NOVA Community

What NOVA Community does

NOVA Community is a UK-based peer-to-peer networking community founded in February 2023 and headquartered in London, serving senior leaders — primarily women — across six cohorts: Executive & NED, Finance Leadership, Women in HR, Women in Transformation, Women in Professional Services, and the NLA (NOVA Leadership Alliance) for male allies. The company operates as a membership community with a codified "10-minute rule" that requires members to introduce themselves to non-connected attendees at events, deliberately engineering networking density. The core operating model is high-touch and human-mediated: a small core team of three (CEO Billie O'Connor, COO Charleigh Burroughs, Finance Consultant Natalie O'Hare) runs ticketed events (London A-list, regional events), curates cohort programming, and coordinates an ecosystem of strategic partners including Howden, Robert Half, Michael Page, Osborne Clarke, and Refreshing Finance.

Revenue is generated through individual membership subscriptions (monthly and annual tiers, pitched at roughly "the cost of a coffee a week"), ticketed events, and partner sponsorship. The community reports 600+ members and 7,910 LinkedIn followers. An Enhanced Membership tier is positioned as coming soon, and the geographic footprint is expanding beyond London into Reading, Kent, and Manchester. The company is privately held with no disclosed external funding, and the operating posture is described as not-for-profit — suggesting limited balance-sheet capital and reliance on positive unit economics and partnership leverage rather than venture-funded growth.

Name

NOVA Community

Legal name

NOVA Community Ltd.

Website

https://novacommunity.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NOVA Community is a UK-based peer-to-peer networking community founded in February 2023, serving 600+ senior leaders (primarily women) across six cohorts through membership subscriptions, ticketed events, and a strategic partner ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Networking Membership

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Hosting & Membership Platforms (MPACAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Peer networking community
• Executive membership platform
• Women leadership network
• Professional community events
• Senior leaders membership

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engage Membership Subscriptions: The primary revenue stream is membership subscriptions. Engage membership is offered at an accessible monthly or annual rate, described as 'as little as the cost of a coffee a week in London'. Annual membership provides twelve months for the price of eleven. A minimum three-month commitment applies to monthly memberships.
2. Ticketed Events and L&D Programmes: NOVA provides ticketed events that deliver leadership development training, upskilling, or CPD hours. Members receive preferential pricing. Events include intimate dinners, larger partner-hosted forums, and accredited leadership sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NOVA Community is a subscription-based peer-to-peer networking community for senior leaders, with a particular focus on senior women in leadership roles. Members gain access to six functional cohorts (Executive & NED, Finance Leadership, Women in HR, Women in Transformation, Women in Professional Services, and a Male Allies cohort), monthly virtual events, intimate in-person dinners, partner-hosted forums, CPD-accredited leadership sessions, a recommended executive coaching network, and private LinkedIn job opportunity groups. Membership operates on the '10 minute rule' where members agree to give roughly ten minutes of their time when an introduction could help a peer.

