Last verified
The Founders Forum vs Vistage
The Founders Forum is a in-person peer-led forum with peer-led. Vistage is a hybrid facilitated forum with paid facilitator. 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. Vistage: CEOs and owners who want a Chair-facilitated confidential peer group with coaching, across a wide range of company sizes.
Side-by-side
| Field | The Founders Forum | Vistage |
|---|---|---|
| Format | in-person | hybrid |
| Structure | peer-led forum | facilitated forum |
| Facilitation | peer-led | paid facilitator |
| Group size | Not published | 12 to 16 |
| Stage fit | Pre-seed and seed, Series A, Growth, Late stage | Series A, Growth, Late stage |
| Revenue / capital floor | None stated; founders at every stage welcome | Chief Executive program: $5M+ revenue / typically 20+ employees. Small Business program: $1–4M revenue. |
| Annual cost | No membership fee (potluck; optional donations) | Not published |
| Application model | application | application |
| Venture-specific | No | No |
| Other requirements | Current or past founder who built a business from the ground up; must love Jesus (Christ-centered fellowship); Austin-based | CEO/owner peer groups of non-competing members; Chair-led. Qualify via form. |
| Time commitment | Weekly in-person gatherings alternating Bee Cave and Downtown Austin | Monthly peer group meetings plus monthly 1:1 with Chair; speakers and events |
| Geography | Austin, TX | Global chapters; local groups |
| Best for | Austin founders who want weekly in-person peer support integrating business, leadership, faith, and family — without dues. | CEOs and owners who want a Chair-facilitated confidential peer group with coaching, across a wide range of company sizes. |
| Not for | Founders seeking a secular or venture-only peer board, or remote-only participation. | Founders who need a venture-scale-only room or who reject paid facilitators. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-28 | 2026-10-20 |
Verdict by stage
Pre-seed and seed
At Pre-seed and seed, The Founders Forum lists this stage. Vistage does not. The fit is The Founders Forum for this stage band.
Series A
At Series A, both The Founders Forum and Vistage list this stage. The Founders Forum facilitation is peer-led. Vistage facilitation is paid facilitator. The Founders Forum annual cost is No membership fee (potluck; optional donations). Vistage annual cost is Not published. The Founders Forum revenue floor is None stated; founders at every stage welcome. Vistage revenue floor is Chief Executive program: $5M+ revenue / typically 20+ employees. Small Business program: $1–4M revenue.. The Founders Forum group size is Not published. Vistage group size is 12 to 16.
Growth
At Growth, both The Founders Forum and Vistage list this stage. The Founders Forum facilitation is peer-led. Vistage facilitation is paid facilitator. The Founders Forum annual cost is No membership fee (potluck; optional donations). Vistage annual cost is Not published. The Founders Forum revenue floor is None stated; founders at every stage welcome. Vistage revenue floor is Chief Executive program: $5M+ revenue / typically 20+ employees. Small Business program: $1–4M revenue.. The Founders Forum group size is Not published. Vistage group size is 12 to 16.
Late stage
At Late stage, both The Founders Forum and Vistage list this stage. The Founders Forum facilitation is peer-led. Vistage facilitation is paid facilitator. The Founders Forum annual cost is No membership fee (potluck; optional donations). Vistage annual cost is Not published. The Founders Forum revenue floor is None stated; founders at every stage welcome. Vistage revenue floor is Chief Executive program: $5M+ revenue / typically 20+ employees. Small Business program: $1–4M revenue.. The Founders Forum group size is Not published. Vistage group size is 12 to 16.
FAQ
- How much do The Founders Forum and Vistage cost?
- The Founders Forum: No membership fee (potluck; optional donations) (verified 2026-10-28). Vistage: Not published (verified 2026-10-20). Prices are shown verbatim from public sources; nothing is estimated.
- What are the requirements for The Founders Forum vs Vistage?
- 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 Vistage: Chief Executive program: $5M+ revenue / typically 20+ employees. Small Business program: $1–4M revenue. CEO/owner peer groups of non-competing members; Chair-led. Qualify via form.
- Which is better for venture-backed founders?
- Neither The Founders Forum nor Vistage is marked venture-specific in the dataset. Compare revenue floors and stage fit instead.
Sources
Primary public pages used for the fields above.
5 sources from 2 sites
thefoundersforum.net
- thefoundersforum.netRetrieved 2026-10-28 · The Founders Forum
vistage.com
- vistage.comRetrieved 2026-10-20 · Vistage
- /membershipRetrieved 2026-10-20 · Vistage
- /membership/programs/chief-executive-programRetrieved 2026-10-20 · Vistage
- /membership/programs/small-business-programRetrieved 2026-10-20 · Vistage