From the first BNI Chapter to a community in 78 countries
From 1985 to the present day
The history of BNI began in 1985, when Dr Ivan Misner founded the first Chapter in California. Today, its story is being written by business owners around the world, building relationships based on trust, collaboration and responsibility for the referrals they pass on.
First came the Chapter. From its experience grew a system
Dr Ivan Misner establishes the first BNI Chapter. Its practice becomes the basis for a model founded on consistency, reciprocity and accountability for referrals.
From this practice grows Givers Gain® — a philosophy according to which growth begins with a readiness to support others. You give a contact, knowledge or a referral because you understand the other person’s business and see the right opportunity for them.
The principles were created alongside the Chapter. A Member provides high-quality services at the stated prices, takes responsibility for the contacts they pass on and is trustworthy towards the people they refer. The same principles apply to every BNI Member today — not as a separate document, but as a condition of working within a Chapter.
CNN called Dr Ivan Misner “the father of modern networking” because he turned chance encounters into work that can be planned and repeated. One Chapter in California became the starting point for an organisation that now operates on every continent.
- ConsistencyWeekly meetings help build trust and develop lasting business relationships.
- UnderstandingYou get to know other Members’ businesses, and they come to understand your business and its needs better and better.
- ReciprocityThe Givers Gain® philosophy inspires Members to support others and discover business opportunities together.
- AccountabilityEvery referral is an expression of trust, which is why reliability and accountability for recommendations matter.
See how the BNI world meets
Watch recordings from national conferences and global conventions that inspire, bring business owners together and create space for building international business relationships.
BNI Global Conventions have been held in Sydney, Madrid, Singapore and Bangkok, among other cities, and in 2019 Warsaw hosted the event. These are exceptional gatherings that show how local relationships can grow around the world.
Global Convention
Sydney, Australia
Four days of talks and workshops at ICC Sydney — the first BNI convention in Australia.
Global Convention
Honolulu, USA
The BNI Global Convention in Honolulu — Members from all over the world meeting in Hawaii.
Global Convention
Madrid, Spain
On stage: Ivan Misner, Graham Weihmiller, Dan Monaghan and Claudia Lowry. BNI Polska was represented by 19 people.
National conference
Kraków, Poland
Two days of sessions and an evening awards Gala — over 200 business owners from across the country.
Global Convention
Singapore
Over 2,500 delegates at Resorts World Sentosa. The first in-person edition after the pandemic break.
Regional gala
Lublin, Poland
Ten years of BNI in Lublin — over 100 business owners at the Lublin Conference Centre.
Global Convention
Long Beach, California
Over 1,300 attendees from more than 70 countries. Members’ Day opened with a lecture by Verne Harnish.