Pride Circle

What Pride Circle does

Pride Circle (legally Inclusion First Consultancy Pvt. Ltd, headquartered in Navi Mumbai, India) is a for-profit Diversity & Inclusion company focused on LGBT+ workplace inclusion. The firm was founded around the period following India's September 2018 Section 377 ruling, with its flagship RISE Job Fair launching in July 2019; the company's own history places founding in 2019, though firmographics data indicates 2017. Pride Circle operates across India, the UK, and the US, serving 500+ partner companies and operating a self-serve job portal for LGBT+ candidates.

The company's portfolio centers on four revenue streams: corporate D&I consulting (training workshops, sensitization programs, policy development), the Pride Circle Membership Model (PCMM) — a multi-tier subscription framework with Diamond/Gold/Silver levels — tiered RISE Job Fair sponsorships across seven participation tiers, and customizable Pride Month celebration packages. Supporting offerings include the India Workplace Equality Index (IWEI), India Education Equality Index, equALLY anthology book, Trans Inclusion Summit, Pride Hackathon, Human Library, Reverse Mentoring, Youth Fellowship, and Supplier Diversity Programs. The company has facilitated over 1,125 job offers across six RISE editions (2019-2024) spanning 25+ industries. Technology is not the core deliverable; the underlying infrastructure consists of a Hubilo-based virtual event platform for RISE, a self-serve job board at thepridecircle.com/jobs, and a network of community programs delivered through in-person and virtual workshops.

Go-to-market combines enterprise B2B sales (PCMM membership, consulting, Pride Month programs), event-driven acquisition through RISE and themed summits, and community-led growth via Rainbow Parents, Youth Fellowship, and educational institution partnerships. Distribution leverages Hubilo, direct corporate outreach ([email protected]), and self-serve channels. Pride Circle is privately held with no disclosed venture capital or private equity investment in the available sources, operating as a bootstrapped services business with a small leadership team and 51-100 employees.

Name

Pride Circle

Legal name

Inclusion First Consultancy Pvt. Ltd

Website

https://thepridecircle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Pride Circle is a for-profit Diversity & Inclusion company that provides LGBT+ workplace consulting, a tiered corporate membership model (PCMM), and the annual RISE Job Fair to connect inclusive employers with LGBT+ talent across India, the UK, and the US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workplace Diversity & Inclusion Consulting

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) & Belonging Consulting (BPAHAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE), Workplace Culture, DEI & Psychological Safety (EDAAAKAJ), Incentive Meeting & Retreat Planning (Meeting-Focused) (THAHACAG)

Keywords

• LGBT+ workplace inclusion
• Diversity Inclusion consulting
• Corporate diversity training
• Inclusive hiring services
• Workplace equality benchmarking

Headquarters

HQ city

Thane

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Consulting Services: Comprehensive D&I consulting programs enabling organizations to foster safe, inclusive, and welcoming work environments for LGBT+ employees. Services include training workshops, sensitization programs, and policy development.
2. Membership Model (PCMM): Pride Circle Membership Model (PCMM) offering multi-tiered membership framework with Diamond, Gold, Silver tiers providing different levels of access to programs, resources, and support based on organizational inclusion maturity.
3. Event Participation Fees: Revenue from RISE Job Fair participation tiers for companies (7 tiers from Vision/Co-presenter to Bronze) and candidate registration. Companies pay for booth access, resume database downloads, branding opportunities, and LGBT+ talent hiring workshops.
4. Pride Month Programs: Customizable Pride Month celebration packages including Inclusion Challenge, Training Workshops, Rainbow Lens movie screenings, Ally Quest board games, Rainbow Talkies speakers, Pride Cares mental health programs, Pride Marches, and HiringWithPride job fair access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Pride Circle is a Diversity & Inclusion services company that sells corporate consulting, training, and advocacy programs to help organizations build LGBT+ inclusive workplaces. Its core commercial offerings include the RISE Job Fair (connecting employers with LGBT+ talent), the Pride Circle Membership Model (PCMM) tiered corporate membership, Pride Month program packages, and benchmarking indices (India Workplace Equality Index and India Education Equality Index). It also publishes the equALLY book and research reports and operates events such as the Trans Inclusion Summit and Pride Hackathon.

