The Grid is your go-to destination for simplifying exit planning and exploring employee ownership opportunities. Whether you're seeking guidance, connections, or expertise, The Grid provides the tools and resources to make your journey easier and more impactful. Here's what you will gain: A single platform for everyone working in and on main street businesses. Smart tagging and search capabilities to quickly find relevant experts, resources, and discussions. AI-enhanced content summaries for accessible and actionable knowledge. Up-to-date resources and guidance enriched by member contributions. Opportunities to build your professional reputation through meaningful contributions.

The Grid is for anyone who supports small and medium businesses, and in particular during their exit planning journey. Here are just a few people you can find using The Grid: Business Owners: Access trusted advisors and resources to navigate your EO journey. Advisors: Build your reputation, showcase your expertise, and connect with business owners ready for EO transitions. EO Advocates: Promote employee ownership, share stories, and collaborate to expand awareness. Capital Allocators: Discover businesses seeking funding and engage with the EO ecosystem. Employee Owners: Share experiences and learn best practices about EO from peers.

Is The Grid free to join?

Yes, The Grid is completely free to join. Access tools, resources, and connections at no cost and become part of a trusted network shaping the future of EO.

How do I join The Grid?

Signing up is straightforward and free. Join The Grid and we will ask you to sign in with your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn authentication helps maintain the professionalism and trustworthiness of our network. If you don't have LinkedIn, contact us for alternative verification options.

How do I create or claim my profile in The Grid?

Most professionals and organizations in the EO field already have a profile in the Grid Directory. Once you click Join The Grid, you can search for your profile—if it is listed, click "Claim Profile." If not, creating a new profile takes just a few minutes.

Do I need a LinkedIn profile to join The Grid? Why can't I join without it?

Yes, we use LinkedIn for authentication to ensure the credibility of The Grid. If you don't have LinkedIn, contact us for alternative verification options.

Can I invite others to join The Grid?

Absolutely! Share this link to Join The Grid with colleagues, clients, and anyone passionate about EO. The more voices we have, the more dynamic The Grid becomes.

How do I benefit from contributing to The Grid?

We invite The Grid members to enrich the content, including the Wiki, Forum and Directory. The benefits are that you: Share your expertise to add a unique perspective. Build your reputation as a trusted professional. Stay informed and learn while contributing. Support a reliable resource that benefits everyone in the EO space.

How do I suggest edits to The Grid content?

We encourage The Grid members to contribute to the content in The Grid, including through the Organization profile pages and Wiki content. To suggest edits, navigate to the specific page or entry you wish to update. Click the "Suggest Edit" button and provide your proposed changes. Your edits will be published immediately and attributed to you, so ensure the information is accurate and relevant before submitting. You can view the change history of pages, including dates and names of members who made the edits.

Are there guidelines for adding or editing content in The Grid?

Yes, all contributions should be factual and concise. Avoid promotional content or unverified information. Adhere to The Grid guidelines when submitting changes. The full guidelines are available in The Grid.

Can I update my own profile in The Grid?

Yes, you can update your profile, and are encouraged to enrich it to reflect your experience and expertise. Once you have a claimed profile, click the "Edit" icon to make updates and save the changes.

Can I add a new person or organization to The Grid Directory?

You can certainly add yourself to the Directory by creating your profile. You cannot add a new person to the Directory at this time. However, you can Share this link to invite the person to create their own profile. You can add a new organization to the Directory.

Can I delete a profile from The Grid Directory?

If you do not want your profile to be public, you can decide to leave The Grid. We require everyone who wants to create and edit content to have a Grid profile. You cannot delete or edit another person's profile from the Directory. But you can report inaccuracies in another person's profile.

Who ensures the accuracy of The Grid Wiki and Directory content?

The Grid operates on a collaborative model, where members collectively ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content. Everyone is responsible for maintaining a high-quality resource.

What is the purpose of the Forum in The Grid?

The Forum is the heart of community interaction. It's a space where business owners, employees, advisors, and capital allocators can start discussions, ask questions, share insights, and collaborate on topics related to exit planning, employee ownership (EO), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and business growth. Start by introducing yourself, then find other topics to start or join the conversation.

Can I post questions or start discussions in The Grid Forum?

Absolutely! The Forum is open for all members to ask questions, share experiences, and start discussions. Whether you're seeking advice, sharing success stories, or exploring EO trends, the Forum is the perfect place to engage. Use tags to categorize your posts, reply to others comments, and mention members to connect directly. Whether you're new to topics or a seasoned expert, you are welcome to join in.

Are there any rules or guidelines for participating in The Grid Forum?

Yes, The Grid has a set of participation guidelines to ensure a respectful and constructive environment. Members are encouraged to be professional, helpful, and inclusive when interacting with others. The full guidelines are available in the Community.

What types of discussions can I find in The Grid Forum?

The Forum hosts a wide range of discussions, including: News & Announcements Introductions Stories from the Field Research and Data Exit Readiness: People, Processes, and Profit Valuation and Financing Advisor Corner SMB Owner + Employee Corner Financier Corner …and much more!

What if I have issues with my Zolidar account or The Grid profile?

