Last verified
Foundwell Founder Circles vs YPO
Foundwell Founder Circles is a hybrid facilitated forum with peer-led. YPO is a hybrid peer-led forum with peer-led. 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. YPO: Chief executives who clear a high revenue and headcount bar and want a large global leadership community with local chapters.
Side-by-side
| Field | Foundwell Founder Circles | YPO |
|---|---|---|
| Format | hybrid | hybrid |
| Structure | facilitated forum | peer-led forum |
| Facilitation | peer-led | peer-led |
| Group size | 6 to 10 | Chapter forums (exact size varies; not a single published number) |
| Stage fit | Pre-seed and seed, 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 | USD 16M+ sales (or agency USD 13M / financial institution USD 330M AUM / enterprise value USD 27M), plus 50 FTEs or 15+ FTEs with USD 2.75M payroll. |
| Annual cost | Not published | USD 4,790 one-time initiation + USD 4,790 annual global dues; local chapter dues extra and unpublished |
| Application model | application | application |
| Venture-specific | Yes | No |
| Other requirements | Vetted for fit; startup CEOs; confidential (no recordings/summaries) | Under age 45 at join (exceptions on apply form for women to 54 and Black CEOs); top operational leader with full P&L and hire/fire authority. |
| Time commitment | Typically every other week for 75 minutes | Chapter forum and events; global events (EDGE, GBS) optional |
| Geography | In-person New York City and Miami; virtual Circles elsewhere | Global chapters |
| Best for | Seed to Series B startup CEOs who want a small, confidential founder circle focused on honest peer support. | Chief executives who clear a high revenue and headcount bar and want a large global leadership community with local chapters. |
| Not for | Non-founder executives or lifestyle business owners seeking a classic SMB CEO board with published pricing. | Early-stage or Series A founders below the revenue/headcount bar, or founders who age out of the primary membership path. |
| 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. YPO does not. The fit is Foundwell Founder Circles for this stage band.
Series A
At Series A, Foundwell Founder Circles lists this stage. YPO does not. The fit is Foundwell Founder Circles for this stage band.
Growth
At Growth, YPO lists this stage. Foundwell Founder Circles does not. The fit is YPO for this stage band.
Late stage
At Late stage, YPO lists this stage. Foundwell Founder Circles does not. The fit is YPO for this stage band.
FAQ
- How much do Foundwell Founder Circles and YPO cost?
- Foundwell Founder Circles: Not published (verified 2026-09-15). YPO: USD 4,790 one-time initiation + USD 4,790 annual global dues; local chapter dues extra and unpublished (verified 2026-09-14). Prices are shown verbatim from public sources; nothing is estimated.
- What are the requirements for Foundwell Founder Circles vs YPO?
- 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) YPO: USD 16M+ sales (or agency USD 13M / financial institution USD 330M AUM / enterprise value USD 27M), plus 50 FTEs or 15+ FTEs with USD 2.75M payroll. Under age 45 at join (exceptions on apply form for women to 54 and Black CEOs); top operational leader with full P&L and hire/fire authority.
- Which is better for venture-backed founders?
- Foundwell Founder Circles is venture-specific. YPO 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
- ypo.orgRetrieved 2026-09-14 · YPO
- ypo.org/membership-requirementsRetrieved 2026-09-14 · YPO
- ypo.org/become-a-memberRetrieved 2026-09-14 · YPO