It’s a big month for StartupExperts—we just hit 2,000 members! 🎉 We’re so grateful for the incredible operators, builders, and leaders who continue to make this community such a meaningful place to learn, connect, and grow.

We’ve officially announced the 25 StartupExperts to Follow in 2025—and we couldn’t be more excited to spotlight this group. Each of these individuals was nominated by members of our leadership committee for their meaningful contributions to their companies, industries, and the StartupExperts community. From early-stage disruptors to seasoned operators, this list reflects the depth, diversity, and generosity that define our members.

Keep an eye out—we’ll be sharing more individual spotlights on Linkedin and in Slack in the weeks ahead!

We also just launched our official Instagram and YouTube pages, where you’ll find community recaps, partner profile interviews, and episodes of our Becoming Better with StartupExperts podcast. These channels give us a new way to share insights, amplify voices from the community, and keep the energy going between events.

Our local chapters and hubs are continuing to buzz with activity, from expert panels and community dinners to wellness events and happy hours. These gatherings continue to bring our values to life in person—creating space for connection, learning, and shared leadership across the country. We’re also seeing more members raise their hands to host events in their own cities, and we love it.

Meanwhile, the StartupExperts AI Learning Journey is going strong. We just wrapped the first session of Q2 with another incredible turnout. Since launching, we’ve had nearly 1,000 people participate in the program—HR, Finance, and Ops leaders (and their teams!) exploring how AI can reduce friction and unlock new capacity at work. This program, launched in partnership with ApplyAI, is designed to help HR, Finance, and Ops leaders (and their teams!) explore how AI can reduce friction and unlock new capacity at work. Our next session is happening on May 28th—and as always, it’s open to both members and their teams.

New: Friday Forum Series! We’re excited to officially launch our Friday Forum Series—a new space designed for StartupExperts members to come together for real conversations, fresh perspectives, and shared learning. Each session will be an informal, quick-hit gathering (usually 30–45 minutes) where we dig into leadership topics, workplace trends, and real-world challenges (and wins!). No formal presentations—just open, honest conversations with peers who get it. Stay tuned for our first Friday Forum invite coming soon!

Applications to join are open at www.StartupExperts.us—let’s keep building together!