Alexis Kestler
Running a business can be an isolating experience at times. Connecting with other entrepreneurs who face similar challenges can make a big difference. Online communities provide a space to gain support, advice, and new perspectives from like-minded peers.
This guide covers 20 of the top online communities for entrepreneurs. Whether you‘re just starting out or running an established business, these communities offer camaraderie, resources, and insight into the entrepreneurial journey.
Overview of Online Communities for Entrepreneurs
Online communities catering to entrepreneurs have exploded in popularity over the past decade. They provide a virtual space to:
- Exchange ideas and get feedback
- Learn from experienced founders
- Find business partners and team members
- Get support during difficult times
- Promote your product or service
- Stay on top of trends and news
The connections and conversations enabled by these communities can break down the isolation many entrepreneurs experience. They expose you to new ways of thinking that can help you overcome challenges and blindspots.
Active participation also expands your professional network. You may collaboratively solve problems, find mentors or advisors, and discover new tools or service providers.
While styles and cultures vary, the best communities have a few key traits:
- Substantial engaged membership (50,000+ active users is a good benchmark)
- Thoughtful moderation and quality discussion
- Respectful, constructive exchanges
- High signal-to-noise ratio (more insights than spam or self-promotion)
With hundreds of options out there, which ones are worth your limited time? This list focuses on some of the largest, most engaged communities offering real value to entrepreneurs.
1. Indie Hackers
With over 550,000 monthly visitors, Indie Hackers is one of the largest communities focused on bootstrapped online businesses.
The site‘s interviews showcase founders sharing stories of building companies that generate profits without outside funding. Indie Hackers also has an active forum where members can get feedback, discuss challenges, and connect with others growing online businesses.
Key benefits:
- Learn from bootstrappers‘ journeys
- Get feedback on ideas and projects
- Find co-founders and potential hires
- Discover proven tools/services for business growth
2. Hacker News
Hacker News began as a forum for sharing Y Combinator startup news. With over 5.5 million monthly visitors, its scope has expanded while retaining a heavy focus on tech and startups.
The site‘s minimalist format cultivates thoughtful discussion. Experienced founders and tech leaders often participate. The homepage aggregates engaging startup, tech, and business links.
Key benefits:
- Connect with tech innovators and VC investors
- Keep up with emerging technologies
- Get feedback on new tech products
- Recruit team members
3. Product Hunt
Product Hunt helps creators share and discover new products. Its engaged community and clean format make it ideal for garnering feedback and buzz for launches.
With over 4 million monthly visitors, the site has expanded into a robust community. Members share advice and insights on shipping products, scaling companies, and more via comments, podcasts, and live Q&As.
Key benefits:
- Get exposure and test demand for new products
- Gather feedback from engaged testers
- Tap into an influential audience of founders and innovators
- Learn from product design experts
4. Makerlog
Makerlog brings together entrepreneurs and makers to set goals, track progress, and exchange ideas. The platform cultivates accountability and transparency.
Users share their daily tasks and progress. With over 15,000 members, the community provides encouragement as well as constructive feedback. Makerlog also features founder interviews and curated industry news.
Key benefits:
- Set goals and build accountability
- Get suggestions to overcome obstacles
- Give and receive direct support
- Connect with a wide range of makers and founders
5. Designer News
With 175,000+ members, Designer News is a vibrant hub focused on the intersection of design and technology.
The platform features news, resources, interviews, and lively discussions. Designers, developers, makers, and technologists exchange insights on user experience, product design, growth, leadership, and more.
Key benefits:
- Stay updated on design and tech news
- Learn UX and product design best practices
- Get feedback on designs, products, and code
- Collaborate and brainstorm with other designers
- Find job and networking opportunities
6. Starter Story
Starter Story shares inspiring stories of over 500 founders across industries. The in-depth interviews spotlight how ordinary people built successful companies from scratch.
