Finding a community of like-minded entrepreneurs can be instrumental in starting and growing a business. Entrepreneurs often benefit from networking, collaborating, and learning from peers who face similar challenges and opportunities. In the opening paragraphs, we’ll provide a quick overview of some of the top ways to connect with fellow entrepreneurs.
Local Entrepreneurial Networks
One of the best places to start is right in your own community. Most cities and regions have organizations dedicated to supporting local entrepreneurs through networking events, workshops, accelerators, co-working spaces, and more. Here are some options to find entrepreneurial networks near you:
- Chambers of commerce often have programs for small business owners and hosts mixers and workshops.
- Co-working spaces allow entrepreneurs to rent desk space and connect with others working independently. They usually host community events.
- Meetup.com is an online platform where you can search for entrepreneurial meetup groups by location and topic of interest.
- Universities and community colleges may have incubators, events, competitions, and other resources to engage with student entrepreneurs.
- Your local SBA office provides training, mentoring, and other support programs for small business owners.
- Entrepreneurial or startup accelerators offer intensive training, mentoring, and access to investors for emerging companies.
Joining these local networks is a great way to regularly engage with fellow entrepreneurs in your community for collaboration, feedback, and support.
National Entrepreneurial Organizations
In addition to local networks, there are many prominent national organizations that bring entrepreneurs together from across the country and provide valuable benefits.
Here are some top national organizations to consider joining:
- Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) – A global peer-to-peer network of over 14,000 entrepreneurs. Members gain access to exclusive events, learning forums, and mentorship opportunities.
- Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) – An invitation-only organization for entrepreneurs 40 and under. YEC provides access to remote mentoring groups, live events, educational resources, and discounts on business services.
- Startup Grind – Hosts monthly events in over 600 cities and 140 countries featuring talks and networking with successful founders and startup experts.
- Founder Institute – The world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator provides an intensive cohort-based program and ongoing support community.
- Startup America Partnership – Sponsored by the SBA, their online platform and initiatives aim to fuel entrepreneurial growth and innovation across the country.
The value of these organizations is the ability to connect with fellow founders across industries and business stages. The peer communities provide support, ideas, and encouragement as members scale their companies.
Conferences and Events
Attending startup conferences and entrepreneur-focused events allows you to network face-to-face with fellow founders and build meaningful connections. Here are some major conferences to check out:
- South by Southwest (SXSW) – This annual conference in Austin, Texas has become a top destination for entrepreneurs and includes startup pitch competitions.
- CES – The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas showcases cutting-edge technologies and innovations with events and speakers tailored to entrepreneurs.
- Adobe Summit – A conference focused on digital marketing, media, and ecommerce for over 10,000 attendees.
- Ascent Conference – A three-day event put on by Entrepreneur Magazine bringing together over 700 emerging business leaders.
In addition to major conferences, most major cities host smaller startup events and demo days where you can connect with local founders and investors.
Online Communities
Lastly, the internet has enabled all sorts of virtual communities where entrepreneurs discuss ideas, share advice, and find support. Here are some popular online forums:
- Reddit – Sites like r/startups and r/entrepreneur provide a forum to discuss entrepreneurship topics.
- Quora – Follow topics like “Startup Advice” and “Entrepreneurship” to pose questions to the community or browse existing threads.
- IndieHackers – A community and resource hub for bootstrapped startups and self-funded founders.
- Inbound.org – A community of creators in marketing, sales, and growth roles at startups and SMBs.
- FounderHub – An online forum to ask questions and have discussions with verified founders and entrepreneurs.
Participating in these online communities allows you to tap into the collective knowledge of entrepreneurs around the world. You can get quick answers to problems, feedback on ideas, and find partners for collaboration.
Tips for Getting the Most Value
When joining entrepreneurial networks, keep these tips in mind to maximize the value:
- Clearly articulate what you’re hoping to gain – mentors, funding, feedback, partners etc.?
- Come prepared to meetings and events – bring business cards, be ready to concisely pitch your company.
- Follow up with your connections after meetings to continue the relationship.
- Give value, not just take – share your expertise and help others when possible.
- Don’t over promote – focus on building authentic relationships, not just pitching.
- Contribute thoughtfully to online forums and discussions.
- Track your meaningful connections and continue nurturing those relationships.
By engaging thoughtfully and consistently within entrepreneurial communities, you gain access to invaluable resources and relationships that can propel your venture forward.
Conclusion
Surrounding yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs provides camaraderie, accountability, and fresh perspectives. Local entrepreneurial networks, national organizations, conferences, and online communities enable you to continuously learn, get feedback, and make connections that benefit your startup journey. Consider joining a few groups that align with your interests and business stage to find the support you need.