Learn. Bond. Grow.
Forge brings together purpose-driven creative entrepreneurs to commune, co-create, and cross-pollinate, as we test our ideas, challenge ourselves, and make an impact.
A lab for heart-lead creatives, fractionals, and business owners.
Forge is an online ecosystem for impact-driven creative business owners to learn, bond, and grow in a carefully curated, distraction-free space. It’s a singular hub for those of us who are out here trying things, not settling, and defining what fulfillment means to us every day.
Forge is a 3-in-1
1.
A charging station where “actions over ideas” is the ethos since it’s better to act on an okay idea than for a great idea to lay dormant.
2.
A growth lab where you’ll power up with weekly prompts, expert workshops, live events, flagship courses, and strategic playbooks.
3.
An inclusive community where you’ll be supported, work with others, and bond with values-aligned creatives and entrepreneurs.
Forge is designed for...
Heart-led, purpose-driven creative entrepreneurs. It’s a singular hub for those of us who are out here trying things, not settling, and defining what fulfillment means to us today.
We’re the designers, writers, marketers, developers, freelancers, bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, coaches, consultants, craftspeople, artists, producers, list-builders, and more of the world—we come in SO many flavors, ha!
And yeah, sometimes we fear failure, but we leap in any way by using that fear to propel us rather than block us.
Here's what's inside
Learn some things
- Biweekly live events
- Co-working sessions
- Expert insights
- Actionable growth tips
- "How I did this..." reports
- Community-wide updates
- AMA sessions*
Bond with peers
- Monthly meet-and-greets
- Ask the community anything
- Work with your fellow Forgers
- Share your wins
- Promote your work
- Accountability + feedback
- Discuss life outside of work
Grow your business
- Weekly spicy prompts
- Monthly challenges
- Workshops + playbooks
- Marketing tool breakdowns
- Signature courses*
- Expert interviews
- Podcast episodes
And here's what you won't find inside
- Daily sales pitches
- Inauthentic community members
- Unhealthy competition, comparisons & addictions
- Moving between 82 apps to get & do what you need
- Guilt-shaming for not keeping up or logging in very often
"I love the idea of growing, bonding & collaborating. Expert interviews, workshops & events will be so valuable as well. Plus, a place to hire experts & put our profile up? It's such an awesome way to grow our network."
DEEKSHA BEEHARRY | WEALTH & MONEY MINDSET COACH
Hey, I'm Darnell.
I’m a Fractional Growth Strategist & Designer who gives creative + non-creative entrepreneurs the tools, clarity, and flexibility to do the work that moves them.
Combining courses, podcasting, and strategies, I share proven, empathetic insights from over 10 years of serving 300+ clients of all shapes and sizes.
5 crazy things about me...
- If it’s spicy or dill-flavored, I'm hoarding, ha! 😜
- I stuttered a ton as a kid, but it's now mostly under control.
- It takes me exactly 5,204 twists before I'm certain the door is locked when I'm headed out.
- Taco Tuesdays are the best day of the week.
- I’m the clumsiest cat you’ll ever know, ha!
Anyway, helping businesses become more human and compelling is my purpose and privilege. I'd love to show you the way as well. And you can learn more about me here.
How about a brief walk-thru?
Let me at least show you the inside of Forge via this short demo I put together. Who knows; it might answer some questions or calm some qualms.
Then you can decide about this 50%-off-founding-member-launch, without any reservations.
Choose your plan
Forge
- A distraction-free zone to learn, grow & bond
- Proactive workshops, playbooks, & challenges
- Marketing tool breakdowns & demos
- Communal support, accountability & feedback
- Opportunities to work with members
- Co-working sessions
- Biweekly live events
- Guest expert interviews
- Promote your offers
- Optional add-ons (courses, 1:1 intensives, etc.)
Get two (2) months free with an annual subscription
Forge+
- Everything in the basic Forge plan PLUS
- Full access to all present + future online courses
- Monthly AMA strategy calls
- Forge+ member-only spaces & support
- Accountability partner-ups
- Brand accelerator challenges
Get two (2) months free with an annual subscription
"I love what you're building and can already see the ways in which it's a great community and resource. It's been a great onboarding experience and easy to navigate. I'm excited to continue to participate in the different spaces."
