Out Now
Out Now is a Paris-headquartered LGBT+ inclusion consulting firm founded in 1992 that delivers workplace inclusion training, proprietary market research via the LGBT2030 program, and marketing services to global enterprise clients across banking, technology, healthcare, automotive, telecom, and tourism.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Out Now does
Out Now is a privately held LGBT+ inclusion consulting firm headquartered in Paris, France, founded in 1992 by Ian Johnson (originally as Significant Others in Sydney, Australia). The firm delivers three interconnected service lines: inclusion education and training (masterclasses, workshops, executive coaching, board roundtables, Academy e-learning), LGBT+ market research (the proprietary LGBT2030 longitudinal quantitative research program operational since 1992, qualitative studies, and custom research solutions), and award-winning marketing and communications services for brands targeting LGBT+ consumers and stakeholders. Its core intellectual asset is the LGBT2030 research program — the world's longest-running continuous LGBT+ market research initiative — supported by a proprietary opt-in panel of 5,000+ LGBT+ respondents in the UK and additional panel infrastructure across other markets.
The business operates on a project-based professional services model with bespoke Terms of Engagement per client, priced outside standard published rate cards. Customers are predominantly large enterprises across banking and financial services (Lloyds, Barclays, Nationwide, Aviva, Citibank), technology (IBM, Fujitsu), healthcare and pharmaceuticals (J&J, MSD, NHS), automotive (Toyota), telecommunications (Vodafone), travel and tourism (Lufthansa, VisitBritain, German National Tourist Office, Berlin Tourism Marketing), and professional services (KPMG), with additional exposure to government/public sector and SMB segments. Delivery is direct and consultative, executed by a distributed team of senior regional consultants based in Paris, New York, London, Helsinki, Guadalajara, and Japan, enabling multi-language engagements. The firm is bootstrapped — no funding rounds, no parent company, no public listing — and remains under the operational control of founder Ian Johnson, who is ranked among the Top 10 Diversity Consultants on The Economist's Global Diversity List.
Out Now firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Out Now
- Legal name
- Out Now
- Website
- https://outnowconsulting.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Out Now is a Paris-headquartered LGBT+ inclusion consulting firm founded in 1992 that delivers workplace inclusion training, proprietary market research via the LGBT2030 program, and marketing services to global enterprise clients across banking, technology, healthcare, automotive, telecom, and tourism.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Out Now industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Diversity and Inclusion Consulting
- NAICS
- Advertising Agencies (541810), Public Relations Agencies (541820), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- B2B / Account-Based Marketing (ABM) Strategy Consulting (MPAAAFAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- B2B/ABM Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAI)
Keywords
Where Out Now is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Out Now business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Consulting Services: Professional consulting engagements including inclusion strategy development, executive coaching, and bespoke advisory services. Work is delivered through Terms of Engagement specifying deliverables, fees, and timeframes.
- Custom Research Projects: Tailored research solutions designed to meet individual client precise research needs. Includes quantitative studies, qualitative work, focus groups, and market analysis.
- Training and Education Services: Inclusion education delivered through various formats including masterclasses, workshops, e-learning modules, and academy content. Customized to client needs and audience requirements.
- Marketing and Communications Services: Award-winning marketing and communications services including copywriting, advertising, public relations, and campaign development to help clients connect with LGBT+ consumers and stakeholders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Out Now product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Out Now is a B2B consulting firm that delivers LGBT+ inclusion training, proprietary market research, and marketing communications services to enterprise and government clients worldwide. Its core deliverables are organized around three pillars: inclusion education (masterclasses, workshops, executive coaching, e-learning), the long-running LGBT2030 research program plus custom qualitative and quantitative research, and award-winning LGBT+ marketing and PR campaigns. Engagements are bespoke, priced via Terms of Engagement, and delivered by a global network of regional consultants.
Product overview
Out Now is an inclusion consulting firm offering a platform of interconnected services organized around three core pillars: inclusion education/training, LGBT+ market research, and LGBT+ marketing/communications. The portfolio includes instructor-led masterclasses, workshops, and executive coaching (delivered in-person or online), a proprietary LGBT2030 quantitative research program running since 1992, custom qualitative and quantitative research solutions, and award-winning marketing campaign services. Supporting resources include e-learning modules, Take 5 Insights video/PDF content, research fact sheets, and the 'Being Out Now' podcast. The firm operates from Paris with global reach across multiple languages and countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Inclusion Education and Training Comprehensive inclusion education programs delivered through multiple formats including masterclasses, workshops, TED-style presentations, executive coaching, and e-learning modules for enterprise clients. Covers LGBT+ allyship, cultural engagement, trans inclusion, remote work inclusion, and custom tailored topics.
- LGBT2030 Research Program The world's longest-running and most extensive global LGBT+ market research program, operational since 1992. Provides quantitative research data, market insights, and custom research solutions for corporate clients, governments, and community organizations across multiple countries.
- Qualitative Research Services Custom qualitative research including participant recruitment, focus group moderation, interviews, and tailored reporting. Utilizes Out Now's proprietary global research participant panel for LGBT+ focused studies such as healthcare discussions among gay and bi men and Australian LGBT+ banking research with Citibank.
- Custom Research Solutions Tailored made-to-order research solutions designed to meet individual client precise research needs, from concept development through to final completion and reporting.
- LGBT+ Marketing and Communications Award-winning marketing and communications services including copywriting, advertising, public relations, campaign development from concept to completion, and media planning for LGBT+ consumer outreach.
