Why I Canceled Meetup Pro (and Why BNI & Meetup Are Useless for Real Entrepreneurs)

Meetup and BNI both promise networking, business growth, and opportunity—but let’s be real: they mostly attract broke people networking with other broke people and wantrepreneurs playing business dress-up.

I’ve been in the game long enough to recognize when something is a time-waster disguised as opportunity, and Meetup Pro was exactly that.

Meetup: Where Wantrepreneurs Play Business

Meetup is an amazing platform—if you’re the one hosting the events. If you own a venue, pitch services to newbies, or want easy kickbacks, it’s a goldmine. But if you’re a serious entrepreneur looking to build actual business relationships? It’s useless.

The Meetup crowd is full of dreamers, not doers. They love talking about ideas but never execute. You’ll hear the same people at every event say:
“I’m working on this great idea…” (for the past three years)
“I just need the right co-founder/investor/mentor…” (translation: they want someone to do the work for them)

“I’ll follow up soon!” (never happens)

When you’re an entrepreneur who actually takes action, Meetup becomes a frustrating loop of dead-end conversations.

BNI: The Ultimate Circle of Broke People

BNI (Business Network International) is another trap. It sells itself as a referral network, but in reality, it’s just a group of struggling professionals trading scraps.

A high-value entrepreneur doesn’t need BNI. They attract referrals naturally because they provide value, have a real network and deliver results. BNI members, on the other hand, are often: Desperate for leads and hoping the group will save them.

Following rigid meeting rules instead of focusing on real strategy.
Stuck in a scarcity mindset, referring business based on obligation, not actual value.

The idea of “exclusive referral groups” sounds great—until you realize it’s just a weekly struggle session with people who wouldn’t pay for your services anyway.

What Actually Works for Entrepreneurs

Instead of wasting time in low-value networking groups, focus on strategic, action-driven connections. Here’s what works: Industry-Specific Events with Real Players – Skip generic networking. Go where actual decision-makers are.

High-Ticket Masterminds – People who pay serious money to be in a group are serious about growth.

Strategic Partnerships – Connect with people who complement your business, not just random networkers. An Online-First Ecosystem – Build an audience that moves with you, not tied to one location.

I canceled Meetup Pro because I’m not going to stay in one place long enough to extract value, and I’m not willing to scam people just to make it work. My energy is better spent on attracting action-takers who actually move the needle.

If you’re serious about business growth, stop networking for networking’s sake and start making real, high-value connections.

Have you used BNI or Meetup? What’s your experience been like? Let’s discuss.