Founders Network Membership Benefits
Helm is a leading community for the scale-up founders.
Surround yourself with the killer support crew to help you sail unchartered waters
Personal advisory board
The most valuable asset a founder can have: a support network of like-minded individuals dealing with the same challenges. The personal advisory board will act as your sounding board and entrepreneurial support system in peer sized business groups.
Access to 120+ exclusive events
Helm events include roundtables, networking, workshops and special guests. They are designed to accelerate knowledge sharing, build collaborative business relationships and help founders think outside of the echo chamber of their industry.
Unparalleled connections and powerful support
The Helm community of over 400 members creates the opportunity for an incredible network of founders to share and collaborate. Your dedicated founder success manager will help facilitate those connections based on your evolving needs, helping you tackle whatever business challenge you have.
Business Growth
Are you ready to take your business to the next stage of growth? Supercharge your business decisions with the support of Helm and founders who've solved the challenges you're facing today.
Better Growth
Our members are innovative and impactful. Access inspiration and ideas on how to build a business that delivers on people, planet and profit.
Personal Growth
Personal growth if often neglected by founders.
Success stories
"I have been a member of Helm for 15+ years and joining was the biggest single thing I did to help grow a business fast - through all the ups and downs to exit."
"Helm offers a unique forum to discuss with other founders who are inevitably facing similar challenges. Helm makes doing business a continuous learning experience and a less lonely place."
"I have bought, sold and developed businesses throughout my career that have reflected my changing interests and opportunities that presented themselves. I started in fashion, building the Muubaa leather brand before going into furniture, then finance, founding Funding Nav and most recently property with the acquisition of Forward Thinking Lettings.I have been a member of Helm for almost 20 years now and the learning and network that it has given me has been invaluable in helping me on my journey."
"Becoming a Helm Forum chair has been a great experience. The role allows me to hear and learn from other founders, as well as working with the group to support and guide the forum members through complex situations, issues, or puzzles. It’s really rewarding to see many of the things I’ve learnt running my own businesses helping others."
FAQs
Who should apply?
Helm members are founders of established, high-growth businesses. Many have been with us as they took the journey from scale-up through to exit or stepping away from the business. We welcome applications to join from founders of any stage from scaling (£1-10m, 10 staff), through scaling and stepping back (£10M-£20M / 100+ staff) to life after your business.
What is the time commitment?
You get out of Helm what you put into it. There are multiple ways to get value from accessing the experience of other members in our digital community, to attending Forum (for 3 hours per month) to attending our digital or in-person events but there is no fixed time commitment. But you will get more value from Helm the more you spend time sharing insights and experience with fellow members.
How many events are there?
We run 2 to 3 events per week but do not expect you to come to them all. We put on a variety of events to help members with different challenges and interests. We normally see members come to an event every 1 to 2 months.
Will this be a distraction?
No. One additional benefit that Helm members often mention is how a tip, insight or piece of wisdom from a fellow member has saved them repeating mistakes made by others. Helm can help you navigate a better route to business success.
I’m fairly well connected and plugged into other communities, do I need this?
We have a lot of respect from the entire founder ecosystem. But from experience, each network offers something unique. If you’re looking to support business growth and develop your own personal journey to health, wealth and your positive legacy, there isn’t a better place than Helm.
Will members be trying to sell to me?
Helm was founded in 2003 to create a space for founders to have open and honest conversations, without being sold to. A lot has changed since those early days, but our 'Give and Get' ethos has held true. Helm started as a reaction to the feeling of being sold to at networking events and we protect that feeling every day for our members.
I work in corporate finance/law/recruitment, is this community for me?
No. While our members might be your target market, we’re a network for pioneering founders. Our events are a safe space for members to share experiences and be open and honest with other founders and to learn from each other. We don’t accept non-founder staff as members.
What are the Guiding Values of Helm?
You can view our Guiding Values here, including the Give and Get ethos which shapes everything we do and ask of members. To summarise though we are inspired and driven by growth. We want to help our members succeed in their journey of business and personal growth that creates positive impact and delivers more than it takes.