NATASHA YONKOF | AUTOMATION + EMAIL EXPERT AT SOCSOMU
Why I created Forge
Forge is the organic culmination of everything I’ve been through, learned, and believe in after 15+ years as a sought-after, multi-passionate creative entrepreneur.
Everything I want from a communal growth lab is being deliberately built into Forge. From the distraction-free, sleek feel of the platform I chose (it’s not an FB Group)… to how easy it is to access the resources you want… to finding the accountability to level up and challenge yourself.
I created Forge not just for you—it’s for me as well; it’s what I need to grow beyond my own limitations. I'm stronger around like-minded folks.
FAQs
What’s the difference between Forge and Forge+?
Forge+ includes everything in Forge plus access to all present + future online courses, AMAs, accountability partner-ups, brand accelerators, and other Forge+ member-only spaces. You can learn more about the differences between both plans here.
Do you offer any free trials for Forge or Forge+?
On occasion, we may offer free trials into Forge through some of our events and existing members, but on the whole, it’s not something we do often and publicly.
That said, if you join Forge today and want to cancel your membership before your billing cycle renews, we’ll refund your money if you notify us within 3 days of joining Forge.
If I join Forge today, will anyone help me get started in the community?
Yes, we have some folks in Forge who are on hand to help you get acquainted and inspired, along with some helpful resources that you’ll get upon joining.
Plus, you can always reach out to Darnell (our founder) directly via our in-house DM.
What’s so special about Forge compared to other communities for entrepreneurs?
Great question. There are two main differentiators.
- It’s a 3-in-1 ecosystem: a growth lab, an inclusive community, and a charging station.
- We are a circular community of cross-pollinators and co-equals. There’s no typical hierarchy BS where all hail to a king or queen.
Is Forge just a paid Facebook Group or Slack Workspace?
No, buddy! Forge is powered by Circle, which is the best community-hosting platform in the game right now. We do not meet on Facebook or Slack; the entire Forge ecosystem is in one central place.
How can I get the most value out of Forge?
Upon joining Forge, follow our curated onboarding map which will chronologically show you the most treasured aspects of the community based on what the data tells us. All new members are greeted with a workflow that will guide you through it; don’t worry.
Afterward, we recommend testing the waters for yourself and visiting all the spaces available to you, just to get an idea of the entire ecosystem.
What are some of Forge’s best features?
Dedicated, on-platform spaces for various interests + activities, biweekly co-working sessions, genuine connection-fostering, on-platform DMs, events, courses, workshops, trainings, and monthly challenges are some of our best features.
What types of members does Forge have at this time?
Forge is currently home to several types of creative entrepreneurs: copywriters, brand strategists, community strategists, content creators, fractionals, consultants, and business coaches.
I’d like to join, but I’m worried about paying for another membership I don’t use all that much. Can you help me decide if Forge is right for me?
Forge will be right for you if you act with intention and act on intention; we’re a community of cross-pollinators and ecosystem energizers.
We certainly don’t want you paying for something you’re not really using, but that doesn’t mean you can’t contribute and get value out of Forge at the best cadence that makes sense for you.
Try out Forge for a month and by then, you’ll know whether it’s right for you.
Are doors to Forge open year-round or only during certain times of the year?
Currently, Forge is open year-round for anyone to join, but it will soon only open during certain periods of the year to protect the integrity of our ecosystem—and also to keep us from putting too much emphasis on acquiring new members, ha!
If I join Forge, can I promote my business within the community?
Yes, you may! We have a dedicated space within Forge where we encourage you to share your current offers, works-in-progress, products, services, etc. Not only will it help us get more acquainted with what you do, but we, ourselves may benefit from your business and/or know people who may.
Can I upgrade or downgrade between Forge and Forge+ after joining?
Yes. At any time, you can upgrade/downgrade between billing cadences (monthly, quarterly, biannually, and annually) and between Forge and Forge+. (At-then pricing will apply.)
