Club VIP Business

What Club VIP Business does

Club VIP Business is a private business networking organization founded in 2005 and headquartered in the Rhône-Alpes region of France, operating primarily in Lyon and Grenoble. The company organizes monthly afterwork networking events, economic breakfast meetings, business lunches, dinners, and related professional gatherings designed to connect entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate decision-makers. Its core product is a regional membership-based community, with reported active membership of 28,000+ professionals. The organization supplements membership events with tiered sponsorship packages sold to enterprises seeking visibility and an online member directory (Annuaire) receiving 100+ daily visits. Hélène Tavelle is the founder and primary organizer, and operations are executed through a longstanding partnership with the communication agency Sorel & Stendhal, established in 1995.

The underlying technology stack is minimal and consists of standard off-the-shelf tools: a WordPress-based website (clubvipbusiness.com) for content and online membership purchases, Eventbrite for event ticketing, and mainstream social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram) managed under the founder's personal profiles for community engagement. There is no proprietary platform, no mobile application, no AI/ML capabilities, and no proprietary data flywheel. Communication with members is delivered through email newsletters and regional press coverage in Dauphiné Libéré.

The business model is built on three revenue streams: (1) annual membership subscriptions with two tiers — Individual at €99 HT/year and Business at €159 HT/year — providing free event entry, directory listing, and speaking opportunities; (2) event sponsorship packages sold direct to enterprises, with tiered visibility options and degressive pricing for multi-event commitments; and (3) non-member event ticket sales on a per-event basis. Past and current sponsors include Wimova, ByMyCar, UFF, MAAF, Groupama, Barclays, Privilodges, Orange, and Jean Lain. The customer base is broadly horizontal across entrepreneurs, investors, corporate decision-makers, and sponsors, with no single vertical dominance. No external funding, no institutional investors, and no M&A activity are evident in the source material.

Name

Club VIP Business

Legal name

Club VIP Business

Website

https://clubvipbusiness.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Club VIP Business is a private French networking organization founded in 2005 that organizes monthly afterwork events and membership programs for 28,000+ entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate decision-makers in the Lyon and Grenoble region, monetizing through annual subscriptions, event sponsorships, and ticket sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Networking Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Hospitality, VIP Hosting & Client Entertainment (Internal-led) (THAHAIAI)

Keywords

• Business networking services
• Professional membership club
• B2B event organization
• Afterwork networking events
• Regional business network

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees providing access to free entry to all networking events, directory listing, speaking opportunities, and reduced rates on other events. Two tiers: Individual (99€ HT/year) and Business (159€ HT/year).
2. Event Sponsorship Packages: Sponsorship packages for networking events including logo placement on invitations, website, giant screen during events, presentation opportunities, exhibition space, and team entries. Multiple tiers available with degressive pricing for multiple events.
3. Event Ticket Sales (Non-members): Non-members can purchase tickets to individual events. PAF (participation fee) is 1 mandatory consumption at events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Club VIP Business is a regional business networking organization that organizes monthly afterwork events, themed economic breakfasts, and other professional gatherings in Lyon and Grenoble for entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate decision-makers. It sells annual memberships (Individual at €99/year and Business at €159/year) that grant free event access, directory listings, and visibility benefits. The organization also generates revenue through tiered B2B sponsorship packages that provide brand exposure across event materials, communications, and venue displays to a claimed network of 28,000+ members in the Rhône-Alpes region.

Product overview

Club VIP Business is a networking-focused organization operating as a unified event and membership platform. The core offering consists of monthly afterwork networking events in Lyon and Grenoble, supplemented by themed economic breakfast meetings. The membership system (individual at €99/year and business at €159/year) provides tiered access to events and directory listings. Additional paid offerings include sponsorship packages with varying visibility levels and pop-up retail opportunities at events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adhésion Particulier (Individual Membership) Annual individual membership providing free entry to all monthly afterwork networking events in Lyon and Grenoble, directory listing, reduced rates on other events, speaking opportunities, and access to member-only opportunities. Priced at €99 HT/year.
• Adhésion Entreprise (Business Membership) Annual business membership for companies, associations, and local authorities, offering all individual membership benefits plus enhanced visibility, corporate networking opportunities, and business development features. Priced at €159 HT/year.
• Club VIP Business Afterwork Events Monthly networking afterwork events held in Lyon and Grenoble, featuring speed networking, business discussions, and entertainment in partner venues across the Rhône-Alpes region. Open to members (free) and non-members (paid tickets).
• Petits-Déjeuners Économiques (Economic Breakfast Meetings) Monthly themed networking breakfast meetings held on the first Thursday of each month, featuring expert speakers on business topics such as energy transition and cost optimization. Open to members and non-members.
• Sponsorship Packages Tiered sponsorship offerings (Official Sponsorship, Standard Sponsoring, and themed packages) providing brand visibility through event branding, member communications, and venue displays to the 28,000-member network. Multiple tiers available with degressive pricing for multiple events.
• Annuaire (Business Directory) Online member directory with 100+ daily visits, featuring company logos and descriptions of members to facilitate business connections and referrals among the 28,000+ member community.
• Boutiques Éphémères (Pop-up Boutiques) Temporary retail stands available at events, allowing members to showcase and sell products or services directly to fellow attendees at Club VIP Business networking gatherings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Membership pays for itself after attending just 13 events (at 8€ per event vs. 99€ annual fee)

