The problems at scale are lonely ones. Your team can’t always hear your doubts.
Running a scaling company is isolating. You can’t share every worry with your team (they need confidence). You can’t always be honest with your board (they have their own agenda). And your friends outside the startup world, no matter how supportive, don’t understand the specific pressures of hiring at speed, managing cash, or navigating a difficult board conversation.
Peer networks of founders at similar stages give you something nobody else can: honest conversations with people who are dealing with the same problems right now.
A small group (typically 6 to 12 people) who meet regularly, share openly, and hold each other accountable. The best ones have strict confidentiality so you can talk about the real issues, not the polished version. They challenge your thinking, share what’s worked for them, and give you perspective when you’re too close to the problem.
Helm (formerly The Supper Club) is a membership community of 400+ scale-up founders and CEOs. It focuses on peer learning, facilitated networking, and access to subject matter experts. It’s specifically designed for revenue-stage founders.
EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organisation) has UK chapters and runs forum groups of 6 to 10 members who meet monthly. Strong structure and confidentiality.
YPO (Young Presidents’ Organisation) is global, with 38,000 members across 150 countries. The core experience is small-group forums with strict confidence.
Founders Forum runs events and communities for tech founders.
A regular dinner with four or five founders you trust, at the same stage as you, can be just as valuable as a formal membership. The format matters less than the honesty.
What good looks like: A founder who meets with a group of five fellow CEOs every month, where they discuss their hardest problems openly, challenge each other’s thinking, and leave with at least one actionable takeaway. No posturing, no pitching, just real conversation.
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Try the funding finder →This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Always do your own research and seek independent professional advice.