Hello,
Cum aliis valemus.
You saw those words at the top. It’s Latin for “With others, we are strong,” and it’s our Inner Circle motto. I’m not in the habit of quoting Latin, but those three words say something I’ve learned over a lifetime filled with my share of challenges, outright failures, and many successes.
The Inner Circle is a private, invitation-only group for serious thinkers, investors, and entrepreneurs who don’t particularly need more analysis; rather, they want connection, perspective, clarity, and growth.
Over the decades, I’ve had the good fortune to share tables with some of the brightest minds in economics, finance, and policy. Many of those meetings were planned; many more happened by chance. I can trace turning points in my career and life to dinners, debates, and even hallway chats that opened new doors for me. The Inner Circle is about making sure those moments don’t depend on luck.
Our first in-person event was at the Yale Club in November 2025, and it proved what I hoped: when you bring together the right people with genuine curiosity and mutual respect, remarkable things happen. There was “camaraderie, intellectual and social stimulation,” “amazing caliber and candor,” and “an incredible amount of knowledge in the room” - they’re all direct quotes from members about our get-together.
We're now opening applications for an extremely limited number of new members. If what is described here resonates with you, I hope you'll consider applying.
With others, we are strong.
John Mauldin
Co-Founder, Mauldin Economics
Founding Member, Inner Circle
The Principles We Live By
We gather in the Inner Circle to exchange ideas freely, build trust, and form relationships that endure. As members, we hold ourselves to the highest standards.
Confidentiality without
compromise.
What’s said in the Circle stays in the Circle Always. We speak freely, knowing our words and ideas will never be shared beyond these walls without our consent.
Respect for difference.
We believe that diversity of viewpoints in the Circle is critical for robust conversations that move things forward. Disagreement is welcome, but respect is non-negotiable.
We gather in the Inner Circle to exchange ideas freely, build trust, and form relationships that endure. As members, we hold ourselves to the highest standards.
Integrity in intention.
We come together to share knowledge, insight, and experience; not to pitch, sell, or solicit. Every conversation is driven by a genuine desire to learn and to contribute to the group.
Stewardship of the Circle.
We each take ownership of protecting the quality, privacy, and character of this community. Membership is a privilege, not a right.
Cum aliis valemus.
With others, we are strong. We show up for each other, in person and online, ready to listen, contribute, and engage fully.
Our Founding Members
Since August 2025, we've welcomed 34 founding members via a detailed vetting and application process.
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Diverse Industry Representation:
Our founders come from a broad cross-section of the global economy, including leadership in energy infrastructure, global liquid markets, aerospace and electronics engineering, commercial real estate, and enterprise technology.
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Elite Executive Experience:
The group is composed of high-level decision-makers, including CEOs of financial funds, Executive Chairmen, and COOs of international firms.
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Scale of Influence:
Members manage significant portfolios and operations, ranging from family offices to institutional investment teams overseeing billions in assets.
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Deep Subject Matter Expertise:
The Circle includes specialists in M&A, corporate governance, patent and trade secret law, the architecture of large-scale software systems, and more.
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Innovation & Legacy:
Our members bridge the gap between decades of experience and the new frontier, featuring both 40-year veterans of global manufacturing and founders of AI-enabled startups.
Who Should Apply
We're looking for accomplished professionals and entrepreneurs who:
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Have achieved significant success in their field and are seeking peers at a similar level
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Value substantive conversation over transactional networking
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Can contribute unique perspectives from their industry or experience
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Are intellectually curious and open to viewpoints different from their own
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Have the time and commitment to participate actively in our gatherings
This is not a group for everyone. We're selective by necessity: the intimacy and trust that make our conversations valuable only work in a small, carefully curated community. What unites our members is their intellectual curiosity, proven track record, and commitment to learning from peers.
The Inner Circle Experience
From private gatherings in remarkable settings to candid, off-the-record conversations, here’s how the Inner Circle comes to life: built on the trust that allows ideas, opportunities, and friendships to flourish.
The Annual Gathering:
Ideas in the Room
Our anchor event each year, held in a major hub city. (most recently New York City). Two days designed for intense focus and lively debate with members
and select guest speakers: the kind of exchanges that only happen when you’re in the same room.
Get-Togethers:
Singular Focus
Twice a year, we host intensive gatherings in remarkable settings. Unlike our broader annual meeting, these sessions are built around a singular, urgent theme, such as Disruption in Technology or The Fourth Turning.
