Bangalore: The Ad Club Bangalore announces the launch of “Founders Circle,” an exclusive membership program designed specifically for agency founders, co-founders, and senior partners in the advertising, design, digital, media, technology, and public relations sectors.
The inaugural event will take place on Saturday, August 2nd, 2025, at the Bangalore International Centre, bringing together select agency leaders for an evening of strategic discussions, leadership development, and peer-to-peer learning.
The advertising business has undergone drastic changes, with many of yesterday’s network agency leaders or young minds moving to set up their entrepreneurial ventures. While their core expertise continues to be their differentiator, running a business comes with never-before-seen challenges. The Ad Club Bangalore recognizes the need to support founders and ensure that their shine doesn’t dull amidst the day-to-day hustle to not just survive, but thrive.
“As agency founders, we’re constantly navigating a mix of creative ambition and business survival – often without a playbook or a peer to call. The Founders Circle is born from that lived reality. It’s a space for leaders to pause, reflect, and grow together. We’re not just solving for today’s pressures; we’re shaping what the future of our industry could and should look like.” – Laeeq Ali, Co-founder – Origami Creative & President – The Ad Club Bangalore
“Agency founders face a brutal paradox: building the future while barely surviving the present. The Founders Circle transforms hard-won wisdom from battle-tested founders into the competitive advantages that separate thriving agencies from those that merely survive. This invitation-only peer circle addresses the fundamental challenges that keep agency leaders awake at night, not through theory, but through proven frameworks that work. We’re not just building better agencies; we’re redefining what agency leadership looks like in an industry that demands both creative brilliance and business mastery,” said Suneet John, Co-founder – Trigger Worldwide, and Lead – Agency Impact Series.
Addressing Critical Industry Challenges
The program directly tackles the isolation and uncertainty that many agency founders experience. Unlike traditional networking events, the Founders Circle focuses on fundamental business success factors, including business model optimization, people strategy, differentiation, and financial sustainability.
The inaugural session will feature a leadership workshop conducted by Dilip Krishna, Founder & CEO of Carpe Diem India, who brings over 20 years of experience in people development and organizational transformation, and has worked with leaders across 27 industry sectors.
Exclusive Membership Model
Membership in the Founders Circle is restricted to application or invitation only, ensuring a peer-level community of decision-makers. Eligible members include founders and co-founders of creative, media, technology, digital, design, and pr agencies, partners in independent firms, and entrepreneurs developing innovative agency service models.
Program Components
The Founders Circle offers quarterly closed-room sessions, expert insights from industry leaders, group discussions on critical business topics, and access to shared resources and tools. Future programs will include learning journeys, retreats, and specialized workshops based on member needs.
Event Details
The inaugural Founders Circle event will be held on Saturday, August 2nd, 2025, from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the Bangalore International Centre, Domlur. Registration is ₹1,250 per person (early bird pricing) and at-event pricing is ₹1,750.