Founders are transparent about their journeys, detailing highs, lows, and key lessons learned. Readers gain valuable insights into getting started, testing ideas, funding growth, and more.
Key benefits:
- Discover relatable startup stories
- Gain insights on getting traction, scaling, funding
- Learn from founders‘ mistakes
- Find inspiration from diverse business journeys
- Promote your own brand’s story
7. Your Stack
Launched by Product Hunt, Your Stack helps founders discover and recommend business tools. Members build their personalized stacks of apps and services that power their company.
The community allows founders to peek inside other successful companies‘ tech stacks. Beyond tools, Your Stack also features founder interviews on growth, leadership, and work culture.
Key benefits:
- Research tools to improve efficiency
- Learn how top companies operate
- Discover insights from renowned founders
- Give and get personalized tool recommendations
- Stay updated on new apps and services
8. GrowthHackers
With over 200,000 members, GrowthHackers is focused on startup growth strategies and tactics.
Experienced marketers and founders share growth studies detailing how they scaled companies. The community discusses the latest trends and news on marketing, sales, and product optimization.
Key benefits:
- Learn proven growth strategies
- Research tools to boost traction
- Develop data-driven experimentation skills
- Collaborate and exchange ideas
- Tap into an influential network of growth experts
9. Quora
Quora has become an invaluable knowledge-sharing community with over 300 million monthly visitors.
The site connects people to share and access first-hand expertise. Entrepreneurs can access detailed answers to business questions, join topic-specific spaces, and establish themselves as thought leaders.
Key benefits:
- Get advice from industry experts
- Increase brand awareness
- Recruit team members
- Conduct market research
- Learn how successful founders tackled issues
10. Black Hat World
With over 2 million monthly visitors, Black Hat World is a popular community focused on SEO, traffic growth, lead generation, and internet marketing.
Seasoned digital marketers discuss effective strategies driving real business results. The community covers both "white hat" and "black hat" techniques. Users exchange services and collaborate on marketing campaigns.
Key benefits:
- Master proven digital marketing tactics
- Brainstorm creative growth experiments
- Exchange services and barter with other marketers
- Stay updated on algorithm changes, new platforms, and tools
11. Startup School
Created by Y Combinator, Startup School provides free access to a 10-week online program. The structured curriculum helps founders build and scale companies through video lessons and group sessions.
Over 10,000 founders globally take part in each cohort. They form an engaged support network, collaborating on projects and sharing progress and problems. Startup School also connects participants with mentors and discounts on business services.
Key benefits:
- Get structured guidance on key startup stages
- Join an instant founder community
- Participate in group sessions and Q&As
- Get exclusive discounts on business tools
- Learn from YCombinator‘s industry experts
12. MakerPad
MakerPad supports no-code founders through online courses, tools, and community. Users access curated resources to master no-code tools for building websites, apps, and other products.
Within the growing community, members share what they‘ve created, give feedback, and exchange growth strategies. MakerPad also spotlights inspiring founder stories.
Key benefits:
- Learn to build products without code
- Discover helpful no-code tools
- Get feedback on projects
- Connect with no-code founders
- Find collaborators and new opportunities
13. Online Geniuses
Online Geniuses is an exclusive community of over 25,000 entrepreneurs and marketers. Members connect via a private Slack group to exchange expertise and feedback.
The invite-only community fosters high-quality discussions and partnerships. Members share case studies, product launches, growth strategies, and industry insights.
Key benefits:
- Plug into an influential private network
- Exchange expertise in a distraction-free zone
- Find collaborators, advisors, and partners
- Give and get trusted feedback
- Stay on top of trends before mass awareness
14. Mixergy
With over 1,500 startup interviews, Mixergy provides an extensive library of founder stories and lessons learned.
Founders share transparent, unfiltered advice on getting started, raising capital, attracting first customers, and overcoming obstacles. Interviews distill key insights on what really works across diverse industries and business models.
