In an era where technology promises to keep people connected but increasingly isolated, Founders Club is making a conscious statement by planting its flagship in Santa Monica.
The three-year-old startup community will gather more than 600 entrepreneurs at COSM for its largest Forum to date on March 3, nearly three times the size of last year’s gathering in New York. The importance of the moment extends beyond the measure of the event itself. For the Founders Club, this is a long-awaited return to the quiet place that has become home, and a sign that Los Angeles, and Santa Monica in particular, will play a central role in what the organization is building next.
“This dream has been a long time coming,” said co-founder Chris Meade. “In a world consumed by AI and technology, we need to feel connected, but in fact the opposite is happening. People are becoming more isolated, founders are growing more isolated – our Founders Club mission is to stop that.”
Founded to solve the loneliness and isolation of business, the Founders Team is not like a traditional business network, but as what Meade describes as a “life club.” An organization based on mind, body, and business, with the belief that when people become better people, stronger companies follow.
“There are a lot of places you can go to raise money or raise money,” Meade said. “My only job is to make your life better. It may mean that you are not alone, you make new friends, you move your body, you value your relationships, or finally you have people who understand the risks you are carrying. If your life gets better, your business will too.”
That philosophy is seen in the structure of society. Founders Club hosts more than 160 events a year in six key markets: Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto, New York, Miami, and Austin. Los Angeles alone is now home to several hundred members, with one to two events a month ranging from mastermind and speaker series to tournaments, water colds, and well-run gatherings. Quarterly retreats take members to places like Costa Rica and Jackson Hole, while annual retreats bring hundreds together in Mexico. Membership currently stands at 1,200, with an annual fee of $9,500.
The COSM Forum represents a great event. Meade describes moving into this space as a time to publish an organization still in its early years. “It’s like imposter syndrome,” he said. “We’re three years old, and we’re in a place this size and shape, saying it’s where our Forum will be. It’s scary, and it still doesn’t feel real.”
A sentence indicates both scope and purpose. Speakers include founders from all industries and walks of life, including Adam Wexler, founder of PrizePicks following a multi-billion dollar exit, Kim Perell with nine startups in technology and consumer brands, Poppi’s Allison Ellsworth and Erica Groussman of TruBar after last year’s big exit, Google’s Head of VC, MD and Zacheki Partnership Development. a viral philanthropist known for using social media to change lives through massive giving. “It was important for us to gather supporters from all walks of life,” Meade said. “People have risked everything, time, savings, relationships, pursuing dreams. There is so much to learn from each other.”
The Forum is a design-led destination. Of the 600 attendees, about 550 are flying members, creating what Meade calls the destination wedding force. That event begins Monday in Santa Monica with two leading events designed to immerse members in the city ahead of the main event. The week kicks off with a 250 person 5K run through Santa Monica, sponsored by Cadence and Represent, followed by a welcome pre-party at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel. Members will stay across town at the Proper, the Viceroy, the Sandbourne, and nearby hotels, immersing the community in the fabric of Santa Monica for several days.
Santa Monica’s decision was deeply personal. “I’ve always wanted to live here,” Meade shared. “I grew up wanting to work in film, to be in Santa Monica, to work on sets. That was the dream. Now, doing this business, being able to bring our community here feels full circle.” Over time, one’s personal drawing became a technique. Santa Monica’s climate, travel, and culture have made it a natural draw for members escaping the cold weather, but more importantly, its growing role as a technology hub and hub for the club’s evolution.
In 2026, Founders Club is making a strong push into the tech ecosystem. With firms like Andreessen Horowitz, Upfront Ventures, and M13 expanding their presence, Santa Monica has emerged as a worthy West Coast anchor. “We’re seeing tons of different types of buyers in markets like Miami,” Meade said. “On the West Coast, we want to build technology. We want the world’s most innovative creators to connect with this community, and Santa Monica is the right place to start.”
As Ryan Schinman, speaker, and mentor, said, “What makes the Founders Team unique is that it treats entrepreneurship as a human experience, not just a financial one. The relationships built here go far beyond any single event. As this community takes deep roots in Santa Monica, the opportunity is to create an ecosystem where founders support each other, educate the next generation, and contribute meaningfully to the city.”
That commitment extends beyond a single event. The Founders Club has already hosted masterminds at Sandbourne and events at the Viceroy, with Sandbourne emerging as a joint home venue. The next Santa Monica Mastermind is scheduled for March 19 in Sandbourne, open to members and potential members looking to get involved in the community. Looking ahead, Meade sees deep roots and human interaction.
“Here there are many businessmen who feel lonely, who are trying to build a better life and don’t know where to go,” he said. “There’s a community for almost everything, clubs, social clubs, health clubs, but after college, if you’re in debt and trying to build something meaningful, business can feel lonely. We want to help build that ecosystem here, strengthen local businesses, create jobs, and make Santa Monica a better place to build a life.”
That long-term vision includes the creation of the Founders Hub in Santa Monica, a physical space where founders connect, mentor, and connect talent to opportunity. “I see people getting jobs out of it,” Meade said. “I see real momentum over the next 12 to 24 months. The West Coast is here to stay, and the Founders Club is putting its stamp on the world.”
Supporting the COSM Forum is a group of professionals aligned with that vision, including UBS, Delta, Flex, Fanbasis, and NSI. UBS supports members who travel through wealth creation and stewardship. Delta provides transportation integration for the travel community. Flex offers loan solutions designed for entrepreneurs. Fanbasis supports fundraising for creator-run businesses. NSI, a global insurance provider, brings stability to an often overlooked but important part of the business. “Insurance isn’t good until you need it,” Meade said. “NSI delivers with speed and class, and that matters when you’re building something real.”
Meade’s personal journey illustrates the mission. Raised from humble beginnings and limited access to networking, he entered the business seeking control over his life rather than the traditional nine to five way. Early mistakes, isolation, and costly mistakes defined his early years. The deal failed at 22, the exit was successful at 32, and the lessons learned together with founder Aaron Spivak formed the basis of the Founders Club. “We all made the same mistakes,” Meade said. “Hiring the wrong people, paying too much for consultants, seeing delays that we should have known earlier. This community helps you get ahead of those times. It’s like real life insurance when you’re betting on real time.”
The COSM Forum itself is closed and members only, but the invitation stands. For entrepreneurs looking for connection, clarity, and community, the Builders Club is positioning Santa Monica as a new home.
As Meade said, “Your dream life doesn’t have to wait for the weekend – it could be Monday, or tonight – you don’t have to build it yourself.”
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