Meetup is building a network of communities

Almost a year ago, I signed up for my first Meetup. It was a tech@nyu event called DemoDays. I clicked on the link to “RSVP on Meetup” in an email my friend had forwarded me and sighed when I realized I had to make a new account on yet another event scheduling site. Assuming I’d regret it eventually, I signed up for Meetup anyway and registered for the event.

Two weeks later, I came back to my apartment from DemoDays utterly excited about tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation. An hour of two and five minute demos by students just like me had shown me that anyone willing to learn new technologies and think creatively can make something of value in today’s world. I was instantly excited to get started on my next project. The next morning, I got an email from Meetup about their discovery feature. I followed the link in the email and was surprised to find a page filled with amazingly diverse groups, each of which have weekly and monthly meetups right here in NYC. They ranged from hiking clubs and professional networking groups to knitting societies and book clubs.

As I explored the groups, I couldn't help but think of the thousands of people who have been introduced to new activities and ideas through Meetup. Today, Meetup is a household word in the Silicon Alley, but Meetup’s network of communities has grown beyond just tech communities. Almost anyone can find a group that can introduce them to new ideas or help them enjoy their existing interests. That’s what makes Meetup valuable.

As I thought about how Meetup has succeeded in creating such a rich network of groups, I realized that one thing sets Meetup’s product apart. Meetup focuses on helping groups define what makes them unique. Unlike Eventbrite, Meetup focuses specifically on groups. This difference defines the product, because it lets users think of events as connected and sequential, and ascribes definite ownership to the organizing groups. In addition, users aren’t just listed as members of groups, they’re listed as hackers, technologists, crafters, or scuba divers. Meetup’s choice to focus on groups rather than events also makes discovery easier, because users can easily identify what groups are about by browsing past events, and always have future events to look forward to.

This year, I co-founded create@cooper with the same friend who forwarded me my first Meetup invite a year ago. Our group is “a community for starting the project you love.” Thanks to Meetup, we’ve gotten off to a great start. Students and community members from across NYC have discovered us and joined us, bringing incredible enthusiasm and a diverse set of interests to our events.

Meetup’s network of communities is growing, because their product has hit the right note. And that’s exciting for all of us — anime fans, athletes, dancers, and creators.