Product overview

NOVA Community is a peer-to-peer networking platform for senior leaders, offering a membership-based community with multiple cohort groups. The core product is the Engage Membership, which provides access to six distinct peer-led cohorts (Executive & NED, Finance Leadership, Women in HR, Women in Transformation, Women in Professional Services, and NLA Leadership & Advocates), virtual and in-person events (including intimate dinners, larger partner events, and guest speaker sessions), a recommended executive coaching network, and LinkedIn private job opportunity sites. The platform operates as a not-for-profit limited company reinvesting into member services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Engage Membership The primary membership tier of NOVA Community, providing individual senior leaders with access to a collaborative peer network, at least one monthly virtual event, the '10 minute rule' reciprocal support system, subgroup cohorts organised by function and location, and access to trusted partner connections. Available on monthly rolling (with a 3-month minimum) and annual (12 months for the price of 11) bases, with members typically self-funding or having employers fund their membership.
• Ticketed Events and L&D Programmes Ticketed events and learning & development programmes that deliver leadership development training, upskilling, and CPD hours to members and non-members. Members receive preferential pricing. Formats include intimate dinners, larger partner-hosted forums, guest speaker sessions, and accredited leadership sessions such as 'My Route to CFO' and 'My Route to NED'.
• Enhanced Membership (Coming Soon) An annual membership tier inclusive of event packages, designed for companies seeking corporate membership for their senior leaders with pre-included L&D or coaching access. Targeted at organisations wanting a corporate-level engagement with NOVA for groups of senior leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ senior leaders in community
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• HowdencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHowden is NOVA's strategic insurance partner. The partnership includes co-hosting intimate CFO and senior finance leader dinners in London, exploring topics around business complexity, risk, and protection as businesses scale. Representatives from Howden (Charlotte Benstead, Claire Wilding, Sophie Nash) co-shape and participate in events with NOVA's finance cohort.
• Robert HalfcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRobert Half is a recruitment partner supporting NOVA's community in multiple ways: championing female leaders on client shortlists, providing mandates and CV/LinkedIn reviews for members, supporting organisations in finding talent, and co-hosting events such as a CPO/CFO/CEO panel on the evolving role of the Chief People Officer.
• Refreshing Finance RecruitmentsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRefreshing Finance Recruitment co-hosts events with NOVA, including a session on 'How to Make Your CV Stand Out' led by Founder Joe Jones, providing practical CV guidance to NOVA's finance leader community.
• Michael PagesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMichael Page partnered with NOVA for a Reading community in-person session at Thames Lido, hosting a breakfast event facilitated by Teresa Boughey of Jungle HR on leadership across People, Purpose, Planet and Profit pillars.
• Osborne ClarkesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOsborne Clarke is a legal partner that has co-hosted NOVA's Senior Retail Leaders Dinner events, focusing on the evolving data and regulatory landscape including the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, CMA scrutiny, AI, and board-level accountability.
• Teresa Boughey / Jungle HRsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerTeresa Boughey of Jungle HR facilitated a leadership session for NOVA's Reading community, discussing leadership through four key pillars: People, Purpose, Planet, and Profit. She is listed as a facilitator/partner in the HR and leadership development space.
• Composure MediasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerComposure Media co-hosted the 'Confident Communication with NOVA & Composure Media' event at FORA, Chancery Lane, London, supporting NOVA's event programming for senior female leaders.
• The Prince's TrustsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNOVA supports The Prince's Trust through member introductions to mentoring opportunities and has co-hosted 'The Big Breakfast' event with an audit, tax and accounting partner to celebrate the organisation's work. Member Anna Morgan is introduced as a mentor for the charity through NOVA.
• Recruitment Partners (general)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNOVA has curated a small selection of recruitment partners providing coverage across senior exec roles, interim and permanent placements, industries, ownership structures, and UK regions. Partners support members during role searches (mandates, CV reviews, LinkedIn profile reviews, interview prep) and advocate for greater weighting of capability over experience on client shortlists.
• Legal Partner (general)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe legal partner supported NOVA's first 'Working as a CFO in a PE Firm' training event and continues to provide community advice and support as part of education programmes and events. Recommended for all legal services by the community.
• FX Strategy Partner (general)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerThe FX Strategy Partner helped NOVA start its UK expansion with a Manchester-based event featuring an inspiring female speaker, and continues to provide advice and support as part of education programmes and events.
• Business Consultancy Partner (general)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe business consultancy partner covers topics including business transformation, change management, company carve-outs, ESG reporting, cyber security, and governance, providing education and training often with CPD accreditation to the NOVA community.
• Audit, Tax and Accounting Partner (general)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThis partner supported NOVA's first event for The Prince's Trust – The Big Breakfast – and has provided education and training for members as well as networking events. Their CEO is a strong advocate for women in leadership. Trusted go-to for outsourced finance operations, audit, tax, and accounting services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): EO is a global peer-to-peer network for founders and entrepreneurs offering forums, events, and learning programs. Comparable peer-group membership model and subscription structure, though EO is significantly larger and founder-focused.
• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization): YPO is a global peer network of CEOs and presidents running peer forums, events, and leadership programs. Comparable to NOVA in cohort-based peer learning for senior executives, though not specifically focused on female leaders.
• Vistage: Vistage is a large, established peer advisory and executive coaching membership organisation for CEOs and senior leaders. Significantly broader and more mature than NOVA, but operates a comparable cohort-based peer group model with subscription revenue.

Regional players

• Women in Finance & Banking (WiFiB): UK-based network for women in financial services offering networking, mentoring, and events. Comparable to NOVA's Finance Leadership cohort, though focused exclusively on financial services and operating as a nonprofit association.

Direct peers

• Ellevate Network: Ellevate Network is a global professional women's network offering membership, peer circles, and events for women in mid-to-senior leadership roles. Directly comparable to NOVA's cohort-based peer engagement and subscription membership model.
• Chief: Chief is a private membership network for women executives and C-suite leaders, offering peer groups, events, and content. Direct overlap with NOVA's target audience of senior women leaders and its cohort/community-based peer support model.
• The Athena Network: UK-based networking organisation for professional women, running in-person events and member groups for senior leaders. Comparable to NOVA in audience, geography, and a paid-membership networking model with cohort-style events.
• 30% Club: 30% Club is a UK-led campaign to increase gender balance on boards and at senior executive levels through cross-company chair and CEO engagement. Comparable to NOVA in advancing senior women leaders, with overlapping executive member base.
• Women on Boards UK: Women on Boards UK supports women into board-level roles through membership, mentoring, and events. Directly overlapping with NOVA's Executive & NED cohort and finance leadership audience in the UK market.

Others

• Athena SWAN: UK charter administered by Advance HE that recognises gender equality work in higher education and research institutions. Adjacent to NOVA's mission of advancing women in leadership, though operating in a different sector (academia) and as a charter/credential rather than a community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nova-your-peer-to-peer-networking-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 NOVA Community