Your Path to Forum Placement
How Forum placement works
Forum is the heart of the EO experience, and thoughtfully placing new members is one of the most important things we do as a chapter. Because EO is entirely member-led, this process is handled by fellow entrepreneurs who volunteer their time — and they take that responsibility seriously. Here’s exactly what to expect.
What is Forum?
Your forum becomes your personal board of advisors — the small, trusted peer group at the core of everything EO offers.
6–8 peers
A small, hand-matched group of fellow entrepreneurs committed to each other’s growth — in business and in life.
Meets monthly
Forums meet once a month for several hours, following EO’s proven format for structured, meaningful conversation.
100% confidential
What’s shared in forum stays in forum. Strict confidentiality is the foundation that makes real openness possible.
Experience, not advice
Members share what they’ve actually lived through — not opinions or advice — so you learn from real experience.
Five steps from Launchpad to your forum
Placement typically takes 3–4 months from your first Launchpad session. That pace is intentional — we’re matching you for the long haul, not the first opening.
Launchpad Forum
Your journey begins with Launchpad Forum — a minimum of three sessions with fellow new members, along with existing members who choose to “drop in.” It’s an opportunity to experience forum firsthand, practice sharing in a confidential setting, and build the foundation for your long-term forum experience.
Next session: see the dates below. All upcoming sessions ↓
Email us after your second session
After completing your second Launchpad session, email the Forum Placement Chair at forum@eochicago.org to kick off the next stage of your placement. This is the one step that’s on you — don’t skip it.
The matching process begins
The Forum Placement Chair uses everything we’ve learned about you through Launchpad — along with insights from moderators, members, and the Board — to identify the forum where you’ll thrive. Rather than placing you into the first available opening, we work to find the best long-term fit. See what we consider ↓
We also confirm openings with each moderator to understand the health and makeup of every forum, verify available spots, and ensure there are no direct business competitors within a forum. If openings are limited and there are enough incoming members, we may launch a brand-new forum.
Meet your prospective forum
Once a strong match has been identified, you’ll be introduced to the moderator of that forum and begin getting to know the group. This can take a little time, but it’s intentional — both you and the forum should feel confident it’s the right fit.
Official placement
Assuming everyone feels it’s the right fit, you’ll officially join the forum and begin your EO Forum journey — a peer group that many members describe as the single most valuable part of EO.
What we consider
Placement isn’t first-come, first-served. We weigh all of these to find the forum where you’ll thrive:
Why the wait is worth it: forums stay together for years — sometimes decades. A few extra weeks of matching is a small price for a peer group that fits you for the long run.
Upcoming Launchpad sessions
These pull in live from the EO Chicago calendar — you’re always looking at what’s actually next. Attend every month until you’re officially placed.
Your role in the process
Thoughtful forum placement is a partnership, and you play an important role in helping us find the best fit.
Show up fully
Be present, participate, and share authentically during Launchpad. The more we get to know you, the better we can match you with the right forum.
Connect with the Forum Placement Chair
After completing your second Launchpad session, email us to begin the next stage of your placement process.
Be patient
We know you’re excited to join a long-term forum, and we’re committed to finding the right one — not just the first one with an opening. Keep attending Launchpad each month until you’re officially placed.
Forum placement FAQ
How long does placement usually take?
Most new members are placed within 3–4 months of starting Launchpad — enough time to complete your minimum three sessions and for us to find a strong match. Some placements happen faster; some take a bit longer if openings are limited. Either way, you’ll never be left wondering: the Forum Placement Chair keeps you posted.
Do I keep attending Launchpad while I wait?
Yes — you’re welcome and encouraged to attend Launchpad every month until you’re officially placed. It keeps you sharp on the forum format and gives us more insight for a great match.
Can I request a specific forum or ask to be with someone I know?
You’re welcome to share preferences with the Forum Placement Chair, and we’ll factor them in. That said, matching weighs many dimensions — including forum health, openings, and competitor conflicts — so we can’t guarantee a specific placement. Note that close friends or business partners are often intentionally placed in different forums, since forum works best with a degree of distance.
What if my forum turns out not to be a fit?
It happens, and it’s okay. The get-to-know-you period before official placement exists precisely so both sides can gauge fit. If concerns surface later, talk to your moderator or the Forum Placement Chair — forum transfers are handled thoughtfully and confidentially.
Will there be competitors in my forum?
No. We verify with each moderator that there are no direct business competitors within a forum before placing you. Confidentiality only works when everyone can speak freely.
What if there are no openings in a suitable forum?
If openings are limited and there are enough incoming members, we may launch a brand-new forum — several of our strongest forums started exactly this way.
Is what I share in Launchpad confidential?
Yes. Launchpad follows the same strict confidentiality standard as every EO forum. What’s shared in the room stays in the room.
Who actually decides my placement?
The Forum Placement Chair — a fellow member who volunteers their time — leads the process, drawing on input from Launchpad moderators, members, and the Board, and confirming openings with each forum’s moderator. Final placement happens only when you, the forum, and the Chair all feel it’s the right fit.
Finished your second session?
That’s your cue. Email the Forum Placement Chair to start the matching process — and keep coming to Launchpad in the meantime.
Questions at any point? Reach out anytime at forum@eochicago.org — we’re happy to help.