Product overview

Pride Circle operates as a Diversity & Inclusion services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and initiatives. The core offerings include RISE (India's Premier LGBT+ Job Fair) for connecting talent with inclusive employers, and the Pride Circle Membership Model (PCMM) providing organizations with tiered, personalized inclusion pathways. Supporting offerings include Pride Month Programs with 12 unique activities, the India Workplace Equality Index for benchmarking, and various professional development programs like the Trans Inclusion Summit, Pride Hackathon, Human Library, and Reverse Mentoring. The equALLY anthology book and Reports & Publications provide educational resources, while the Youth Fellowship and Supplier Diversity Programs extend the company's reach into broader ecosystem development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RISE (India's Premier LGBT+ Job Fair) Annual job fair connecting LGBT+ talent with inclusive employers, offering tech and non-tech roles, virtual booth access, resume database access, employer branding, and LGBT+ talent hiring workshops. Seven-tier corporate sponsorship model (Vision/Co-presenter, Inspirer, Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze).
• Pride Circle Membership Model (PCMM) Multi-tiered recurring membership framework (Diamond, Gold, Silver) that enables organizations to personalize their LGBT+ inclusion journey based on goals, timeline, budget, and inclusion maturity. Provides access to programs, resources, and ongoing support.
• Pride Month Programs Customizable Pride Month celebration package for organizations including Inclusion Challenge, Training Workshops, Rainbow Lens movie screenings, Ally Quest board games, Rainbow Talkies speaker sessions, Pride Cares mental health programs, Pride Marches, and HiringWithPride job fair access.
• India Workplace Equality Index (IWEI) Annual benchmarking initiative measuring LGBT+ inclusion progress across Indian workplaces, providing organizations with data-driven insights to improve their diversity practices.
• India Education Equality Index Benchmarking initiative measuring LGBT+ inclusion progress across educational institutions in India.
• Reports & Publications Research reports and publications covering topics including hiring LGBT+ talent best practices, mental health intersections, marriage equality impacts, and supplier diversity. Available through the Pride Circle resource center.
• equALLY: Stories by FRIENDS of the Queer World Anthology book featuring 45 first-person stories from allies including parents, teenagers, teachers, corporate leaders, and celebrities, celebrating diverse experiences of allyship. Distributed through Amazon India.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,125 job offers facilitated across 6 RISE editions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Out & EqualcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Out & Equal, the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Together they developed a report on India's Marriage Equality Loss and Its Impact on the Business Community following the 2023 Supreme Court ruling.
• FICCIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner for equALLY book publication and LGBT+ inclusion advocacy in Indian corporate sector.
• Amazon IndiaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for equALLY book through Amazon.in marketplace.
• CitiflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerRISE 2025 Inspirer sponsor - premier tier sponsorship for India's Premier LGBT+ Job Fair.
• MacquarieflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerRISE 2025 Inspirer sponsor - premier tier sponsorship for India's Premier LGBT+ Job Fair.
• AkamaicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRISE 2025 Diamond sponsor - supporting LGBT+ inclusive hiring initiatives.
• PhilipscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRISE 2025 Diamond sponsor - supporting LGBT+ inclusive hiring initiatives.
• ZScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRISE 2025 Diamond sponsor - supporting LGBT+ inclusive hiring initiatives.
• GPL (Gujarat Polymers Limited)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRISE 2025 Platinum sponsor.
• KPMGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRISE 2025 Gold sponsor - supporting LGBT+ workplace inclusion.
• Morgan StanleycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRISE 2025 Gold sponsor - supporting LGBT+ workplace inclusion.
• NovartiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRISE 2025 Silver sponsor - supporting LGBT+ inclusive hiring.
• UBScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPCMM Diamond member - premier membership tier for organizations committed to LGBT+ inclusion.
• BarclayscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPCMM Gold member - ongoing partnership for LGBT+ workplace inclusion programs.
• QuestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPCMM Silver member.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• PinkNews: Leading global LGBTQ+ digital media brand covering news, business, and culture. Adjacent to Pride Circle's content and thought-leadership efforts (e.g., equALLY anthology) as a publisher reaching overlapping corporate and community audiences.
• LGBT Capital: Advisory and investment firm focused on the LGBTQ+ economy, including corporate D&I consulting and supplier diversity. Adjacent peer to Pride Circle's Supplier Diversity Programs and corporate D&I consulting streams.

Direct peers

• myGwork: Global LGBTQ+ recruitment platform and community connecting inclusive employers with LGBTQ+ professionals. Directly comparable to Pride Circle's RISE job fair and Pride Circle Job Portal as a talent-acquisition channel for the same employer and job-seeker segments.
• Out & Equal: The world's largest nonprofit dedicated to LGBTQ+ workplace equality, running workplace programs, summits, and benchmarks globally. Already a named strategic partner of Pride Circle, it is the most direct peer in mission and product (LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, training, summits).

Regional players

• Stonewall: UK-based LGBTQ+ rights charity known for its Workplace Equality Index benchmarking and corporate diversity training. Directly comparable in operating model (LGBTQ+ workplace benchmarking + consulting), with strong overlap in financial services and corporate clients.
• Workplace Pride: Netherlands-based foundation focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion in workplaces in Europe, with a Global Benchmark similar to Pride Circle's IWEI. Comparable as a regional LGBTQ+ workplace benchmarking and consulting peer.

Emerging players

• Lesbians Who Tech & Allies: Global community of queer women and non-binary people in technology, running summits, fellowships, and corporate partnerships. Comparable to Pride Circle as a community-driven D&I organization working with major tech and financial services employers.
• INCLUDE (LGBT+ Diversity & Inclusion Consultancy): UK-based boutique consultancy specializing in LGBT+ workplace inclusion, training, and benchmarking. Closely comparable to Pride Circle's corporate consulting and PCMM offerings in terms of services and target buyers, though with much smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• Open For Business: Global coalition of major companies making the economic case for LGBTQ+ inclusion, producing cross-country research reports. Comparable to Pride Circle's reports/publications stream (e.g., India Marriage Equality Loss report) as a research-driven LGBTQ+ business advocacy peer.
• HRC Foundation: The educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest US LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization. Comparable as a broad LGBTQ+ advocacy and corporate engagement organization, although focused primarily on US policy and corporate accountability.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pride_circle
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCoaAZWnpjFXcCQ5Und9mi0Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pride-circle
• Instagraminstagram.com/pride_circle
• Facebookfacebook.com/PrideCircles

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Pride Circle