Lorenzo Thione
Managing Director of Gaingels; also a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer and co-founder of Powerset (acquired by Microsoft, 2008).
Italian-born technologist and entrepreneur, raised in Milan, who moved to Austin, TX in 2001 for graduate study (M.S. Computer Engineering, UT Austin). Co-founded natural-language search startup Powerset, serving on its board through Microsoft's 2008 acquisition, then worked at Microsoft on Bing as Principal Development Manager. Co-founded StartOut, one of the first LGBTQ+ entrepreneur networks, serving 16 years on its board including a term as Chair. Managing Director of Gaingels, the LGBTQIA+-focused venture syndicate founded by David Beatty and Paul Grossinger in 2014, which Thione joined afterward - he describes himself as a 'Co-Founding Partner,' though the firm's founding is credited to Beatty and Grossinger. Independently, he is a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer via his company Sing Out, Louise! Productions, with credits including Hadestown (2019, Best Musical), The Inheritance, The Cher Show, and Allegiance (2015). Named among tech's most influential LGBTQ+ individuals by Business Insider in 2014 and 2018.
Overview
- Role
- Managing Director, Gaingels; Broadway Producer, Sing Out Louise! Productions
- Based in
- Chicago, IL
- Prior experience
- Powerset (acquired by Microsoft, 2008); Microsoft (Bing); StartOut; Sing Out, Louise! Productions
- Website
- lorenzo.thione.me
Companies0
No linked records yet.
Frequently asked
- Who is Lorenzo Thione?
- Italian-born technologist and entrepreneur, raised in Milan, who moved to Austin, TX in 2001 for graduate study (M.S. Computer Engineering, UT Austin). Co-founded natural-language search startup Powerset, serving on its board through Microsoft's 2008 acquisition, then worked at Microsoft on Bing as Principal Development Manager. Co-founded StartOut, one of the first LGBTQ+ entrepreneur networks, serving 16 years on its board including a term as Chair. Managing Director of Gaingels, the LGBTQIA+-focused venture syndicate founded by David Beatty and Paul Grossinger in 2014, which Thione joined afterward - he describes himself as a 'Co-Founding Partner,' though the firm's founding is credited to Beatty and Grossinger. Independently, he is a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer via his company Sing Out, Louise! Productions, with credits including Hadestown (2019, Best Musical), The Inheritance, The Cher Show, and Allegiance (2015). Named among tech's most influential LGBTQ+ individuals by Business Insider in 2014 and 2018.
- What is Lorenzo Thione's role?
- Lorenzo Thione is Managing Director, Gaingels; Broadway Producer, Sing Out Louise! Productions, based in Chicago, IL.
- Where did Lorenzo Thione work before?
- Lorenzo Thione's prior roles include Powerset (acquired by Microsoft, 2008); Microsoft (Bing); StartOut; Sing Out, Louise! Productions.
Tags
Sources & citations6
Each claim links to its underlying source. Confidence reflects how directly the source supports the claim.
- 1
Lorenzo Thione is Co-Founding Partner and Managing Director of Gaingels, serving on the firm's Management Committee for over eight years, overseeing strategy, capital allocation, and governance
National Venture Capital Association (NVCA): Lorenzo Thione — NVCA ProfileReported2026-08-11 - 2
Thione founded Powerset, Inc. and served on its board from formation through Microsoft's acquisition of the company in 2008; the company's natural-language search technology was later integrated into Bing, where he subsequently held the role of Principal Development Manager
Lorenzo Thione (personal site): Lorenzo Thione — BiographyReported2026-08-11 - 3
Thione is Founder and Managing Partner of Sing Out, Louise! Productions, a Tony Award-winning Broadway production company, with credits including Hadestown and The Inheritance; he also co-created and led production on Allegiance, a Broadway musical starring George Takei and Lea Salonga, and directed its 2016 film adaptation
Sing Out, Louise! Productions: Sing Out, Louise! Productions — Company SiteReported2026-08-11 - 4
Hadestown, co-produced by Thione's Sing Out, Louise! Productions, won 8 Tony Awards in 2019 including Best Musical
LinkedIn: Lorenzo Thione — post on Hadestown's 8 Tony AwardsReported2019-06-09 - 5
Thione co-founded StartOut, an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur network, serving 16 years on its board including one term as Board Chair; he was raised in Milan and holds an M.S. in Computer Engineering (Software Engineering) from the University of Texas at Austin
National Venture Capital Association (NVCA): Lorenzo Thione — NVCA ProfileReported2026-08-11 - 6
Gaingels Managing Director Lorenzo Thione: the venture ecosystem was and still is dominated largely by not only straight, white men -- describing the firm's mission to bring diversity to the venture ecosystem at the team, C-suite, and board level
Built In NYC: How Gaingels Is Fostering LGBTQ+ Representation in Venture CapitalVerified2026-08-09