Christin Baker, Co-Founder and President of Tello Films, on Building the Longest-Running Streaming Platform for LGBTQ+ Women

Christin Baker is the Co-Founder and President of Tello Films, the pioneering streaming platform dedicated to LGBTQ+ women’s stories. Founded in 2007, Tello is often referred to as the “lesbian Netflix” and is now celebrating 19 years of amplifying sapphic voices through original films, series, shorts, and holiday features.

An award-winning director and Emmy-nominated producer, Christin built Tello to ensure authentic lesbian stories are not only created but sustained. From early web series to Hallmark-style queer Christmas films, Tello continues to carve out meaningful space for representation in entertainment.

Please share a brief introduction and your business:

Tello Films is the pioneering streaming platform dedicated to LGBTQ+ women’s stories—often called the “lesbian Netflix.” Founded in 2007, Tello is the longest-running platform of its kind and is now celebrating 19 years of amplifying sapphic voices.

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The company is led by Christin Baker, an award-winning director and Emmy-nominated producer, who founded Tello to ensure authentic lesbian stories are seen, supported, and sustained. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy. Tello produces, acquires, and distributes films, series, shorts, and original programming by and for queer women, including award-winning features, nine lesbian Christmas films, and the beloved "Lez Go Travel Show", which Christin does with her Fiancé Stacey Lee Powell.

Take us back to when you launched? What was your marketing strategy?

When I first launched Tello, there wasn’t a formal marketing strategy. I had very limited funds, and most of the money went into building the platform and creating original content. Marketing came second to making sure the work itself existed and was strong.

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What ended up making the biggest difference was press coverage. Getting media attention around our early web series helped introduce Tello to new audiences and gave the platform credibility we couldn’t afford to buy. It wasn’t planned, but it worked—and it taught me early on the power of storytelling and earned media.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I didn’t always think of myself as an entrepreneur. It wasn’t something I set out to be. But looking back, it makes sense. In traditional corporate environments, I never quite fit or operated the way others did. I approached work differently, asked different questions, and was always looking for more creative and meaningful ways to do things.

Starting my own business ultimately felt natural—not because it was planned, but because it allowed me to work in alignment with how I think, create, and lead.

What accomplishments are you the most proud of to date in your business?

There are a few accomplishments I’m especially proud of. First, Tello Films is celebrating 19 years in the streaming business, which in itself feels remarkable—longevity in this industry, especially in such a niche space, is no small feat.

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Second, our work has earned three National Emmy nominations, which was incredibly validating and affirmed the quality and impact of what we’re creating.

And finally, we produced the first-ever Hallmark-style queer women’s Christmas romantic comedy, which felt like a true milestone—not just for Tello, but for lesbian representation in holiday storytelling.

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What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

I wish I had understood just how difficult it would be to break through and become a true household name—even within the lesbian streaming community. Building awareness, trust, and visibility takes far more time, repetition, and resources than I expected, especially in a niche space. Knowing that earlier would have helped me be more patient with the pace and more intentional about long-term brand building.

What did you do before starting your own business?

I studied Television Production and lived in Los Angeles for three years, where I worked in the story department at Regency Pictures and later at the Writers Guild of America in the television credits department.

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I then spent 13 years working in the nonprofit sector, gaining experience in programs, operations, and organizational systems, and earned a master’s degree in Nonprofit Organizational Development. Throughout that time, I continued to run Tello Films, directing and producing original content for the platform.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I started Tello Films because I saw a clear gap in the industry: authentic lesbian and sapphic stories weren’t being made, supported, or distributed in meaningful ways. With my background in television production and story development, I knew these stories mattered—and I wanted to help make space for them.

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I launched Tello as a side hustle in 2007 while working full time, directing and producing original content whenever I could. Over the years, I continued to grow the platform steadily, balancing it alongside a career in the nonprofit sector.

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During the pandemic, it became clear that it was time to fully commit. Tello had proven its longevity and impact, and I was ready to take the leap and focus on scaling the company. After years of incremental growth, I’m now driven to up-level the business—expanding original programming, increasing visibility, and building a sustainable future for sapphic storytelling.

Do you have any recent wins?

19 Years!

Who are your customers?

Women Loving Women (WLW), Lesbians

What's your favorite business tool?

My favorite business “tool” is actually my amazing fiancé. She’s willing—and genuinely excited—to do TikTok, which I am very much not. I let that platform sit untouched for three or four years, never realizing how critical it would become to our growth.

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TikTok has turned out to be huge for Tello Films, exactly as Amanda from Poppy said in her office hour on Entreprenista. Having Stacey step in, create the videos, and show up consistently on that platform has been invaluable. I still don’t love TikTok—but having a partner who does, and who understands the voice and mission of Tello, has made all the difference.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Don’t underestimate how long real growth can take—especially when you’re building something meaningful and niche. There are times I’ve felt like a failure for being around so long and still wanting more audience reach, but longevity is not failure. It’s proof of commitment.

If you have the passion and the belief that what you’re creating matters, keep going. Don’t stop. Progress isn’t always loud or fast, but consistency and purpose add up in ways you don’t always see right away.

From launching Tello as a side hustle to earning three National Emmy nominations and producing the first Hallmark-style queer women’s Christmas romantic comedy, Christin Baker has built a platform rooted in longevity, purpose, and representation. Her journey is proof that niche does not mean small and that consistency over time builds real impact.

If you are a woman founder building something meaningful in a space that needs your voice, Entreprenista connects you with the community and relationships that support long-term growth and visibility. Learn more about joining Entreprenista League.