The room is the product.
Everything about how members join, who they bring, and how they stay engaged is designed to protect the room. Drift here and the club dies quietly over two or three years.
Eligibility
Current or former founders and co-founders, and current or former executives (C-level or MD) with operational responsibility. Past counts the same as present in both cases.
Onboarding
New members submit name, current and past roles, a LinkedIn profile (or a short written bio as a fallback for those without one), and one existing member who vouches.
The application also includes one open question:
"Founders BBQ Club only works because members actually show up. How do you see yourself participating in the next 12 months?"
A blank answer or "I just want to be on the list" is grounds to decline. The vouching member confirms by email. Chapter lead approves. Approved members go in the global directory and get access to RSVP and the members-only channel.
Founding cohort
For chapters with no existing members to vouch, the chapter lead vouches based on personal knowledge. Standard for any closed network bootstrap.
Guests
Each member may bring one guest per event — spouse, long-term partner, friend, or contact. Named at RSVP, not "and friend." Guest pays the same minimum donation as the member. Member is responsible for their guest's donation and behavior. Repeat guests attending three or more events should apply for membership.
Partners
A member's spouse or long-term partner counts as the guest slot, with no annual cap. A member who wants to bring their partner to every event may do so, on every event except founders-only nights.
Founders-only nights
2–3 events per chapter per year are designated founders-only and stated upfront on the invite. No guests at all, partners included. These protect peer-density and create a small number of nights where the room is purely operators.
Who counts as a partner
The member decides. A member who brings the same person repeatedly is bringing their partner. Different person every event is a guest pattern and the chapter lead may have a quiet word. No formal rule, just trust and judgment.
Cost
Free to join. No dues. No tiers.
Engagement
The membership list should reflect the people who actually participate. A member counts as engaged in any 12-month window if they do any of:
- Attend an event in any chapter
- Host an event
- Bring a guest who attended
- Make an introduction between two members
- Vouch for a new member who got in
- Contribute to an auction (item or winning bid)
- Participate meaningfully in the members' channel
The bar is intentionally generous — a member who travels to one event a year, vouches in a strong new member, or hosts once every two years is engaged.
Annual review
Once a year, each chapter lead receives an AI-generated list of members flagged for zero engagement in the past 12 months. The chapter lead reaches out personally: "Haven't seen you for a while, everything okay? Want to stay in or step back?" Either answer is fine.
No response after two attempts and 30 days moves the member to alumni status — kept on a separate list, easily reinstated by re-applying or being vouched back in by a current member.
The check is private between the chapter lead and the member. Attendance is never displayed on member profiles or in the directory.
Removal
Chapter lead can remove anyone who pitches, recruits aggressively, leaks the room, or no-shows twice without notice.