Want to join a community for founders of startups where you can talk with other founders about startup issues? Here are a few of the best places to start a business.
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If you’re just starting out as an entrepreneur or are in the middle of it, you need connections and hands-on experience more than anything else. That’s where the communities for new businesses come in.
These communities can help you make connections, get advice from experts, and find opportunities that will help you get ahead without wasting years trying things out and seeing what works. So let’s talk about the 6 groups for entrepreneurs that you can join.
1. Entrepreneurs’ Organization
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The Entrepreneurs’ Organization has been around since 1987 and is for all kinds of business owners. This community has over 15,000 members from 61 different countries, so you can meet people in your field who are like you and leaders in your field.
You also have access to the community’s forum, where you can meet 8–12 leaders for a few hours each month. This gives you the chance to network and get help with your career goals. At global events, you can also meet other business owners and experts in your field. Depending on where you live, you might also be asked to join the local chapters.
A lot of people also talk about their own problems in the community. So, if you’re having trouble with something that other people in the community have dealt with, they might step up and tell you what works. It will save you both time and the chance of making mistakes if you try to do it on your own.
The cost of this group, however, is between $2400 and $3000, which may be a bit high. But it gives you access to a group of people who have been there and done that and won’t judge you.
2. Young Entrepreneur Council
The Young Entrepreneur Council is a great group for people who want to start their own businesses, but not everyone can join. You can only join if you meet their requirements and get an invitation from them.
To be a part of this group, you must be 45 years old or younger, and your business must have made or raised at least $1 million. Scott Gerber and Ryan Paugh came up with the idea for this group. The main reason they started this group was to help young entrepreneurs get the help they needed and not make the same mistakes they made when they were starting out.
If you join this community, you have a better chance of meeting people your own age who are going through similar problems. So, if you meet the community’s requirements, it’s a good idea to check it out.
3. Startup Nation
Startup Nation is a free forum-based community where people with similar interests can talk about their own experiences and problems. You can start a conversation if you want to know more about how to do something, how to launch your product, how to market it, or something similar.
It’s a great way to get answers about something you’re dealing with in your business. For example, if you’ve been a solopreneur up until now but now you want to delegate some work, you can start a conversation about outsourcing or hiring.
People who have done it before would be happy to give you some great advice on the subject. They might also be able to suggest some of the best places to find people who fit your criteria and are willing to work for the rate you want to pay, among other things.
Still, the site is also a good place to find information. You can talk to leaders in your field in real time, and you can also read ebooks, blog posts, listen to podcasts, watch webinars, and listen to the radio.
4. Social Enterprise Alliance
This community is for you if you run a social enterprise and want to grow, learn, get support, and give it back. When you join, you get access to the Social Enterprise Alliance’s Slack group, exclusive webinars, and affinity groups, among other things.
You can join the chapters and national boards and contribute to them. You can also get discounts on their paid programs. So, you don’t just learn, but also help out and take part in a lot of different things. You can join as a student, as an individual, through an organization, or through a consulting firm.
5. Startup Grind
Startup Grind is a big community with more than 5 million members from all over the world. Its goal is to give entrepreneurs the training and opportunities they need to build the business they’ve always wanted and grow it.
Startup Grind hosts many local events and global conferences, which are great ways to build and grow your network. They have more than 600 chapters in more than 125 different countries. In addition to the normal membership program for startups and partners, they also have a membership program for students who are just starting out.
Their membership program gives you access to their Slack community, a newsletter just for members, one-on-one meetings with the founders, mentor office events, promotion of products and jobs, and more.
6. Wannabe Entrepreneur Community
The Wannabe Entrepreneur Community is a small Slack group with 60 members that you can join for $10 a month. If you don’t like it, you can get your money back.
This small group of “Wannabe Entrepreneurs” can be a great place to start if you want to start a side business while still working your main job or if you want someone to hold you accountable for the things you need to do. They hold workshops regularly, give you feedback on your project, help you find ways to be more productive, and meet for coffee every week.
Are You Ready to Join an Entrepreneur Community?
If you often have to talk about things at work that your friends don’t understand or need ideas that your family can’t give you, you need to hang out with people who think like you do. The best place to make friends with people like this is in groups for entrepreneurs.
So far, we’ve talked about almost all levels of communities for entrepreneurs, from the ones that cost a lot to the ones that are small and help you hold yourself accountable. You can pick the one that best fits your needs and helps you achieve your goals.