BNI stands for Business Network International. It was founded in 1985 and currently has more than 2,70,000+ members across 74 countries in the world. The mission of BNI is to help members increase their business through a structured referral marketing program that enables them to develop long-term, meaningful relationships with quality business professionals. It is very easy to become a part of the BNI organization. Start by finding a local BNI chapter online and choose to attend their next meeting. There you will be given a chance to introduce yourself and the business and meet the other members. If you believe it’s a right fit for you, you can fill an application form and go through an interview with the membership committee.
Startup Grind is the world’s largest community of startups, founders, innovators, and creators. They host local events, flagship conferences, startup programs, partnerships, and online media and content which collectively reaches over 3.5 million individuals worldwide. This is a great platform uniquely suited for early-stage tech startups and investors. To join Startup Grind, you need to fill an application form online and you will receive a reply within 2-3 business days. Selection of your application is based on a number of factors, such as founding team experience and expertise, product, market size and timing, unique differentiators and GTM strategy among other things.
TiE Global is a nonprofit organization devoted to entrepreneurs in all industries, at all stages, from incubation, throughout the entrepreneurial life cycle. With a global reach and a local focus, the heart of TiE efforts lies in its five foundational programs, – Mentoring, Networking, Education, Funding, and Incubation. There are currently 15,000 members in 61 chapters across 14 countries. TiE also has a subsidiary organization dedicated solely to women entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs’ Organization is a high-quality support network of 14,000+ like-minded leaders across 61 countries. We help entrepreneurs achieve their full potential through the power of life-enhancing connections, shared experiences and collaborative learning. Along with structured educational content focused on the core areas of first-stage businesses, the Accelerator programme by EO affords you the unique experience of learning from and connecting with other members. They also have a separate program for student entrepreneurs. To join the organization, one must be the owner, founder or majority stakeholder of a business earning a minimum of US$1 million in revenue during the most recent fiscal year.
As the name suggests, YEC is specifically for young founders. To apply, one must be 45 years old or younger and the founder, co-founder, owner or co-owner of a company, and your company has either generated or raised funding at least $1M in annual revenue and submit an application form. Member benefits include building your personal brand through media exposure, revenue and leadership growth through expert coaching, and partnership benefits from other firms. These organizations support you in your business endeavours through coaching and networking opportunities along with helping you find friends whom you can confide in and discuss the challenges of running a solo business.