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sorel & StendhalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Communication and events agency managing Club VIP Business since 1995. Handles social media management, website, event organization, and marketing materials. Founded by Hélène Tavelle, also the founder of Club VIP Business. Key operational partner responsible for all communications and event execution.
• UFFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast official sponsor of Club VIP Business networking events.
• MAAFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast official sponsor of Club VIP Business networking events.
• GROUPAMAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast official sponsor of Club VIP Business networking events.
• BARCLAYSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast official sponsor of Club VIP Business networking events.
• PRIVILODGESminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast official sponsor and venue partner for Club VIP Business networking events.
• ORANGEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast official sponsor of Club VIP Business networking events.
• WimovaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of Club VIP Business events. Company provides sponsorship support for networking events.
• Central Autos / Central MotorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast official sponsor of Club VIP Business networking events.
• BY MY CARminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of Club VIP Business Lyon events. Presented Volkswagen vehicles at events.
• JEAN LAINminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast official sponsor of Club VIP Business networking events.
• Dauphiné LibéréminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional newspaper providing press coverage of Club VIP Business events and activities. Regular articles published in 2025-2026.
• Okko Hotels LyonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent venue host and partner for Club VIP Business networking events in Lyon.
• Novotel Grenoble CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegular event venue host for Club VIP Business networking events in Grenoble.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a global professional membership and networking platform serving entrepreneurs, executives, and corporate decision-makers. It competes for the same relationship-building and visibility use cases, but delivers them primarily through an online network.
• Meetup: Meetup is an established event-community platform used to organize recurring local professional and social gatherings. It overlaps with Club VIP Business's event-driven member acquisition, but serves as enabling infrastructure rather than operating a dedicated regional business club.

Direct peers

• Association pour le Progrès du Management (APM): APM is a France-based membership organization for business leaders that combines local clubs, peer exchange, and knowledge-led events. It is comparable through its paid professional membership and premium in-person networking proposition.
• BNI France: BNI France operates paid, referral-based chapters in which members meet regularly to exchange business leads. Its recurring membership and structured face-to-face networking model closely match Club VIP Business's core offering.
• Réseau Entreprendre: Réseau Entreprendre brings entrepreneurs together through local associations, mentoring, events, and business connections. It overlaps directly with Club VIP Business's entrepreneur, investor, and business-development audience.
• Centre des Jeunes Dirigeants (CJD): CJD is a French association for business leaders organized around local sections, peer exchange, and recurring events. It is comparable by customer profile, membership model, and emphasis on high-quality professional relationships.
• Club des Entrepreneurs: Club des Entrepreneurs organizes business-networking and development activities for entrepreneurs and company leaders. Its event-led audience and relationship-building focus closely resemble Club VIP Business.
• Décideurs Business Club: Décideurs Business Club is a French premium business club centered on executive networking, business meetings, and events. It competes for the same broad class of entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate decision-makers.

Regional players

• Viadeo: Viadeo is a France-rooted professional networking platform focused on business connections and professional visibility. It is relevant to Club VIP Business through its French professional audience, although its delivery model is predominantly digital rather than event-based.

Emerging players

• Bizz & Co: Bizz & Co provides a business-networking and lead-generation environment for professionals and companies. It has meaningful overlap in audience and commercial networking intent, although its proposition is more digitally oriented.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/HeleneTavelle
• Facebookfacebook.com/helenetavelle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/h%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne-tavelle-ab36a414
• Instagraminstagram.com/helenetavelle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Club VIP Business