Winnipeg Business Owner, Alex Varricchio, Named National and Provincial LGBT+ Entrepreneur of The Year
UpHouse co-founder Alex Varricchio has won the Entrepreneur of the Year award at both the 4th annual Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) Black & White Gala, held in Toronto on November 8, 2019, and the Annual Chamber Awards, held in Winnipeg on November 21, 2019, by the Manitoba LGBT* Chamber of Commerce.
The awards are presented to an LGBT+ entrepreneur who displays outstanding leadership and innovation, a commitment to LGBT+ community advocacy and exceptional social, cultural and environmental consciousness.
Varricchio launched UpHouse, a brand and marketing agency, with business partner Kiirsten May in 2017, assembling a predominantly female and queer team with seven full-time members and a network of 20+ creative partners.
Their business model is “half agency, half in-house,” as they recognized a trend in businesses reducing their agency spend and instead building in-house creative teams. UpHouse’s collaborative approach to working with businesses helps to fill in the gaps instead of replacing in-house talent or duplicating efforts.
To date, UpHouse has surpassed projected growth targets and secured major clients across Canada. They continue to foster a collaborative and inclusive company culture with a we-won’t-say-no approach to community and not-for-profit work.
Varricchio and the UpHouse team have provided more than a quarter-million dollars of in-kind and pro bono marketing support to not-for-profit organizations like Pride Toronto, Reel Pride Film Festival, Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba, United Way, Sexuality Education Resource Centre, imagineNATIVE, Society for Manitobans With Disabilities and Main Street Project. Their work has earned awards at the national and international levels.
Together, Varricchio and May have developed a crowdsourcing brainstorming tool, Crainstorm, championing great ideas through diverse viewpoints and collaboration. They recently published a book, The Proximity Paradox, to be released internationally in March 2020.
About The CLGCC
The CLGCC helps LGBTTQ* entrepreneurs thrive by improving accessibility and building relationships between LGBTTQ* businesses and the corporate world. Their Black & White Gala celebrates remarkable leaders in all industry sectors who cultivate diversity and inclusion in their business and entrepreneurship.
About the Manitoba LGBT* Chamber of Commerce
The Manitoba LGBT* Chamber of Commerce recognizes individuals and organizations that are making a positive impact on Manitoba’s LGBT* and business communities.
About UpHouse
UpHouse is a brand and marketing agency. The company works collaboratively with clients to invigorate their brand position, create achievable marketing plans and cultivate the skills of their creative people.
