data and DoubleVerify brand suitability targeting, enabling advertisers to reach LGBTQ+ audiences in the CTV space at scale.
• Q.Digital Benchmark Intelligence Q.Digital Benchmark Intelligence is a category-specific, audience-first benchmarking tool built on relevant peer comparison, contextual measurement, and aggregated anonymous historical ad data with strict confidentiality, provided free of charge to advertisers.

Quantifiable outcome

• +38-point lift in consumer perception of Nissan as an LGBTQ+ ally
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / decade-long partnership, strategic, flagship / multi-year, flagship, standard and flagship / 12+ year partnership.

• Lexusflagship / decade-long partnershipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Decade-long partnership; presenting sponsorship of The 14th Annual Queerties (2026). Lexus held 100% share-of-voice across three sponsored categories, dedicated display and video throughout the digital voting program, custom first-impression takeovers with branded site skins on Queerty, and the new Lexus Lounge backstage experience with IG Live moments and custom recap videos distributed across social and on-site.
• Ally (financial services)strategicGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Partnership leveraging queer storytelling to create a standout campaign; jointly presented at the 2025 ANA Media Conference by Q.Digital VP of Sales Joel Dantas-Shoemaker and Ally Senior Director of Marketing Brian Roach.
• Native SonstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2024Landmark partnership for the launch of the Native Son Channel on Queerty, featuring original programming on politics, lifestyle, culture, and entertainment centering the Black gay/queer experience. Native Son Founder Emil Wilbekin leads content creation alongside Queerty's editorial team; Q.Digital leads sales efforts and partners on tentpole programming including The Native Son Awards.
• Nissanflagship / multi-yearGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Multi-year strategic partnership featuring the 'DRIVEN' custom influencer-led video series (9 videos featuring Jason Collins, David Archuleta, R.K. Russell, Jenna Lauranzo, Vanessa Parish); endemic placements and tentpole sponsorships on Queerty 'Pride50' and 'Out for Good'. Won ANA AIMM 'Most Culturally Effective Brand Award' 2024. Delivered +38-point lift in LGBTQ+ ally perception per Nielsen brand study.
• ChevroletflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2019Authentic Voices of Pride — single largest sponsored effort Q.Digital has produced with a sponsor since founding (2008); documentary-style editorial and video series across Families, Drag as Activism, Sports and Inclusion, Homelessness, Justice Reform; $125,000 donated to five charities (Family Equality Network, Black Queer Town Hall, Athlete Ally, The Ruth Ellis Center, Lambda Legal).
• So.GaystrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution Alliance partner extending Q.Digital's owned reach into adjacent LGBTQ+ audiences; also hosts the annual So.Gay Pride House event in Brooklyn (June 3, 2026) featuring 500+ LGBTQ tastemakers, 7 world-renowned DJs/artists, a 12-member influencer host committee with 6M+ combined followers, 50 celebrity guests, and the first-ever So.Gay Ally Award.
• AutostraddlestandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution Alliance partner for Q.Digital's owned-and-operated sites, extending reach for advertisers.
• PinkNewsstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution Alliance partner for Q.Digital's owned-and-operated sites, extending reach for advertisers.
• GrindrstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution Alliance partner extending Q.Digital's owned-and-operated reach for advertisers; also original parent of INTO before Q.Digital's 2021 relaunch.
• San Francisco Travelflagship / 12+ year partnershipGTM or Marketing PartnerQ.Digital's longest partnership at 12+ years; wrapped around Queerties content both digitally and at the LA awards event.
• DoubleVerifystandardTechnology or IntegrationProvides brand suitability targeting integrated into Q.Digital's programmatic (PG, PMP) and CTV ad products.
• ComscorestandardTechnology or IntegrationIndustry measurement partner used by Q.Digital for audience ranking and benchmarking; consistently ranks Q.Digital #1 in LGBTQ+ digital publishing and engagement.
• RevrystandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreaming platform that broadcasts The Queerties (and Q.Digital content) including third-party channels on Samsung TV Plus, Roku Channels, Xumo, Stirr, and Apple TV.
• NGLCC (National LGBT Chamber of Commerce)standardOthersCertifies Q.Digital as a Diverse Supplier; certification used by brand partners for DEI spend commitments.