Please contact us with detailed information on your issue. Please be sure to include your account information to help us diagnose the issue, such as email addresses you may have used to login, the way you choose to login (i.e. via Google, LinkedIn or your email address), and your LinkedIn profile.

Can I talk to a real person for help with employee ownership, exit planning, or Zolidar products?

Yes! Contact Zolidar at z@zolidar.com, book a call at calendly.com/sk-zolidar-euea/zolidar-demo, or call +1 (650) 977-4744 (voicemail). We can help with support, product questions, and employee ownership guidance. You can even explore The Grid to find advisors.

The Grid: built for the small business community

A living graph of the people, organizations, and funding. Find answers, build your reputation, and share what you know.

60,000+ people, organizations, and resources
Forever free

Your profile may already be here

We build profiles from public sources. Claiming yours keeps it accurate.

Claim your profile Find your organization

Zolid AI has read the whole Grid, so you don't have to

Every profile, answer, term, report, and recording here feeds Zolid AI. Ask in your own words and it answers, with links to the pages it used.

Try one of these

Our vision

The Grid as a platform cooperative

The people who build The Grid would own a share of what it becomes.

Read the full visionPartner with us

“We ultimately hope that The Grid will eclipse Zolidar itself in the impact that it can have on small businesses.”

Ashish AgrawalFounder, Zolidar

For the field

One place to keep current, instead of a hundred

Most organizations in this field keep their own directory of people, resources, and partners. Each takes months to build and goes stale the day it ships. Funding ends, advisors move, firms merge.

One place to keep current fixes that for all of them at once.

Bring The Grid to your community

What The Grid does for you

Business owners
Find an advisor
Find advisors who have done this before
And learn from owners who have already been through it, in their own words.
- Business owner
- Spouse
- Family member
- Management team
- Board member

Employee Ownership Market Map

Data on The Grid, drawn as a market map. Improve an organization in the Directory and the map redraws with it.

Open the map Add an organization

Join The Grid for free

A LinkedIn sign-in is all it takes. Reading needs nothing at all.

Frequently asked questions

See all

What is The Grid?

The Grid is a free, interactive, AI-powered platform designed to support and empower those who build, grow, and champion Main Street businesses. It offers fresh, curated content on exit planning and employee ownership, enriched by AI to organize and categorize information seamlessly. The community itself plays a vital role, with members able to edit, create, and enhance content collaboratively. Whether you're a business owner, advisor, or employee-owner, The Grid provides a dynamic space to connect, learn, and build valuable relationships—securing the future of small and medium businesses together.

Yes! You can talk to real people for help. Here's how:

Contact Zolidar

Our team is here to help with technical support, product questions, employee ownership guidance, and exit planning. We can point you in the right direction and help you get started.

Ways to reach us:

Book a Call: https://calendly.com/sk-zolidar-euea/zolidar-demo?hide_gdpr_banner=1 to speak directly with our team about employee ownership options, get a product demo, or discuss how Zolidar can help with your exit planning needs.
Phone: +1 (650) 977-4744 - Calls go to voicemail, and we'll return your call. Please leave a detailed message with your name, contact information, and what you'd like to discuss.
Contact form: Fill out the Get in touch form at zolidar.com/contact for general inquiries or feedback. It's also linked at the bottom of most storefront pages.

We can help with:

Technical support and product questions
Guidance on using Zolidar's tools (Day Zero Guide, Aha Planner, Zolid AI)
General information about employee ownership and exit planning
Product demos and onboarding help
Connecting you with the right resources for your situation

Or Connect with Professionals in The Grid

If you want to explore working with advisors on your own, The Grid https://zolidar.com/grid is our community directory of professionals who specialize in employee ownership and business succession planning. You can browse profiles, search by expertise or location, and reach out to professionals directly.

Note: While Zolid AI can answer many questions immediately, it's an AI assistant, not a real person. For personalized guidance or complex situations, we recommend starting with our team—we can help determine the best path forward for your needs.

The Grid: built for the small business community

Your profile may already be here

Zolid AI has read the whole Grid, so you don't have to

The Grid as a platform cooperative

One place to keep current, instead of a hundred

What The Grid does for you

Business owners

Employee Ownership Market Map

Join The Grid for free

What is The Grid?

Advisors

Capital providers

Programs

Researchers

Why create your profile

What is The Grid?

Why join The Grid?

Who is The Grid for?

Is The Grid free to join?

How do I join The Grid?

How do I create or claim my profile in The Grid?

Do I need a LinkedIn profile to join The Grid? Why can't I join without it?

Can I invite others to join The Grid?

How do I benefit from contributing to The Grid?

How do I suggest edits to The Grid content?

Are there guidelines for adding or editing content in The Grid?

Can I update my own profile in The Grid?

Can I add a new person or organization to The Grid Directory?

Can I delete a profile from The Grid Directory?

Who ensures the accuracy of The Grid Wiki and Directory content?

What is the purpose of the Forum in The Grid?

Can I post questions or start discussions in The Grid Forum?

Are there any rules or guidelines for participating in The Grid Forum?

What types of discussions can I find in The Grid Forum?

What if I have issues with my Zolidar account or The Grid profile?

Can I talk to a real person for help with employee ownership, exit planning, or Zolidar products?

Three places to look, or just ask Zolid AI

Directory

Wiki

Forum