Ad-hoc Member Events:
Serendipity by Design
Opportunities that arise organically and are driven by members: a private dinner, a deep-sea fishing trip, a member-hosted salon. Smaller in scale, but often where the deepest connections are made.
Virtual Touchpoints:
The Connection Continues
Live online sessions to keep the conversation going between gatherings. Inner Circle hosts virtual get togethers: from high-level roundtables to topic specific presentations, they keep you connected, informed, and part of the dialogue year-round.
The Inner Circle: Year 1 In-Person Meetings
The First Annual Gathering
Dates: November 10-11, 2025 (Complete)
Location: The Yale Club, New York City
In Attendance: Louis Gave, Karen Harris, Ed Yardeni, Shehzad Qazi, Peter Boockvar, Ben Hunt, John Mauldin, Ed D’Agostino, Olivier Garret, and Inner Circle members
Los Angeles: Disruption in Technology
Dates: March 25-27, 2026 (Upcoming)
Location: Redondo Beach (exact details shared with members)
In Attendance: Details shared with members
Boston: The Fourth Turning
Dates: June 8 -10, 2026 (Upcoming)
Location: The heart of Boston (exact details shared with members)
In Attendance: TBD
The Second Annual Gathering
Dates: November 9-10, 2026 (Upcoming)
Location: Washington, DC (exact details shared with members)
In Attendance: TBD
The Inner Circle in Los Angeles:
Disruption in Technology
March 25-27, 2026
The pace of change is no longer linear in today’s world. The reality is, disruption is the new baseline. Joining us for our Los Angeles meeting are the founding team behind The Rational Optimist Society, Stephen McBride and Dan Steinhart. Known for their rigorous analysis of human progress and innovation, they will participate in our exploration into how disruption, while challenging, creates opportunity and progress.
What to Expect
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Three days of lively debate and local experiences
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A focus on peer-driven sessions, mixed with social gatherings and outings
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John Mauldin, Olivier Garret, and Ed D’Agostino will attend, along with a small number of guests selected for their expertise – and of course, most importantly, your fellow Inner Circle members.
Membership Investment
Initiation Fee
This one-time fee of 25,000 USD covers your first year's membership, and attendance at your first Inner Circle event.
Annual Dues
7,500 USD payable annually on the anniversary of your joining the Inner Circle
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5,000 USD may be applied in full to the cost of one gathering each year
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2,500 USD supports the club, our virtual gatherings, and ad hoc club costs
Virtual Events
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Included in your membership
All amounts are payable in advance and are non-refundable.
In-Person Events
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Your first Inner Circle event is included in your initiation fee.
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Future gatherings and retreats are priced individually based on location and experience. Fees vary and are communicated well in advance.
Start Your
Application
Membership in the Inner Circle is limited, with a rigorous selection process. We welcome individuals who value candor, perspective, and meaningful exchange. If you believe this may be the right club for you, share a few details through the link below so we can learn more.
The Membership Process
Register Your Interest:
Submit Your Application:
Suitable candidates will receive an application form by email
Initial Review:
Our membership committee reviews all applications. We typically respond within one week.
Conversation:
Qualified candidates will receive an invite to a personal interview. This is a two-way conversation: a chance for us to learn about you, and for you to ask questions.
Decision:
We notify applicants of our decision within one week of the interview.
A Message From Our Founders
When we first discussed creating the Inner Circle with John, we knew we wanted something intimate, substantive, and built to last. Nobody needs yet another networking group or conference.
A few months in, we're proud of what we've created. But more importantly, we're excited by what's emerging. The conversations among members at our first Annual Gathering exceeded our expectations. Members were prepared, engaged, and genuinely interested in learning from each other. That's exactly what we hoped for.
Now we're ready to welcome a small number of new members who share these values. Rest assured that, as with our founder member intake, every registration of interest and application will be carefully considered.
The Inner Circle isn't for everyone, and that's by design. But if you're the right fit, we believe you'll find the Inner Circle unlike anything else you've been part of.
We hope to meet you soon: first virtually, then in person.
With others, we are strong.
Ed D’Agostino & Olivier Garret
Register Your Interest
Membership in the Inner Circle is limited, with a rigorous selection process. We welcome individuals who value candor, perspective, and meaningful exchange. If you believe this may be the right club for you, share a few details below so we can learn more.