Last verified
The Founders Forum vs Foundwell Founder Circles
The Founders Forum is a in-person peer-led forum with peer-led. Foundwell Founder Circles is a hybrid facilitated forum with peer-led. This page compares cost, requirements, format, and stage fit using verified public data. The Founders Forum: Austin founders who want weekly in-person peer support integrating business, leadership, faith, and family — without dues. Foundwell Founder Circles: Seed to Series B startup CEOs who want a small, confidential founder circle focused on honest peer support.
Side-by-side
| Field | The Founders Forum | Foundwell Founder Circles |
|---|---|---|
| Format | in-person | hybrid |
| Structure | peer-led forum | facilitated forum |
| Facilitation | peer-led | peer-led |
| Group size | Not published | 6 to 10 |
| Stage fit | Pre-seed and seed, Series A, Growth, Late stage | Pre-seed and seed, Series A |
| Revenue / capital floor | None stated; founders at every stage welcome | Not published; Circles for startup CEOs who have raised some capital (Seed to Series B); also earlier-stage cohorts without raise |
| Annual cost | No membership fee (potluck; optional donations) | Not published |
| Application model | application | application |
| Venture-specific | No | Yes |
| Other requirements | Current or past founder who built a business from the ground up; must love Jesus (Christ-centered fellowship); Austin-based | Vetted for fit; startup CEOs; confidential (no recordings/summaries) |
| Time commitment | Weekly in-person gatherings alternating Bee Cave and Downtown Austin | Typically every other week for 75 minutes |
| Geography | Austin, TX | In-person New York City and Miami; virtual Circles elsewhere |
| Best for | Austin founders who want weekly in-person peer support integrating business, leadership, faith, and family — without dues. | Seed to Series B startup CEOs who want a small, confidential founder circle focused on honest peer support. |
| Not for | Founders seeking a secular or venture-only peer board, or remote-only participation. | Non-founder executives or lifestyle business owners seeking a classic SMB CEO board with published pricing. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-15 | 2026-09-15 |
Verdict by stage
Pre-seed and seed
At Pre-seed and seed, both list this stage. Foundwell Founder Circles is venture-specific. The Founders Forum is broader. The fit is Foundwell Founder Circles when you want a venture-scale room; The Founders Forum when you want a wider peer mix.
Series A
At Series A, both list this stage. Foundwell Founder Circles is venture-specific. The Founders Forum is broader. The fit is Foundwell Founder Circles when you want a venture-scale room; The Founders Forum when you want a wider peer mix.
Growth
At Growth, The Founders Forum lists this stage. Foundwell Founder Circles does not. The fit is The Founders Forum for this stage band.
Late stage
At Late stage, The Founders Forum lists this stage. Foundwell Founder Circles does not. The fit is The Founders Forum for this stage band.
FAQ
- How much do The Founders Forum and Foundwell Founder Circles cost?
- The Founders Forum: No membership fee (potluck; optional donations) (verified 2026-09-15). Foundwell Founder Circles: Not published (verified 2026-09-15). Prices are shown verbatim from public sources; nothing is estimated.
- What are the requirements for The Founders Forum vs Foundwell Founder Circles?
- The Founders Forum: None stated; founders at every stage welcome Current or past founder who built a business from the ground up; must love Jesus (Christ-centered fellowship); Austin-based Foundwell Founder Circles: Not published; Circles for startup CEOs who have raised some capital (Seed to Series B); also earlier-stage cohorts without raise Vetted for fit; startup CEOs; confidential (no recordings/summaries)
- Which is better for venture-backed founders?
- Foundwell Founder Circles is venture-specific. The Founders Forum is not. The fit is Foundwell Founder Circles when you want a venture-scale room.
Sources
Primary public pages used for the fields above.
- thefoundersforum.netRetrieved 2026-09-15 · The Founders Forum
- wearefoundwell.com/founder-circlesRetrieved 2026-09-15 · Foundwell Founder Circles
- wearefoundwell.comRetrieved 2026-09-15 · Foundwell Founder Circles