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Alternatives to Hampton

Founders look past Hampton when they miss the bar, want a different format, or need a different stage mix. Pre-seed founders below the bar, fully remote founders outside chapter cities, or anyone who wants a published price before applying.

Ranked alternatives

  1. Alliance of Chief Executives · broader (not venture-only) membership.
  2. FounderNexus · hybrid format vs in-person; staff-convened vs paid facilitator; stage fit: Pre-seed and seed, Series A, Growth, Late stage. FounderNexus site
  3. The Founders Forum · broader (not venture-only) membership; peer-led vs paid facilitator; stage fit: Pre-seed and seed, Series A, Growth, Late stage.
  4. Speakeasy Mastermind (Los Angeles) · broader (not venture-only) membership; hybrid format vs in-person; staff-convened vs paid facilitator.
  5. Vistage · broader (not venture-only) membership; hybrid format vs in-person.
  6. Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) · broader (not venture-only) membership; hybrid format vs in-person; peer-led vs paid facilitator.
  7. YPO · broader (not venture-only) membership; hybrid format vs in-person; peer-led vs paid facilitator.

Comparison table

RankGroupCostStage fitWhy listed
1Alliance of Chief Executives$750 one-time enrollment + $11,000 annual dues (monthly/quarterly opt…Series A, Growth, Late stagebroader (not venture-only) membership.
2FounderNexusNot publishedPre-seed and seed, Series A, Growth, Late stagehybrid format vs in-person; staff-convened vs paid facilitator; stage fit: Pre-seed and seed, Series A, Growth, Late stage.
3The Founders ForumNo membership fee (potluck; optional donations)Pre-seed and seed, Series A, Growth, Late stagebroader (not venture-only) membership; peer-led vs paid facilitator; stage fit: Pre-seed and seed, Series A, Growth, Late stage.
4Speakeasy Mastermind (Los Angeles)$5,995/year (includes monthly meetups, private app, national referral…Series A, Growth, Late stagebroader (not venture-only) membership; hybrid format vs in-person; staff-convened vs paid facilitator.
5VistageNot publishedSeries A, Growth, Late stagebroader (not venture-only) membership; hybrid format vs in-person.
6Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO)Global dues published as US$2,470 (apply page) vs US$2,630 (chapter p…Pre-seed and seed, Series A, Growthbroader (not venture-only) membership; hybrid format vs in-person; peer-led vs paid facilitator.
7YPOUSD 4,790 one-time initiation + USD 4,790 annual global dues; local c…Growth, Late stagebroader (not venture-only) membership; hybrid format vs in-person; peer-led vs paid facilitator.

Hampton vs the top alternatives

FieldHamptonAlliance of Chief ExecutivesFounderNexusThe Founders Forum
Formatin-personin-personhybridin-person
Structurefacilitated forumfacilitated forumcurated roomspeer-led forum
Facilitationpaid facilitatorpaid facilitatorstaff-convenedpeer-led
Group sizeabout 10About 12 per Alliance Group (target ~8 in-meeting)Stage-matched rooms (size not published)Not published
Stage fitSeries A, Growth, Late stageSeries A, Growth, Late stagePre-seed and seed, Series A, Growth, Late stagePre-seed and seed, Series A, Growth, Late stage
Revenue / capital floor$3M+ revenue OR $3M+ funding OR $10M+ prior exit; active founders/CEOs of digital or tech-enabled companiesNot published as a numeric floor; membership is fit-based, not balance-sheet gatedVenture-scale; stages mapped as $0–2M ARR (pre-seed/seed) through $50M+ ARR / Exit. Pre-approval: 3+ years as a venture-scale founder or meaningful VC round already raised; experience navigating a VC or angel raise; building or seeking to build a venture-scale company.None stated; founders at every stage welcome
Annual costNot published$750 one-time enrollment + $11,000 annual dues (monthly/quarterly options). Charged only after first private-group meeting confirms fit.Not publishedNo membership fee (potluck; optional donations)
Application modelapplicationinvite-onlyapplicationapplication
Venture-specificYesNoYesNo
Other requirementsApply-gated; ~2% accepted (site claim); Core placement ~90 days; 18 chapter citiesQualified leadership position (CEO / senior leaders); personal fit interview; confidentiality and no-selling principlesApplication → pre-approval → first session free as guest → peer evaluation → invitation to matching stage room. VC-fund referrals receive expedited pre-approval.Current or past founder who built a business from the ground up; must love Jesus (Christ-centered fellowship); Austin-based
Time commitmentMonthly in-person Core group (Aug/Dec off) plus chapter eventsAbout 40 hours/year on Alliance participation (site claim); private group meetings plus roundtables/dinnersMonthly stage sessions plus Nexus Partner 1:1; cadence otherwise not quantified on homepageWeekly in-person gatherings alternating Bee Cave and Downtown Austin
Geography18 chapter cities (US-focused)San Francisco Bay Area / Northern California / Silicon ValleyOnline plus in-person (Seattle, San Francisco, London named on Luma)Austin, TX
Best forActive tech or digital founders who clear the $3M revenue/funding bar and want a monthly in-person moderated peer group in their city.Bay Area CEOs who want confidential, facilitated strategic peer forums with industry-diverse operators.Venture-scale founders who want stage-pure peer rooms around live decisions from pre-seed through exit.Austin founders who want weekly in-person peer support integrating business, leadership, faith, and family — without dues.
Not forPre-seed founders below the bar, fully remote founders outside chapter cities, or anyone who wants a published price before applying.Pre-revenue founders seeking a startup-only room, or anyone unwilling to invest significant annual time.Lifestyle businesses, sub-$1M ARR services firms, or founders who want a paid facilitator-led CEO forum.Founders seeking a secular or venture-only peer board, or remote-only participation.
Last verified2026-09-142026-09-152026-09-152026-09-15

Full Hampton profile

Sources

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