Inforum

What Inforum does

Inforum (legally Inforum Michigan) is a Michigan-based, non-profit professional development and networking organization founded in 1960 and headquartered in Detroit, with a second office in West Michigan. The organization serves two primary customer segments: individual women professionals seeking career advancement, and corporate companies pursuing gender diversity and talent development initiatives. It delivers value through an integrated suite of services organized around four pillars: Strategic Connections (events, affinity groups, industry-specific groups, and online communities), Talent Development & Training (workshops, coaching, multi-session programs, and custom corporate training), Advocacy & Allyship (DEI initiatives), and Research. The product portfolio includes five industry-specific groups — HealthcareNEXT, ManufacturingNEXT, MobilityNEXT, SustainabilityNEXT, and TechnologyNEXT — as well as an Inner Circle annual recognition program, a Mentor Program, a Scholarship Program, a Speakers Bureau, and a Corporate Partners B2B program with Diamond and Platinum tiers.

The organization generates revenue through three streams: individual membership fees (subscription/recurring), corporate partnership investments at Diamond and Platinum tiers (subscription/recurring), and fees from events and educational programs (professional services). Membership and program pricing are not publicly disclosed. Distribution is primarily direct: individuals enroll through the NeonCRM-powered member portal, while companies engage through the Corporate Partners program. The organization's stated scale includes 6,000+ members globally, 33,000+ strategic connections, 205 corporate partner companies, and 9,000+ women leaders developed through research-driven programs. The underlying technology is limited to standard association management tools (NeonCRM) and a member app; Inforum is not a technology company and has no proprietary AI/ML, API, or integration infrastructure. It is led by President and CEO Terry Barclay, with governance distributed across a Board of Directors and regional advisory councils (Southeast MI, West MI, NextGen).

Name

Inforum

Legal name

Inforum Michigan

Website

https://inforummichigan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Inforum is a Michigan-based non-profit professional development organization founded in 1960 that serves 6,000+ women professionals and 205 corporate partners through networking events, industry-specific groups, mentorship, and talent development programs across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional development and networking services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional & Business Networking Communities (MPACAJAB)

Keywords

• Women professional development
• Corporate partnership programs
• Networking events
• Mentorship programs
• Leadership training

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Individual women professionals pay membership fees to join Inforum and access networking events, professional development programs, mentor programs, affinity groups, and online member communities.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Companies pay to become corporate partners, gaining access to gender diversity initiatives, talent pipelines, and custom-designed programs. Corporate partners include Diamond level (Amway, Corewell Health, DTE) and Platinum level (Bank of America, Comerica Bank, FORVIA, Henry Ford Health, ITC Fortis).
3. Events and Programs: Revenue generated from events including workshops, virtual labs, Inner Circle gatherings, and educational programs for professional development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Inforum is a Michigan-based non-profit that sells individual women memberships and corporate partnership packages giving access to networking events, mentorship, talent development workshops, industry-specific communities (HealthcareNEXT, ManufacturingNEXT, MobilityNEXT, SustainabilityNEXT, TechnologyNEXT), and original research aimed at accelerating women's careers and advancing corporate gender diversity. Members and corporate partners also access Affinity Groups, the Mentor Program, Scholarship Program, Speakers Bureau, and the annual Inner Circle recognition program, delivered through in-person events, virtual labs, and a NeonCRM-backed member portal.

Product overview

Inforum is a membership-based professional development platform for women operating in Michigan. The organization offers an integrated suite of services organized around four pillars: Strategic Connections (events, affinity groups, industry-specific groups, and online communities), Talent Development & Training (workshops, coaching, mentorship, and custom corporate programs), Advocacy & Allyship (DEI initiatives), and Research. The portfolio includes five industry-specific groups (HealthcareNEXT, ManufacturingNEXT, MobilityNEXT, SustainabilityNEXT, TechnologyNEXT), an Inner Circle annual event program, a Mentor Program, a Scholarship Program, and a Corporate Partners B2B program. Members access these services through a unified membership, with programs designed to accelerate careers for women and support companies' diversity and talent initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HealthcareNEXT: Industry group focused on healthcare sector professional development and networking.
• ManufacturingNEXT
• MobilityNEXT
• SustainabilityNEXT
• TechnologyNEXT
• Inner Circle
• Inforum Anywhere
• Speakers Bureau

