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SAN FRANCISCO--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) presented the Leadership Award yesterday to keynote speaker Peter Thiel at StartOutas First Annual LGBT Entrepreneurship Awards in San Francisco. StartOut, a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to fostering and developing entrepreneurship within the LGBT community, held the awards ceremony at San Franciscoas W Hotel at an event honoring business leaders for both their accomplishments and their personal commitments to the entrepreneurial and LGBT communities.

"Visionaries like Peter Thiel are demonstrating the very best of what great entrepreneurs can achieve. They have paved the way for others in the LGBT entrepreneurial community, as well as the future generation of entrepreneurs and investors whose creativity and vision will take us all to the next level."

Jack Stephenson, director of mobile, e-commerce and payments at Chase, presented the award to technology entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and PayPal co-founder Thiel. aAs a pioneer and visionary, Peter has helped to build the next generation of tech entrepreneurs both in Silicon Valley and across the globe,a said Mr. Stephenson. aHis leadership and achievements have been an inspiration to the LGBT entrepreneurial community, and weare proud to honor him tonight surrounded by such exceptional talent and innovative spirit.a

With approximately one million LGBT-owned small businesses nationwide, the LGBT market is helping boost the nationas economic recovery, accounting for more than $600 billion in consumer spending annually.* StartOut is playing an important role in supporting entrepreneurs who develop and grow small businesses, which are the growth engine of the U.S. economy.

StartOut founder Darren Spedale, who kicked off the awards ceremony, said, aTonightas event marks the first time that entrepreneurs in the LGBT community are officially recognized for their dedication, passion, and commitment to creating a positive environment where startups and growing businesses founded by LGBT individuals can support each other and thrive.a He added, aVisionaries like Peter Thiel are demonstrating the very best of what great entrepreneurs can achieve. They have paved the way for others in the LGBT entrepreneurial community, as well as the future generation of entrepreneurs and investors whose creativity and vision will take us all to the next level.a

The eveningas other StartOut award honorees include former E*TRADE COO and Lesbian Equity Foundation Founder Kathy Levinson; TopGuest Founder and CEO Geoff Lewis; and Founder and CEO of SynapticMash Ramona Pierson.

About StartOut: StartOut is a 501(c)(3) nationwide organization dedicated to fostering and developing entrepreneurship within the LGBT community. StartOut is creating the next generation of LGBT business leaders by helping aspiring entrepreneurs start new companies, helping current entrepreneurs to grow and expand their businesses, and engaging successful entrepreneurs as role models and mentors for new entrepreneurs. [ www.startout.org ]

About Chase Mobile Banking

Chase is a leader in the industry with more than 15 million total registered mobile customers that use its products to help manage their financial lives. Chaseas mobile banking products offer complete coverage with native apps available for iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry customers. Downloadable in all smartphone app stores, the products allow customers to track their investment products, account activity, deposit checks, make person-to-person payments and pay bills and credit cards securely and conveniently. A division of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Chase Mobile Banking complements Chaseas online banking, telephone banking, and its network of nearly 5,500 branches and more than 17,200 ATMs.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.3 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management and private equity. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at [ www.jpmorganchase.com ].

*Sources: National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Witeck-Combs Communications.

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