What Is Sober Founders?
Sober Founders is a growing national community created specifically for entrepreneurs in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse. Unlike typical business groups or general sobriety networks, Sober Founders exists at the intersection of business growth and sober living—offering a peer-to-peer mastermind experience tailored to those navigating both.
Whether you’re a startup founder, seasoned CEO, or purpose-driven solopreneur, Sober Founders gives you a place where your business goals and your recovery journey are equally understood, supported, and celebrated.
Why Peer Support Matters for Sober Business Owners
Running a business is hard. Doing it sober, in a world full of triggers, pressure, and hustle culture, is even harder. That’s why peer support is crucial.
Here’s why sober entrepreneurs benefit from a peer group:
- Confidential support: You get to share business challenges and recovery struggles without judgment.
- Relatable feedback: You’re not explaining what recovery means—everyone here lives it.
- Accountability that sticks: You’re held to both business KPIs and sobriety goals.
- Clarity in crisis: When business or life hits hard, you’ve got a team who gets it.
These benefits mirror the impact seen in top executive networks like EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization), Vistage, and TIGER 21—but with the added strength of recovery as a shared language.
What Makes Sober Founders Different from Other Peer Groups?
1. Shared Recovery Experience
Unlike typical peer advisory groups, every member of Sober Founders is sober. This creates a rare level of immediate trust and authenticity.
“There’s no need to explain what a relapse trigger feels like. Everyone here gets it.” — Member, Sober Founders
2. Business + Sobriety = Aligned Accountability
Each peer session addresses two parallel journeys:
- Your business path (growth, team, finances, scalability)
- Your sobriety path (recovery maintenance, emotional regulation, wellness)
You don’t have to separate your entrepreneur identity from your recovery identity. In this group, they thrive together.
3. 12-Step Principles in Entrepreneurship
Sober Founders leverages the timeless structure of the 12 Steps—applied directly to leadership:
- Inventory your leadership blind spots.
- Make amends to your team or partners where needed.
- Practice humility in success and resilience in failure.
- Stay committed to service-driven business.
What You Can Expect in a Sober Founders Peer Group
Whether you join a local chapter or engage virtually, here’s what the peer-to-peer format includes:
🔁 Monthly Mastermind Meetings
Deep-dive, confidential discussions on both business and sobriety milestones.
🧠 Peer Feedback & Accountability
Bring real issues. Get honest, experience-based insights from people who’ve been there.
📱 Sober Business Network Access
Connect with sober entrepreneurs across industries—from tech and finance to wellness and creative.
🎤 Vulnerability Without Shame
Discuss the hard stuff: fear of failure, relapse anxiety, burnout, leadership guilt—and find strength through connection.
🧭 Clarity + Purpose
Walk away from each meeting with a clear next step in both your business and your recovery journey.
Who Should Join Sober Founders?
This peer group is ideal if you’re:
- A founder, CEO, or entrepreneur in recovery from alcohol or substance abuse
- Seeking confidential peer support with people who understand both business and sobriety
- Ready to grow your business without compromising your health, values, or sanity
- Interested in 12-Step-aligned leadership and spiritual principles in business
- Looking for clarity, structure, and community
Benefits of Joining a Peer Advisory Group Like Sober Founders
| Benefit | How Sober Founders Delivers |
|---|---|
| Accountability | Regular goal-setting in business & sobriety |
| Confidentiality | Safe space for truth-telling & transparency |
| Perspective | Insights from sober business owners across industries |
| Resilience | Learn how others have handled triggers, crashes, and comebacks |
| Growth | Scale your company with personal alignment and support |
How Sober Founders Compares to EO, Vistage, and TIGER 21
| Feature | Sober Founders | EO | Vistage | TIGER 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peer-to-peer format | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Focus on entrepreneurs | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Recovery-based membership | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 12-step integration | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Dual-focus: business + sobriety | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Accessible to founders in early or late recovery | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Why It’s Time to Join a Sober Entrepreneur Mastermind
If you’ve felt alone in your journey—trying to build a business while staying clean and grounded—Sober Founders was built for you. The intersection of recovery and entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be lonely. In fact, it can be the most powerful foundation for leadership, growth, and legacy.
FAQs
Q: What if I’m new to sobriety and business?
A: That’s perfectly fine. Many members are in early recovery and early-stage startups. You’ll get mentorship, not judgment.
Q: Do I have to follow a 12-step program to join?
A: Not necessarily. While the group is built around 12-step values, the focus is on shared sobriety and peer connection.
Q: Is Sober Founders available in my city?
A: We offer both virtual masterminds and growing local meetups. Join online to get started right away.
Q: How is this different from a business coaching group?
A: This isn’t coaching. It’s peer-to-peer. No one tells you what to do—you get insight from equals who’ve lived it.
Conclusion
Sober Founders isn’t just a network—it’s a movement. If you’re a sober entrepreneur looking for real talk, powerful insights, and a tribe that gets it, this is where you belong. Vulnerability isn’t a weakness here—it’s the starting point of leadership.