When you’re an entrepreneur, you know you can’t do things alone. While you may have the big ideas and the willingness to put everything on the line for them, you need some help if you really want to succeed and grow your business. And when you’re just starting out, you know how invaluable good mentors and connections are. For these reasons, social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn just won’t cut it for you as an entrepreneur. When you’re looking for a place to connect with other entrepreneurs, try one of these six social networks that are specifically for you.
PartnerUp.com
PartnerUp is an excellent community for entrepreneurs. It does exactly what the name implies – helps you find people to partner with to grow your business. It also does much more. If you’re looking to get involved with a small business already in progress, you can find listings for opportunities. You can also find commercial real estate for sale, and find vendors and service providers that you may need. It’s a great place to network with other entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Biznik.com
Biznik is a social network for independent business people. It focuses on helping you make connections with other independent business people like yourself. With Biznik, you can locate people and businesses in your area and beyond that can help support you and assist you in growing your business. Biznik is a great place to converse with like-minded people and score some great advice.
Entrepreneur Connect (EConnect.Entrepreneur.com)
Entrepreneur Connect is another place to meet other entrepreneurs like you. Membership is free, and the best way to use Entrepreneur Connect is by joining some of the rich and diverse groups. In groups, you can discuss anything with other businesspeople in your niche. You can ask and answer questions, form beneficial relationships, and learn more about your industry. There is also a Marketplace with listings for everything from legal services to logo design to real estate.
Ryze.com
Ryze is a growing social network that appeals to many different types of users. From CEOs of large companies to hopeful small business entrepreneurs, you can meet a wide range of people and professionals. Ryze focuses on allowing you to grow your contact base and meet new people. There are event listings and classifieds to explore, too.
PerfectBusiness.com
PerfectBusiness allows you to connect with others, but it also offers a lot more. There is a wealth of resources, including articles, videos, and software, that will help you with the entire entrepreneurial process. When you’re just starting out, this website is a great place to begin learning about everything from writing a business plan to finding investors. And you can form some valuable relationships that will help you along the way.
TheFunded.com
TheFunded is a growing community that focuses on the financial side of entrepreneurship. It’s a place where you can connect with other entrepreneurs to discuss things like financing and investing. It also helps you learn about venture capitalists (VCs) that can help you, and members rate their experiences with different VCs and funds.
Venture Capitalist M.P. Brown loves the thrill of the start up and the challenges of running his own business. For finding new business opportunities, he stays actively involved in business networks.