Who is Forge for?
Heart-led, purpose-driven creative entrepreneurs seeking fellowship, education, and growth in a curated, distraction-free space.
We are an inclusive community of folks who enjoy cross-pollinating, learning from one another, and capitalizing upon each other’s experiences and experiments.
What if someone in Forge starts harassing me; are there any safeguards in place to protect members?
Although we pride ourselves in not ever having a harassment issue brought to our attention amongst members of Forge, should you ever feel harassed or disrespected, please immediately let an admin know and we will work to resolve the issue promptly.
Additionally, our community guidelines—in which we express that harassment is intolerable and unacceptable—are mandatory reading upon joining Forge.
This is also one of the reasons we are very selective about offering free trials into our community; we don’t want just anyone joining Forge unintentionally and without careful consideration. As a paid ecosystem, we attract creative entrepreneurs who are serious about learning, bonding, and growing.
Can I look inside Forge before deciding whether to join?
Yes, here’s a demo that will give you an idea of the look and feel of Forge.
What’s included with my membership?
Access to all that Forge offers, depending on the plan you choose. As a member of either plan, you’ll enjoy ongoing access to events, tool breakdowns, experiments, challenges, rituals, workshops, playbooks, network directories, opportunities to promote your business, and more.
Do you have any community guidelines?
Yes, and we strongly encourage every new member to read and agree to those guidelines upon joining Forge. Our community guidelines are presented just after sign-up.
Will I see ads anywhere in Forge?
No. While working with values-aligned sponsors may become a future opportunity worth exploring, it won’t be via any traditional advertising placements.
Furthermore, we’ll consult with our founding members before doing something dramatic like that.
If I change my mind after I join Forge, can I get my money back?
Yes, if you join Forge and decide it’s not for you, if you cancel your membership within the first 3 days and notify us, we will refund your money.
What if I leave Forge before my current billing cycle has ended, will I get a pro-rated refund?
We don’t do pro-rated refunds, but if you cancel your membership within the first 72 hours of joining Forge and notify us, we’ll refund your subscription fee in full.
What if I need additional support beyond what Forge provides? Do you offer any 1:1 coaching?
Yes, depending on bandwidth. Darnell and several other Forge members offer 1:1 coaching. You can DM Darnell directly inside Forge and/or ask the community for the type of help you’re looking for to see whether a member can help.
Do you offer any sponsorship or partnership opportunities?
We love working with values-aligned brands and entities, so if you have an idea in mind for how we can partner up, please email us at hi@darnellbrown.com and we’ll get back to you.
What kinds of events do you host inside Forge?
Meet-and-greets, co-working sessions, guest expert trainings, round tables, product demos, collabs, block parties, and more to come.
You ready to do this?
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opp to be part of something that you can influence and help build into something sacred and unique, as a founding member. Forge is a charging station, growth lab, and ethical community for creative entrepreneurs who are tired of sitting on the sidelines with dope ideas and who are ready to take deliberate action so they can leave a greater impact.
Who doesn’t want quality people supporting you, rooting for you, and giving you that kick in the rear whenever you’re hung up on things that don’t matter? Ha!
If you’re Type A (like me), introverted, and/or hate needless complexity, how about no more hopping between an FB Group, Slack, Messenger, Voxer, and email to engage and converse with fellow members? Forge houses posts, events, chats, and trainings in one central place. You can even DM one another and attach files, on-platform.
If you're still on the fence, just give it one month and see if it's for you; no harm in that. No matter how busy you are, that's enough time to hop in, look around, learn a bit, and decide whether you want to stick around for longer. And if it's not for you, you can cancel your membership and "Bye, Felicia!" Forge with no probs.
© 2008 - 2024 Darnell Brown d/b/a Bulletproof Hustle. All rights reserved.
"Sometimes you just have to launch and continue to build the plane as it flies. I have no doubt this will be an incredible space for people, it already is. I'm excited to be part of its evolution!"
EMILY BISSEN | BUSINESS STRATEGIST AT BLUE HERRON BUSINESS PARTNERS