Gang of 5

Depending on your source of information and definition, there are either dozens or hundreds of "Networking" groups in Northeast Indiana. One of the best is a B.N.I. group that I was a member of for a few years.

If you are looking a creating either a networking group, or a brain trust, look at these recommendations from OffCoarse.com:

Grass Roots takes hold in Gang Of 5

So Gang of 5 (GO5) which I have mentioned before is a grass roots movement to form a better startup community. I am here to propose more people start their own Gangs. I will help you set it up, and get it going. However we have found there needs to be one central person who gets it going and keeps it alive.

The best way to set one up is find 5 other entrepreneurs, give them the pitch and say “So how does that Sound?”. Now find a place to meet, every week, at the same time, and your in business. The first meeting will be like a first date, with everyone getting to know each other, and feeling each other out. Soon the weekly event will be looked forward to and a huge part of your success.

When choosing members, please try to be diverse. Don’t choose all developers, or all bis dev types. Mix it up for the betterment of the group.

You meet each week, give your elevator pitch, then move on to the next person. Once everyone is done, you go back and bring up problems, and find out how last weeks solutions worked out.
Here are the rules we have set up for our GO5.

1. 8 people max, 5 is a great number but once you add in who can and can not attend due to meetings we find 8 will still give you 5 people at every meeting.
2. Must be a closed group. Your gang is your gang, and spots in it are voted on by the gang. Topics stay at the table and are not discussed out side due to their sensitive nature. NO DROP INS unless invited.
3. You have to commit to the gang. You are the owner of your seat at the weekly GO5 meeting, if you can not attend for a time period, or can not attend regularly you should give up your spot. Reason being is that by not participating you are holding the group back, and depriving someone else of the experience.
4. Each meeting starts with everyone giving their elevator pitch, then flows into problems and solutions discussions. Basic premise is to hone your skills and solve your problems.

That is about all the rules we have. However we do vote on lots of things, such as new members to the Gang and other things which would require votes.

Please contact me if you have questions on anything related to getting your own GO5 started. Oh by the way, we plan on integrating a part of STARTAtlatna.org into helping connect people to form more GO5’s. So look forward to that as well.

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