Startup Grind Chapter Director Application

Running a Startup Grind Chapter in your city or university can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your personal and professional career. It is of course not easy, but we equip you with the tools, resources, knowledge and support network to help you build a successful local Startup Grind Chapter.

Questions about your application? Please email ford@startupgrind.com.

Start a Chapter

Congratulations on taking the first step in learning more about joining our incredible community of startup ecosystem leaders.

We accept Chapter Directors/Co-directors and team members on rolling basis throughout the year. You can apply to start a new chapter, join an existing chapter, or reactivating an inactive chapter throughout the year.

5 Step Application Process

Step 1: Submit your application by choosing a chapter and filling in personal and background information and acknowledging of roles and responsibilities

Step 2: Submit a short video about your local startup ecosystem and your vision

Step 3: Interview time – We’ll reach out to schedule an interview

Step 4: Accepted applicants will need to complete the certification training in order to receive their Chapter license and become an official Director or Co-Director

Director Certification

After building community for over 11 years our Chapter Directors and Co-Directors have accomplished incredible things through the events they host. We have put together resources and tools from some of the top performing Chapters in order to deliver this 4 week self-paced course.

You will learn the following:
Lesson 1: What is Startup Grind?
Lesson 2: Speakers, Event Types, & Bevy (Chapter Dashboard)
Lesson 3: Marketing & Hosting Events
Lesson 4: Venues & Building Your Team
Lesson 5: Sponsors & Partners

In order to pass the Director Certification you must receive a 90% above on your learning deliverables. As a part of your final learning deliverable you will be requested to submit your speaker pipeline with the next 3 speakers you are looking to host.

Once you pass the Director Certification you will be sent a Chapter Agreement where you’ll receive the license for your Chapter as well as become fully onboarded onto the dashboard so you can begin scheduling your first event. Upon graduation you’ll have 45 more days to have your first event scheduled on your Chapter Dashboard.

About Startup Grind

Chapter Types

Educate, inspire and connect entrepreneurs by becoming a Startup Grind Director. Join hundreds of other leaders from 125+ countries and make a long-lasting impact in your community!

There are 3 types of Startup Grind Chapters; one for larger metro areas, one for smaller cities and one for universities. Each has its own set of requirements, details below.

Startup Grind Classic (SG)

As a Classic Startup Grind Chapter (SG) Director you will host monthly events with successful founders, CEO’s and entrepreneurs from all sorts of different industries and run the largest entrepreneur community in the world in your city.  You will sell tickets to each event and provide food to attendees so they can make it a full night.

Gain influence and make a long-lasting impact in your community!

Startup Grind X (SGx)

Entrepreneurship is universal. We want to educate every single entrepreneur on Earth and even though smaller cities might not be able to sustain a full monthly event series, almost any city can connect with our network through our Startup Grind X program.

As a Startup Grind X (SGx) Director you will host smaller and free events happening less frequently (5+ events/year), but still have an immense impact on the startup ecosystem of the city you live in.  No need to worry about providing dinner, these are more informal gatherings.

Startup Grind U (SGu)

Still at the university? Eager to do more with your free time? Passionate about creating opportunities for people in your community (yourself included)? Join the Startup Grind global network as one of our Startup Grind University Directors to power up your resume and gain an unforgettable experience that will unlock a number of opportunities for you and your university.

As a Startup Grind U (SGu) Director you will host free events throughout the school year (4+ events/year) with successful founders, entrepreneurs and academics at your university to educate, inspire and connect your classmates, faculty members and all the other aspiring entrepreneurs.

Requirements & Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it take to run a Startup Grind chapter?

Startup Grind should not take more than 20% of your time. We are looking for passionate directors that are seeking to build an awesome local community of entrepreneurs. All you must do is get an amazing speaker, a venue where to host it and define a date, every month. What really matters is the people you are bringing together in a monthly basis: the conversations and values they will share to build a thriving community of entrepreneurs in your city.

What support does Startup Grind provide?

We provide a support system and 300+ events worth of experience! Once your application is approved and accepted we will set up a one hour call to go through all of the basics needed to run your first and many other events afterwards. After the basics we will train you on our custom built software that helps you easily manage your event across three different online platforms. Along with our software we will give give you access to resources and templates that will help you conduct the very best interviews with the best speakers, lock down helpful sponsors, and most importantly communicate with a global team of other directors just like you.

Does it cost money to operate a Startup Grind chapter?

Most Chapters operate at a break even, if run properly. It’s worth saying that the main reason why 300+ people run it in their city is not getting rich out of it. The big value will come to you in the networking and relationships you’ll build – and the impact you’ll have in your local ecosystem.

Are there any prerequisites for launching a Startup Grind chapter?

If you are looking to launch a Startup Grind University (SGu) chapter, Startup Grind requires documentation (a letter or email) confirming that the University gives you permission to host a Chapter using the University’s name, and events on the University’s premises. Without this confirmation, we will be unable to accept your application.

Start a Chapter

Educate, inspire and connect entrepreneurs by becoming a Startup Grind Director. Join hundreds of other leaders from 125+ countries and make a long-lasting impact in your community!

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