Circles
A small group that meets monthly and has your back. Free.
Peer advisory groups and referral chapters work. They're also expensive, weekly, or limited to owners of big companies. Circles borrow what works from them and drop the dues.
Free to join. In your browser, on iPhone and on Android.
Example screen, simplified from the app.
Three kinds of circle
| Item | Size | Meets | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board circle | 6–10 | Monthly | Vistage-style: one or two members bring a real issue; the group asks questions, then gives direct advice. The app aims for a mix of viewpoints. |
| Forum circle | 6–10 | Monthly, about 2 hours | EO-style: one member presents a problem; others share experience, not advice; the member names one action. Confidential. |
| Referral circle | 8–12 | Monthly breakfast, about 1 hour | BNI-style: one member per profession, all connected by profession or industry. Givers gain: give before you ask. |
How circles work
Assembled for you
Same city, similar stage, a shared language, non-competing (or one per profession for referral circles), and nobody you've blocked.
Low commitment
The first meeting is a free trial. Then three months at a time. A circle carries on while at least half its minimum is in.
Planned with taps
Pick a breakfast table or a group activity, answer an availability poll, and the rotating host books the winner.
What we borrowed, and what we changed
BNI showed that one seat per profession and "give first" build referral habits. We kept both, met monthly instead of weekly, and dropped the fees.
Vistage showed that non-competing leaders working on one member's issue is powerful. We kept the format and let the app guide it instead of a paid chair.
EO Forum showed the value of a small, confidential group sharing experience instead of advice. We kept the size and the protocol, and the app prompts it so nobody needs training.
See the side-by-side comparisons with BNI and Vistage and EO.
Questions
How much does a circle cost?
Nothing. Circles are free, like all networking.
How long do I commit?
The first meeting is a free trial with no obligation. After it, members commit three months at a time, and you can leave any time.
Who runs the meeting?
A rotating member, with prompts from the app for the format. There's no paid chair.
Can I be in more than one?
One of each type at a time: a board circle, a forum circle and a referral circle.
Keep exploring
Your board of advisors could meet next month.
Free to join. Answer the basics in a few minutes and you can be matched right away. Everything else you add makes matching better.