Founder of the month: Sarah Massey (she/her)

This month we met with Sarah Massey, one of the co-founders of freeQ, a business that spreads queer joy online! To do that, freeQ provides a safer tech platform that honours and respects LGBTQ+ talent, audiences, and digital organizers. Sarah Massey shared with us her personal journey on how, from being a human rights activist, she managed to create her own companies. It is worth mentioning that to conduct this interview, our video call was hosted by freeQ, so we could better understand the uniqueness of the tech platform. Find out below more about her inspiring journey and how through her personal experience, she aims to create safer tech for other people.

From activist to an entrepreneur

Sarah Massey’s life has remarkably evolved from dedicated activist to visionary entrepreneur. Since 1997 she has advocated for social justice causes, driven by her profound sensitivity to the world’s injustices as a queer cis woman. Her academic pursuits in international relations, focusing on the European Union and NAFTA, nurtured her passion for advocacy, leading her to pursue a master’s degree in urban planning in New York City. Sarah Massey’s advocacy efforts caught the attention of employers, propelling her into the role of Director of Communications at one of the oldest LGBTQ rights organizations in the USA. But in 2005, she decided to take her passion and skills to new heights, founding her consulting company, Massey Media. This experience was fulfilling and prepared her for the next chapter in her journey. In 2020, Sarah Massey’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to co-found together with Riley Lamey, freeQ, a tech startup aimed at making a meaningful impact on society. It marked her fourth business venture, a testament to her resilience and determination. With each step in her journey, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to empowering marginalized communities and reshaping the social justice landscape.

Importance of digital safety

Sarah Massey’s company freeQ is pioneer in technological innovation, challenging digital surveillance norms and prioritizing user privacy and safety. freeQ, also known as freeQ.love, is a cutting-edge video conferencing technology with a mission to provide a secure and private virtual environment for all users. Unlike mainstream platforms, freeQ does not engage in AI spying, data tracking, or selling user data. Instead, they employ trained human moderators to ensure respectful interactions, creating a safe space for everyone, especially marginalized communities. The driving force behind freeQ’s philosophy is the belief in an inclusive internet of connection and acceptance. By using human moderators, freeQ harkens back to the days of telephone chats, allowing users to be themselves without fear of surveillance or discrimination. freeQ’s moderators commit to uplifting community standards, and every user receives training on event organization and earnings generation. Sarah Massey’s dedication to creating a secure and inclusive virtual environment that minimizes online violence sets an inspiring example for the tech industry’s commitment to rejecting the surveillance economy and fostering a kinder tech world.

Funding and scaling of freeQ

Scaling freeQ has been a challenging journey, as they strive to build technology on a bootstrapped budget. Their success lies in attracting partners who understand the value of creating a safe place and developing technology for marginalized communities. freeQ’s goal is to provide healthy jobs and empower individuals to earn for themselves. Despite the lack of VC funding for queer and trans entrepreneurs, Sarah Massey’s remains determined to succeed, as their mission aligns with the UN Development Sustainable Development Goals, creating an impactful business. Their impact-driven approach sets them apart from traditional unicorn-chasing businesses, making freeQ unique. With decades of entrepreneurial experience and two public policy degrees focusing on sustainability and globalism, Sarah Massey is serious about building safe, healthy jobs in Amsterdam.

Joy and inclusivity over oppression

Something remarkable about Sarah Massey is her commitment to promoting joy and inclusivity over oppression. During her interview, she expressed dedication to creating safe and secure online events for everyone, regardless of size, shape, gender, or race. Unlike social media platforms that censor content, Sarah Massey’s platform, freeQ, celebrates diversity and uplifts the LGBTQ+ community through events centered around queer joy. As an activist, she believes in building resiliency within the community by focusing on joy and empowering individuals to be their authentic selves every day. This is important because we are often bombarded with stories of queer trauma, instead, freeQ wants to celebrate and empower the LQBTQIA+ community. That’s why freeQ is making a conscious choice to focus on queer joy. As Sarah Massey mentions “because what we seek to do is build resiliency inside of the community, we believe that when we experience queer joy and we’re in the flow, we can then be stronger for what we’re going to achieve”. Her mission is to spread this message of joy and inclusivity, breaking down oppressive barriers and creating a world where everyone can freely express themselves without fear.

Empowering women entrepreneurs

By having more than 18 years of experience in business, as Sarah Massey mentions she is ” a very serious activist seeking to create economic opportunity for people who need it” and her advice to fellow women founders would be to always believe in yourself wholeheartedly and view challenges as opportunities for growth. Her success lies in creating safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community and delivering exceptional communication strategies. She urges women to invest in and support each other, creating a powerful network for empowerment. Inspired by social justice, she envisions a world where marginalized communities thrive. Sarah Massey’s journey exemplifies the power of belief, support, and commitment to positive change. She is a true inspiration for women entrepreneurs everywhere, and she strongly believes that “we need to change how business is done, then we can use this money and give it to other women, businesses and other minority businesses”.

Want to read more inspiring founder stories? Check out our other founders out here!