• ANA (Association of National Advertisers) / AIMMstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerCertifies Q.Digital as an ANA Diverse Supplier; partner in ANA AIMM Growthfronts (designed to grow Diverse-Owned media spend from 1.2% to 4% by 2025); ANA Media Conference speaker participation; ANA Multicultural Marketing & Diversity Conference speaker participation.
• NielsenstandardTechnology or IntegrationConducted the brand lift study for Nissan x Q.Digital campaign featuring Jason Collins in a Nissan ARIYA.
• CivicSciencestandardTechnology or IntegrationData partner providing LGBTQ consumer trend research used in Q.Digital blog content on spending behavior, CBD usage, and economic sentiment.
• InterACTstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial non-profit partner for the 2023 Queerties awards, aligning with Q.Digital's cultural goals of supporting vital organizations that improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people.
• Serv VodkastandardGTM or Marketing PartnerCustom Queerties menu of beverages for the 2023 awards celebration.
• AmtrakstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Queerty Pride50 2021 Virtual Celebration.
• OrbitzstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Queerty Pride50 2021 Virtual Celebration.
• HiltonstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerPride season 2023 advertiser leveraging Q.Digital's leading engaged audience.
• ToyotastandardGTM or Marketing PartnerPride season 2023 advertiser.
• AT&TstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerPride season 2023 advertiser.
• Planet FitnessstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerPride season 2023 advertiser.
• CadillacstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerPride season 2023 advertiser.
• HulustandardGTM or Marketing PartnerPride season 2023 advertiser.
• AbsolutstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerPride season 2023 advertiser.
• XfinitystandardGTM or Marketing PartnerPride season 2023 advertiser.
• Paramount+standardGTM or Marketing PartnerPride season 2023 advertiser.
• Blue Shield of CaliforniastandardOthersProvides a link from the Q.Digital footer to Blue Shield's machine-readable files per the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Equal Pride: Owns The Advocate, Out Magazine, and Pride.com, making it the largest direct US competitor to Q.Digital's portfolio of LGBTQ+ editorial brands. Q.Digital's Comscore #1 ranking cites 3x more unique visitors than Equal Pride.
• Them.us: Condé Nast-owned LGBTQ+ editorial property directly competing for the same advertiser dollars; cited by Q.Digital as having 4.8x fewer unique visitors and lower time-spent per Comscore.
• PinkNews: Major LGBTQ+ digital news publisher and Q.Digital Distribution Alliance partner, extending Q.Digital's advertiser reach into adjacent LGBTQ+ audiences.
• Autostraddle: Leading LGBTQ+ women-focused editorial publication; simultaneously a Distribution Alliance partner extending Q.Digital's scale and a direct competitor for LGBTQ+ audience ad budgets.
• So.Gay: LGBTQ+ lifestyle media brand and Q.Digital Distribution Alliance partner; co-hosts the So.Gay Pride House experiential event with Q.Digital, overlapping on tentpole programming and advertiser relationships.
• Revry: LGBTQ+ streaming and CTV platform that distributes Q.Digital's Queerties broadcast across Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo, and Apple TV — a natural competitor and partner as Q.Digital expands into CTV advertising.
• EDGE Media Network: Long-running LGBTQ+ digital media publisher covering news, entertainment, and travel; directly comparable in audience, advertiser base, and content verticals to Q.Digital's portfolio.

Emerging players

• Grindr: LGBTQ+ social and dating platform with a large first-party audience dataset; Q.Digital Distribution Alliance partner, but also a potential competitor for LGBTQ+-targeted advertising and audience data monetization.

Broad incumbents

• Condé Nast: Major media conglomerate whose Them.us property competes directly with Q.Digital; broader portfolio (Vanity Fair, GQ, Wired) competes for the same enterprise advertiser dollars targeting premium audiences.
• Vox Media: Former parent of Outsports (sold to Q.Digital in March 2024) and operator of large editorial networks; a broader digital media incumbent with overlapping advertiser relationships and programmatic capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/OutSports
• Facebookfacebook.com/weareqdigital
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/q.digital
• Instagraminstagram.com/OutSports
• Xx.com/weareqdigital

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Q.Digital