Get Involved

Launch a Startup Huddle Chapter

In many cities, there is no one entry point into the local startup community. Individuals often feel like they have to “know” someone or, at minimum, have a successful business to engage in the startup community. Startup Huddle should serve as an entry point for anyone in the community hoping to engage with entrepreneurs. An important, intentional aspect of the program is its complete lack of barriers to entry – this is essential to playing an introductory role. As such, one important metric we track is the number of attendees joining each session, as well as a breakdown of the number of new participants attending each session.

Apply to Lead a Chapter

Apply to launch Startup Huddle in your city or community. Member-leaders make Startup Huddle a success, and the Global Entrepreneurship Network is here to help. We are currently looking for members interested in starting new Startup Huddles in their city. If you are interested, please fill out this form in order to apply to help make the future of startups better for all.

APPLY TO LEAD A CHAPTER

Register to Present

Startup Huddle is designed for entrepreneurs who are leading companies through the early stages of a new venture. As such, there are specific criteria that Startup Huddle organizers must use in order to select a company. We use the same criteria globally.

The business model conveys intention and ability to grow. Examples of presenter company qualities: Using technology to scale; expanding by cities, state, region, or nation (unconstrained by geography); or has a new, disruptive business model.
The company, ideally, is 3 years old or younger - 3 to 5 years only if the company still lacks customers. If your company is not accepted, please do not be offended. We hope that you will still attend Startup Huddle and take advantage of the experiential learning that takes place every week.

Presenting at Startup Huddle gives entrepreneurs the platform and the network to achieve practical solutions and new connections, opening them up to exclusive invitations to GEN Founders — a constantly growing community of 250,000+ founders who benefit directly from participation in GEN programs and communities through increased access to connections, exposure and knowledge. GEN programs and initiatives empowering founders include: the Entrepreneurship World Cup – a global pitch competition with accelerator and investor support, Startup Huddle – with local chapters helping founders crowd-source solutions to their current challenges, a global GEN Starters Club, and various interactive platform tools to connect with mentors, investors and other potential collaborators.

Event Format

Each gathering follows the following format:

15 min - Networking
2 min - Welcoming Remarks
6 min - Entrepreneur #1 presentation
20 min - Q+A: Community Feedback
6 min – Entrepreneur #2 presentation (optional)
20 min – Q+A: Community Feedback (optional)
10 min - Community Announcements
2 min - Closing Remarks
Remaining time - Networking

Join Your Local Startup Huddle Chapter

Become a Member

Startup Huddle meetings focus on helping one entrepreneur at a time while strengthening the local startup ecosystem. During each session, founders share a real challenge they are facing in their business, and the community responds with questions, insights, and practical ideas. Chapter membership gives you the opportunity to learn from these conversations, contribute your perspective, and build meaningful relationships with others who support entrepreneurship in your community.

And the best part? It's completely free.

Why Become a Member?

Give First: Contribute to Your Community and its Local Ecosystem

While membership of your local Startup Huddle chapter has much to give you, showing up with your questions, feedback, encouragement and connections helps founders overcome challenges and make progress in their ventures. Members often comment about the satisfaction of having regularly given back to at least one person in their community each meet up.

Learn from Real Startup Journeys

Each time chapters meet, founders present real challenges they navigate in their businesses. Members of that chapter gain insight into how entrepreneurs approach decisions, solve problems, and move their ventures forward.

Access a Global Network

Startup Huddle chapters operate in cities around the world through the Global Entrepreneurship Network, connecting local startup communities to a broader entrepreneurial network and resources.

Membership of one Chapter comes with free membership of GEN which opens the door to relationships that extend beyond your local ecosystem if you choose to explore them.

Grow Through Community

Startup Huddle sessions create space for founders, mentors, investors, and indeed members of the public interested in their community and its entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and learn from one another's experience.

What Membership Includes:

Weekly or Monthly Startup Huddle Sessions Free access to regular gatherings where founders present their startups and share a challenge they are working through.

Meaningful Networking Connections to entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and other community members and leaders who are actively engaged in helping small businesses and building the local startup community.

Opportunities to Contribute An opportunity to share your knowledge, support founders, and collaborate with others who care about entrepreneurship. Structured conversations with others focused on helping entrepreneurs think through challenges and explore possible solutions.

Connection to a Global Movement

Connect your community to a global network — Startup Huddle chapters are part of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which operates in most economies in the world. Members have the option to sign up for "GEN Connect" communities and network with people across the world passionate about improving people's lives by finding better ways of doing things in their societies.

Who Should Become a Member?

Startup Huddle membership is designed for people who believe in supporting entrepreneurs and strengthening startup ecosystems.

Membership may be valuable for:

Entrepreneurs building or growing a startup
Professionals interested in innovation and entrepreneurship
Mentors who want to support founders
Investors looking to connect with emerging startups
Students exploring entrepreneurship
Ecosystem leaders supporting innovation in their city
Community leaders and the public interested in seeing more of their own succeed as entrepreneurs

What Happens at a Startup Huddle?

Each Startup Huddle session follows a methodology designed to encourage meaningful conversation and practical learning.

One or two founders present their startup and a specific challenge they are facing. The community asks thoughtful questions to understand the situation and then shares insights, connections, and ideas to help the founder move forward.

These conversations create an environment where everyone in the room learns.

Become Part of the Community

Startup Huddle is a community of people who care about entrepreneurs and believe they grow faster when communities support them.

By becoming a member, you join others who are committed to supporting founders and strengthening entrepreneurship in their city.

Startup Huddle is an educational experience for both the audience and the presenters. Based on a model developed at the Kauffman Foundation, expanded internationally through the Global Entrepreneurship Network and continually refined by a dedicated community of entrepreneurs across the world, we have created an educational program that holds the promise to revitalize, empower, grow and activate your city’s community of entrepreneurs. Startup Huddle is a free community program, focused on lowering the barriers to entry into the startup community.

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