Steve Phillips on building ZappiHow Helm compares
Why founders choose Helm.
Peer groups can look alike from the outside. The difference is who chairs your Forum, what's included and who's in the room. Here's what you only get at Helm.
What you only get at Helm. Six reasons founders choose Helm
- 01
A Chair who has built and sold a business
Every Forum is chaired by a founder who has made the same calls you're facing, not a paid moderator or a coach.
- 02
180+ events a year, included
Dinners, roundtables, workshops and Investment Day on top of Forum, all part of membership.
- 03
Founders from every kind of business, tech included
Members run tech businesses like Zappi, Captify and Kyero, alongside consumer brands, services and industrial firms. Forums are matched so nobody competes.
- 04
More than 20 years of founders helping founders
Running since 2003, with 400+ founders and CEOs whose businesses average £21m turnover.
- 05
Monthly membership, one month's notice
No annual lock-in. Stay because it's working.
- 06
No selling, ever
Advisers and service providers can't join, and members don't pitch. Helm is a certified B Corp.
Helm vs Hampton vs Business Leader. Side by side
Who chairs your group, what's included and how you pay.
Swipe the table to see Hampton and Business Leader
| At a glance | Helm |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Founders and CEOs of £3m+ businesses, tech and non-tech, who want peers who've been there | Tech-first founders in its chapter cities | Founders who want a structured growth programme |
| Who runs your group | A founder who has built and sold a business | A paid, trained moderator | Peer forums plus CEO coaching on the 9 Steps method |
| Group size | 6 to 8 founders | About 8 to 10 | Not stated |
| Meets | 10 times a year | Monthly, in person | 8 times a year |
| Sectors | Every sector, tech included: Zappi, Captify, Kyero | Tech-first or tech-enabled | Any, £3m+ businesses |
| Events | 180+ a year on top of Forum, included | Chapter events; retreats extra | Masterclasses and company visits |
| How you pay | Monthly, one month's notice | Annually | Annually |
Based on each club's own website, November 2026.
Comparison guides. Go deeper before you decide
Dated, and sourced from each club's own website. Prices change, so check before you join anything.
Comparison FAQs. How Helm is different
Something else on your mind? Talk to our team
How is Helm different from Hampton?
Hampton is a US-led network for tech-first founders, with groups run by paid moderators. Every Helm Forum is chaired by a founder who has built and sold a business, and 180+ events a year are included. Our members run tech businesses like Zappi, Captify and Kyero, alongside consumer, services and industrial companies.
How is Helm different from Business Leader?
Business Leader is a growth programme built on Sir Richard Harpin's 9 Steps method, with CEO coaching and peer forums. Helm is a peer club: founders learn from founders who have been there, chaired by someone who has sold a business, with 180+ events a year on top of Forum included.
How is Helm different from YPO and Vistage?
YPO is a global organisation run through local chapters, with its own entry criteria. Vistage runs facilitated peer groups alongside one-to-one coaching. Helm matches Forums on stage rather than postcode, and every Forum is chaired by a founder who has exited. Our comparison guides set out the detail and sources.
Can I belong to Helm and another group?
There is no exclusivity rule at Helm. The real constraint is time, so be honest with yourself about which room gets priority.
YouThere's a seat at the table.
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Join 400+ founders and CEOs who know exactly what this job feels like.