- Executive Coaching One-to-one executive coaching sessions for senior leading executives, tailored to support leaders with inclusion strategies.
- Board Roundtables TED-style boardroom roundtable presentations for leadership teams, custom-designed executive education sessions focusing on inclusion strategy.
- Academy E-Learning Modules Topic-based online learning modules helping participants understand how inclusion concepts can be practically applied in their workplaces, part of certification programs.
- Being Out Now Podcast Podcast featuring discussions at the intersection of culture, diversity, and inclusion, with guests sharing expertise, insights, and knowledge to advance continuing progress in inclusion and diversity.
Quantifiable outcome
- Tripled sales for Amro Worldwide through 'So Gay' tourism campaign
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Out Now
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Out Now technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Out Now partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered notable and minor.
- Inclusion FoundationnotableIan Johnson, CEO of Out Now, sits on the Global Advisory Board for the Inclusion Foundation.
- The Economist LGBTQ+ Advisory PanelnotableIan Johnson was invited to join an LGBTQ+ advisory panel for The Economist magazine after being recognized for his expertise in diversity and inclusion.
- London Coaching FoundationminorSusann Jerry, Cross-Platform Communications Specialist at Out Now, is a Director of the London Coaching Foundation, a grassroots sports charity working on behalf of young people.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Out Now competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- PinkNews: PinkNews is a leading global LGBT+ digital media outlet that produces editorial, branded content, and campaigns. While not a consulting peer, it addresses the same LGBT+ consumer-engagement category and occasionally overlaps with Out Now's campaign and marketing work for major brands.
Direct peers
- Out Leadership: Out Leadership is a global LGBT+ business advisory organization that convenes senior executives and provides consulting on LGBT+ inclusion. It competes with Out Now for C-suite and board-level advisory engagements and enterprise inclusion strategy mandates.
- Workplace Pride: Workplace Pride is a Netherlands-based foundation offering benchmarking, training, and inclusion programs to multinational employers on LGBT+ workplace inclusion. It is directly comparable to Out Now's training, benchmarking, and education service line for European multinational clients.
- Community Marketing & Insights (CMI): CMI is a long-established LGBT+ market research firm that conducts consumer insights and quantitative studies for brands targeting the LGBT+ community. It directly competes with Out Now's LGBT2030 research program on the same custom research, panel, and syndicated insights services to corporate clients.
- Open For Business: Open For Business is a coalition that produces research and advocacy on the economic case for LGBT+ inclusion, working with major global brands. It overlaps with Out Now's research and LGBT+ business case offerings and addresses the same multinational client set.
- Stonewall: Stonewall is a UK LGBT rights charity that runs the Diversity Champions workplace program, providing employers with training, benchmarking, and inclusion resources. It competes with Out Now in the UK enterprise training and benchmarking segment and serves a similar client base.
- Out & Equal Workplace Advocates: Out & Equal is a US-based nonprofit focused on LGBT+ workplace equality, offering consulting, training, and benchmarking programs to enterprises. It directly overlaps with Out Now's inclusion training, executive education, and corporate benchmarking offerings to multinational employers.
Broad incumbents
- McKinsey (DEI/People & Organizational Performance): McKinsey's People & Organizational Performance practice advises global enterprises on DEI strategy, workforce inclusion, and culture transformation. It overlaps with Out Now's executive coaching and inclusion strategy work but as a broad incumbent serving the full DEI agenda.
- Deloitte (DEI practice): Deloitte's broader human capital and inclusion practice offers enterprise-wide DEI strategy, training, and measurement services to multinationals. It competes with Out Now on large-scale inclusion mandates as part of a much wider consulting portfolio rather than as an LGBT+ specialist.
Emerging players
- Sagence: Sagence is a research and insights firm focused on LGBT+ consumer and community research, offering quantitative and qualitative studies. It competes with Out Now on the custom research and insights side of the business, particularly for brand-side clients.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Out Now social profiles
Digital presenceOut Now financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Out Now leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Out Now funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Out Now M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Out Now
What does Out Now do?
Out Now is a B2B consulting firm that delivers LGBT+ inclusion training, proprietary market research, and marketing communications services to enterprise and government clients worldwide. Its core deliverables are organized around three pillars: inclusion education (masterclasses, workshops, executive coaching, e-learning), the long-running LGBT2030 research program plus custom qualitative and quantitative research, and award-winning LGBT+ marketing and PR campaigns. Engagements are bespoke, priced via Terms of Engagement, and delivered by a global network of regional consultants.
Is Out Now a public or private company?
Out Now is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Out Now founded?
Out Now was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Out Now based?
Out Now is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Out Now make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are custom Research Projects, training and Education Services and marketing and Communications Services.
Who are Out Now's main competitors?
PinkNews is listed as an others. Direct peers are Out Leadership, Workplace Pride, Community Marketing & Insights (CMI), Open For Business, Stonewall and Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. Broad incumbents are McKinsey (DEI/People & Organizational Performance) and Deloitte (DEI practice). Sagence is listed as an emerging player.
Does Out Now have an API?
No public API is recorded for Out Now.
What industry is Out Now in?
Out Now's product category is Diversity and Inclusion Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAFAM, B2B / Account-Based Marketing (ABM) Strategy Consulting, with a secondary code of MPAAAAAI, B2B/ABM Creative Agencies. Its NAICS code is 541810 and its SIC code is 8742.