- The Five Club
- Guide
How to choose an entrepreneurs club, without the guesswork.
An entrepreneurs club can bring you clients, investors, a place, or people who understand what you’re living through. Rarely all four. Here’s how to choose, and what the main clubs actually offer.
This page is written by The Five Club, which is one of the clubs compared. Figures come from each club’s website or the press, with sources at the bottom of the page. Checked on November 8, 2026: details can change, so confirm them with each club.
Four questions to ask yourself first.
What are you looking for?
Clients, peers, an investor, an address to host people: those are different clubs. This question rules out the most options.
How much time can you give it?
A weekly meeting at 7:30 a.m. takes different planning from a dinner on the date you choose.
Who will be across from you?
Look at company stage, the sectors represented and, above all, who decides to accept a member.
What happens after you meet?
A good club doesn’t end when the evening does. Look at how you get to see the people you liked again.
The main clubs, side by side.
| Club | What it is | Rhythm | Selection |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Five Club | Private social club for founders | Dinners on the date you choose, monthly Banquet | Applications read by hand, roughly 1 in 4 |
| BNI | Business referral network, 355,000 members worldwide | Weekly meeting | One member per profession in each chapter |
| Frenchfounders | International network of French-speaking leaders | 400+ events a year | Application, international outlook |
| we are_ | Private house in Paris and Lille, 1,600+ members | 250+ events a year | Membership committee |
| Soho House Paris | Private club, restaurant and hotel | Open to members | Membership committee |
| Le Galion | Club for tech founders | Peer meetings | Raised from a VC fund, and sponsorship |
| APM | Leadership clubs, 8,000+ members | One meeting a month with an expert | Co-optation |
| CJD | Movement of company leaders | Local working groups and training | Through your nearest section |
Which club for what you want.
- Clients and regular referrals
- BNI and similar networks. That’s what they exist for.
- An address to work from, have lunch and host
- we are_ or Soho House Paris. You’re joining a place first.
- An international network of French-speaking leaders
- Frenchfounders, especially if you’re expanding abroad.
- Tech peers who have already raised
- Le Galion.
- Growing as a leader, with experts
- APM or CJD.
- A circle of founders you actually want to see again
- The Five Club: tables of five or six built for you, with no commercial agenda.
Keep reading.
The questions we get asked.
What is the best entrepreneurs club?
There isn’t just one. The best club is the one that matches what you’re after: BNI for referrals, Frenchfounders for international reach, we are_ for a place, The Five Club for a circle of founders.
How do you join a private entrepreneurs club?
Almost always by application, sometimes by sponsorship. Prepare a clear description of your company and what you’re looking for.