Last verified
Foundwell Founder Circles vs Vistage
Foundwell Founder Circles is a hybrid facilitated 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. Foundwell Founder Circles: Seed to Series B startup CEOs who want a small, confidential founder circle focused on honest peer support. 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 | Foundwell Founder Circles | Vistage |
|---|---|---|
| Format | hybrid | hybrid |
| Structure | facilitated forum | facilitated forum |
| Facilitation | peer-led | paid facilitator |
| Group size | 6 to 10 | 12 to 16 |
| Stage fit | Pre-seed and seed, Series A | Series A, Growth, Late stage |
| Revenue / capital floor | Not published; Circles for startup CEOs who have raised some capital (Seed to Series B); also earlier-stage cohorts without raise | Chief Executive program: $5M+ revenue / typically 20+ employees. Small Business program: $1–4M revenue. |
| Annual cost | Not published | Not published |
| Application model | application | application |
| Venture-specific | Yes | No |
| Other requirements | Vetted for fit; startup CEOs; confidential (no recordings/summaries) | CEO/owner peer groups of non-competing members; Chair-led. Qualify via form. |
| Time commitment | Typically every other week for 75 minutes | Monthly peer group meetings plus monthly 1:1 with Chair; speakers and events |
| Geography | In-person New York City and Miami; virtual Circles elsewhere | Global chapters; local groups |
| Best for | Seed to Series B startup CEOs who want a small, confidential founder circle focused on honest peer support. | CEOs and owners who want a Chair-facilitated confidential peer group with coaching, across a wide range of company sizes. |
| Not for | Non-founder executives or lifestyle business owners seeking a classic SMB CEO board with published pricing. | Founders who need a venture-scale-only room or who reject paid facilitators. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-15 | 2026-09-14 |
Verdict by stage
Pre-seed and seed
At Pre-seed and seed, Foundwell Founder Circles lists this stage. Vistage does not. The fit is Foundwell Founder Circles for this stage band.
Series A
At Series A, both list this stage. Foundwell Founder Circles is venture-specific. Vistage is broader. The fit is Foundwell Founder Circles when you want a venture-scale room; Vistage when you want a wider peer mix.
Growth
At Growth, Vistage lists this stage. Foundwell Founder Circles does not. The fit is Vistage for this stage band.
Late stage
At Late stage, Vistage lists this stage. Foundwell Founder Circles does not. The fit is Vistage for this stage band.
FAQ
- How much do Foundwell Founder Circles and Vistage cost?
- Foundwell Founder Circles: Not published (verified 2026-09-15). Vistage: Not published (verified 2026-09-14). Prices are shown verbatim from public sources; nothing is estimated.
- What are the requirements for Foundwell Founder Circles vs Vistage?
- 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) 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?
- Foundwell Founder Circles is venture-specific. Vistage is not. The fit is Foundwell Founder Circles when you want a venture-scale room.
Sources
Primary public pages used for the fields above.
- wearefoundwell.com/founder-circlesRetrieved 2026-09-15 · Foundwell Founder Circles
- wearefoundwell.comRetrieved 2026-09-15 · Foundwell Founder Circles
- vistage.comRetrieved 2026-09-14 · Vistage
- vistage.com/membershipRetrieved 2026-09-14 · Vistage
- vistage.com/membership/programs/chief-executive-programRetrieved 2026-09-14 · Vistage
- vistage.com/membership/programs/small-business-programRetrieved 2026-09-14 · Vistage