Products and services

• Strategic Connections Networking platform enabling members to build meaningful connections through events, affinity groups, volunteer leadership roles, industry-focused groups, and online member communities.
• Talent Development & Training
• HealthcareNEXT
• ManufacturingNEXT
• MobilityNEXT
• SustainabilityNEXT
• TechnologyNEXT
• Mentor Program
• Scholarship Program
• Inner Circle
• Speakers Bureau
• Corporate Partners Program
• Affinity Groups
• Emerging Professionals

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,000+ women leaders developed through research-driven programs
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered diamond and platinum.

• AmwaydiamondGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond level corporate investor supporting Inforum's mission to accelerate careers for women. Amway employees benefit from Inforum's professional development programs and networking opportunities as part of the corporate partnership.
• Corewell HealthdiamondGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond level corporate investor and healthcare industry partner supporting Inforum's diversity and talent initiatives.
• DTEdiamondGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond level corporate investor supporting Inforum's women leadership development initiatives. DTE and DTE Foundation both invested at Diamond level.
• Bank of AmericaplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum level corporate partner supporting Inforum's gender diversity initiatives and accessing talent development programs for employees.
• Comerica BankplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum level corporate partner in the financial services sector supporting Inforum's professional development programs.
• FORVIAplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum level corporate partner in the mobility/automotive industry supporting Inforum's talent initiatives.
• Henry Ford HealthplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum level healthcare system partner supporting Inforum's diversity and professional development initiatives.
• ITC FortisplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum level corporate partner in the energy/infrastructure sector supporting Inforum's mission.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ellevate Network: A global professional women's networking and career advancement community offering mentorship, events, and Circles-based peer groups. Directly comparable to Inforum as a membership-based women's professional development platform, though operating nationally and digitally.
• Lean In Circles: Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In Foundation operates small peer Circles for women professionals worldwide, focused on mentorship, skill-building, and peer support. Directly comparable in mission (women's career acceleration through community) but operates through free, decentralized peer groups rather than a paid membership model.
• Women in Technology International (WITI): A membership-based professional organization for women in technology offering networking, mentorship, and leadership development. Directly comparable as a women's-focused industry-group model that overlaps with Inforum's TechnologyNEXT vertical group.

Emerging players

• Chief: A private membership community for senior women executives offering networking events, peer groups, and leadership content. Comparable to Inforum's Inner Circle and corporate programming but targets C-suite women and charges premium individual dues; an emerging digital-native competitor.
• Forte Foundation: A nonprofit consortium of leading corporations, top business schools, and funders working to launch women into business leadership through education and career programs. Comparable in mission (women's leadership pipeline) and corporate partnership model but focused on MBA pipeline rather than continuous mid-career development.

Broad incumbents

• Catalyst: A global nonprofit focused on advancing women in the workplace through research, consulting, and corporate partnerships. Comparable to Inforum on the corporate B2B side (corporate diversity partnerships and research-driven programs) but operates at a much larger, international scale.
• National Association of Female Executives (NAFE): One of the largest U.S. membership associations for women executives, providing networking, education, and recognition. Comparable in membership-based women's leadership development mission; historically a more national and longer-established organization than Inforum.
• American Association of University Women (AAUW): A national nonprofit advancing equity for women and girls through research, advocacy, education, and scholarships. Comparable to Inforum's advocacy and scholarship functions but operates at a much larger national scale and with broader mission scope.

Others

• Dress for Success: A global nonprofit supporting women's economic independence through career development, mentorship, and professional attire programs. Mission-adjacent to Inforum on women's career advancement but focused on workforce entry rather than leadership pipeline development.

Regional players

• The Women's Forum of New York: An invitation-based membership organization of senior women leaders in New York offering programs, events, and thought leadership. Comparable in structure and mission to Inforum's Inner Circle but operates regionally in New York rather than Michigan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/inforummi
• Facebookfacebook.com/Inforum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inforum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Inforum