What's a Good Alternative to LinkedIn for Meeting Other Founders?
Short answer: The right alternative depends on what you want from the connection. If you want to meet other business owners one at a time in a verified, owners-only space, a swipe-to-match app such as Meetworth is one option. If you want a co-founder, investors, or a public profile for hiring and being found, you may need a different tool, and LinkedIn offers a searchable public profile, jobs and recruiting.
Why do founders look for a LinkedIn alternative?
LinkedIn describes itself as the world's largest professional network, with more than 1 billion members in more than 200 countries and territories (per LinkedIn). It has a searchable public profile, jobs, recruiting, company pages, advertising and a web version. Those features serve many goals. If your goal is narrower, such as meeting other people who run a business, you may want a tool built only for that.
What should you look for in a place to meet founders?
- Who is allowed in. Is membership open to anyone, or checked against proof that someone runs a business?
- How introductions start. Cold messages, public posts, or mutual opt-in?
- Your goal. Peer advice, local contacts, partnerships, a co-founder, or investors are different needs and usually need different tools.
- Platform and language. Check whether it works on your phone, in your language, and in your region.
- Cost. Check what is free and what needs a paid plan before you invest time.
Where does Meetworth fit?
Meetworth is a swipe-to-match networking app for verified entrepreneurs and business owners. You see one business owner at a time and swipe to show interest. Chat opens only after both people swipe yes. You can browse as a deck, on a map, or as a list, and use filters to narrow who you see.
Each member is manually verified. To join, you upload valid business registration proof and an ID. Anyone who owns a business can apply. It is not a job board and not a general social network.
It suits founders and business owners who want to meet other owners for peer advice, local contacts, partnerships, or a circle of owners. It does not suit job seekers, recruiters looking for candidates, students without a registered business, or people who want a public searchable profile.
What are the honest limits of Meetworth?
- The network is much smaller than LinkedIn's. Meetworth does not publish a member count.
- It is English only.
- It runs on iPhone (iOS 17.0 or later) and Android. There is no web version.
- It is free to download, but the full experience needs a Premium subscription. As listed on the US App Store (checked October 10, 2026), Premium is $17.99 per month or $89.99 per year. The price shown in the app at purchase applies.
- It is not a dedicated co-founder matching service and does not promise access to investors.
How does this compare with LinkedIn at a glance?
| Question | Meetworth | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Professional network with jobs, recruiting, company pages, advertising | One-to-one networking between verified business owners |
| Public searchable profile | Yes | Not a fit if you want one. You can turn off Discoverable in Settings, Privacy, to stop appearing in other members' Discover |
| Web version | Yes | No, mobile only |
| Size | More than 1 billion members (per LinkedIn) | Much smaller, no published count |
For a fuller side-by-side, see Meetworth vs LinkedIn for Founders.
Which older alternatives are no longer an option?
Two apps you may see in older lists are no longer available. Shapr is discontinued, per Wikipedia and SaaSHub. Bumble's help centre says "Bumble Bizz is no longer available." If an older article recommends either, look for a current option instead.
How can you get more from any founder network?
- Say what you run and what you want in the first message or profile line.
- Ask for one specific thing, such as advice on a hiring problem or an introduction in your city.
- Move good chats to a call or coffee quickly.
- Follow up after a meeting with something useful, not a pitch.
These habits work on LinkedIn and on any other network.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good alternative to LinkedIn for meeting other founders?
It depends on your goal. For meeting other business owners one at a time in a verified space, Meetworth is one option. For co-founder matching or investors, look for tools built for that. LinkedIn has a searchable public profile, jobs and recruiting.
Is Meetworth free?
Meetworth is free to download, but the full experience needs a Premium subscription. Listed on the US App Store (checked October 10, 2026): $17.99 per month or $89.99 per year. The price shown in the app at purchase applies.
How does Meetworth verify members?
Each member is manually verified. You upload valid business registration proof and an ID to join. Anyone who owns a business can apply.
Can I use Meetworth to find a co-founder or investors?
Meetworth is not a dedicated co-founder matching service and does not promise access to investors. It is built for meeting other business owners for peer advice, partnerships, local contacts and a circle of owners.
Does Meetworth have a web version?
No. Meetworth runs on iPhone (iOS 17.0 or later) and Android only, and it is available in English only.
Meetworth
Business networking app for founders and business owners, on iOS and Android.