The Grid: Built for the SMB community

The Grid is your go-to destination for simplifying exit planning and exploring employee ownership opportunities. Whether you're seeking guidance, connections, or expertise, The Grid provides the tools and resources to make your journey easier and more impactful. Here's what you will gain:

• A single platform for everyone working in and on main street businesses.
• Smart tagging and search capabilities to quickly find relevant experts, resources, and discussions.
• AI-enhanced content summaries for accessible and actionable knowledge.
• Up-to-date resources and guidance enriched by member contributions.
• Opportunities to build your professional reputation through meaningful contributions.

The Grid is for anyone who supports small and medium businesses, and in particular during their exit planning journey. Here are just a few people you can find using The Grid:

• Business Owners: Access trusted advisors and resources to navigate your EO journey.
• Advisors: Build your reputation, showcase your expertise, and connect with business owners ready for EO transitions.
• EO Advocates: Promote employee ownership, share stories, and collaborate to expand awareness.
• Capital Allocators: Discover businesses seeking funding and engage with the EO ecosystem.
• Employee Owners: Share experiences and learn best practices about EO from peers.

Yes, The Grid is completely free to join. Access tools, resources, and connections at no cost and become part of a trusted network shaping the future of EO.

Signing up is straightforward and free. Join The Grid and we will ask you to sign in with your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn authentication helps maintain the professionalism and trustworthiness of our network. If you don't have LinkedIn, contact us for alternative verification options.

Most professionals and organizations in the EO field already have a profile in the Grid Directory. Once you click Join The Grid, you can search for your profile—if it is listed, click "Claim Profile." If not, creating a new profile takes just a few minutes.

Yes, we use LinkedIn for authentication to ensure the credibility of The Grid. If you don't have LinkedIn, contact us for alternative verification options.

Absolutely! Share this link to Join The Grid with colleagues, clients, and anyone passionate about EO. The more voices we have, the more dynamic The Grid becomes.

We invite The Grid members to enrich the content, including the Wiki, Forum and Directory. The benefits are that you:

• Share your expertise to add a unique perspective.
• Build your reputation as a trusted professional.
• Stay informed and learn while contributing.
• Support a reliable resource that benefits everyone in the EO space.

We encourage The Grid members to contribute to the content in The Grid, including through the Organization profile pages and Wiki content. To suggest edits, navigate to the specific page or entry you wish to update. Click the "Suggest Edit" button and provide your proposed changes. Your edits will be published immediately and attributed to you, so ensure the information is accurate and relevant before submitting. You can view the change history of pages, including dates and names of members who made the edits.

Yes, all contributions should be factual and concise. Avoid promotional content or unverified information. Adhere to The Grid guidelines when submitting changes. The full guidelines are available in The Grid.

Yes, you can update your profile, and are encouraged to enrich it to reflect your experience and expertise. Once you have a claimed profile, click the "Edit" icon to make updates and save the changes.

You can certainly add yourself to the Directory by creating your profile. You cannot add a new person to the Directory at this time. However, you can Share this link to invite the person to create their own profile. You can add a new organization to the Directory.

If you do not want your profile to be public, you can decide to leave The Grid. We require everyone who wants to create and edit content to have a Grid profile. You cannot delete or edit another person's profile from the Directory. But you can report inaccuracies in another person's profile.

The Grid operates on a collaborative model, where members collectively ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content. Everyone is responsible for maintaining a high-quality resource.

The Forum is the heart of community interaction. It's a space where business owners, employees, advisors, and capital allocators can start discussions, ask questions, share insights, and collaborate on topics related to exit planning, employee ownership (EO), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and business growth. Start by introducing yourself, then find other topics to start or join the conversation.

Absolutely! The Forum is open for all members to ask questions, share experiences, and start discussions. Whether you're seeking advice, sharing success stories, or exploring EO trends, the Forum is the perfect place to engage. Use tags to categorize your posts, reply to others comments, and mention members to connect directly. Whether you're new to topics or a seasoned expert, you are welcome to join in.

Yes, The Grid has a set of participation guidelines to ensure a respectful and constructive environment. Members are encouraged to be professional, helpful, and inclusive when interacting with others. The full guidelines are available in the Community.

The Forum hosts a wide range of discussions, including:

• News & Announcements
• Introductions
• Stories from the Field
• Research and Data
• Exit Readiness: People, Processes, and Profit
• Valuation and Financing
• Advisor Corner
• SMB Owner + Employee Corner
• Financier Corner
• …and much more!

Please contact us with detailed information on your issue. Please be sure to include your account information to help us diagnose the issue, such as email addresses you may have used to login, the way you choose to login (i.e. via Google, LinkedIn or your email address), and your LinkedIn profile.