It all started with a simple meal on 8th December 2011 in London
A deliberately small group, loosely curated, of entrepreneurs came together, shared a challenge and helped each other out. We didn’t know what it would lead to but we instinctively knew that a small gathering of good people would undoubtedly make some good things happen.
We hoped to do another. We did. Then another.
During 2012 we hosted one dinner a month and often wondered how 9others could be more useful to more people. One day that year Katie said, “What about other cities? Let’s do 12 cities in the next 12 months”.
Starting with Elise in Barcelona, then Matt in Berlin and Patrick in Singapore meals with 9others were hosted in 12 different cities over the next 12 months. The 9others network has now grown to over 4,000 entrepreneurs in 45 cities around the world. We still meet over a simple meal and help each other solve challenges by sharing connections, experiences and different perspectives.
Having a trusted network is something no entrepreneur should be without
Having hosted hundreds of meals and having seen the insights from around the world we’ve discovered that there are three key business challenges that, with the aid of others, can be turned around:
Money in, money out. Cash flow, investment and managing what you spend;
People in, people out. Making sure the right people get on board and stay with the mission and the wrong people don’t;
Communication. How to communicate the right thing to the right people at the right time.
That’s why from now and with your help we are building the Borderless Entrepreneurial Ecosystem needed to support emerging and underrepresented economies. ‘Borderless’ because it doesn’t matter where people happen to be because we’re all connected.
We believe that 9others can help hundreds and thousands of people solve the 3 key challenges in business.
A meal with 9others in Karachi
This already works
Since 2014 by supporting local NGO Peace Through Prosperity in Islamabad, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Hazara and Multan in Pakistan we have hosted 30+ meals with 9others alongside PTP’s Mini-MBA programme for micro-entrepreneur. Read more about PTP’s work with 9others here.
Yemen is next
On 29th September 2016 Yusra hosted a meal with 9others in Sana’a, Yemen, here. With all the challenges they have over in Yemen there are smart people running businesses coming up against the three challenges named above, just like we are in London.
You can help
We are launching “The 9others Honesty Box” to fund our networking and community activities in Yemen, working along side our local NGO partner.
How does it work?
If you have been to a meal with 9others and benefitted in anyway from this network or if you share our belief that no entrepreneur should be without a trusted network then please donate whatever you think is appropriate. This is an ‘Honesty Box’ so can be anonymous if you wish and there is no set amount — please give what you can.
Our goals with this fundraising are two simple things:
With £100 we can host one 9others event in Yemen
£1,200 will allow us to host a monthly 9others event throughout 2019
With our help we can give the social and financial impact to inspire further entrepreneurial activity and give people the opportunities to build a better future for themselves, their family and their community.
Please follow this link to donate
Thank you for your support creating a truly borderless ecosystem that will help entrepreneurs no matter where they are.