Key benefits:
- Learn from founders‘ mistakes
- Gain candid advice on tackling business challenges
- Identify proven strategies for growth
- Get motivated by startup journeys
- Apply insights across different industries
15. MakersKitchen
MakersKitchen brings together over 1,500 founders and builders in a Slack community. The active chats and channels foster connections, feedback, and growth.
Members share progress, celebrate wins, and motivate one another. Channels range from #learn-in-public to #mental-health allowing for wide-ranging discussions. Meetups and AMAs add live interaction.
Key benefits:
- Find camaraderie and motivation
- Get direct support and feedback
- Exchange knowledge across skill levels
- Discover new tools and resources
- Make connections for partnerships and hiring
16. r/Entrepreneur
Reddit‘s r/Entrepreneur has over 750,000 subscribed members. The active subreddit connects entrepreneurs across industries and business stages to exchange stories and advice.
Discussions span planning, launching, marketing, hiring, funding, product tips, growth strategies, and more. Members ask questions, share wins and setbacks, and discuss news impacting startups and small businesses.
Key benefits:
- Crowdsource advice across business stages
- Give and get support during challenges
- Learn from diverse founder experiences
- Tap into collective wisdom on growth tactics
- Get early feedback on business ideas
17. r/Startups
With over 450,000 subscribed members, r/startups is one of Reddit‘s most active entrepreneurship communities.
The forum focuses on the early stages of launching and getting traction. Members discuss turning ideas into validated businesses, drafting plans, raising capital, hiring teams, and other startup fundamentals.
Key benefits:
- Get feedback on early-stage ideas and plans
- Learn how fellow founders gained traction
- Find co-founders and early hires
- Seek targeted advice on foundational topics
- Avoid pitfalls from shared startup challenges
18. r/smallbusiness
Reddit‘s r/smallbusiness has over 350,000 subscribers discussing the ins and outs of running independent businesses.
With many long-time business owners participating, the forum offers seasoned advice on planning, account management, hiring, growth, and practical operations. Discussions suit bootstrapped and niche ventures.
Key benefits:
- Get guidance on managing core business functions
- Learn from other independent owners‘ decades of experience
- Discuss challenges related to bootstrapped businesses
- Promote your product or service
- Save time and money using crowdsourced tips
19. r/EntrepreneurRideAlong
With over 100,000 members, r/EntrepreneurRideAlong focuses on documenting the entrepreneurial journey.
Founders share their story over time, from idea to launch to scaling. The community discusses obstacles, milestones, and decisions as members progress. While self-promotion is limited, the transparent storytelling provides motivation and learning.
Key benefits:
- Learn as founders navigate in real-time
- Hear unfiltered struggles and breakthroughs
- Apply takeaways to your own path
- Gain motivation to overcome obstacles
- Get insights into decision-making processes
20. r/SideProject
r/SideProject has over 50,000 subscribers sharing and discussing side projects. With self-promotion allowed, members frequently post new projects to get feedback and test ideas.
The community covers the full process from brainstorming concepts to launching and marketing finished products. Share and participate to refine your own side hustle.
Key benefits:
- Get ideas and validate your side project
- Learn low-stakes marketing strategies
- Focus on small experiments and gradual progress
- Find collaborators and beta testers
- Promote your product and grow an audience
The Power of Online Entrepreneur Communities
While running a business can feel solitary, you don‘t need to go it alone. Participating in one or more of these online communities provides camaraderie, expertise, and accountability.
Testing different groups leads you to the right fit based on your goals, interests, and discussion preferences. Don‘t be afraid to try many, narrow it down over time, and increase your engagement.
The crowdsourced wisdom helps you avoid mistakes, refine your thinking, and overcome obstacles. But remember to share your own story and knowledge too.
Learning from fellow entrepreneurs‘ journeys can accelerate your success and growth. Most importantly, the connections keep you energized, focused, and moving forward instead of stagnating in isolation.
