Meetup | Find Local Groups, Events, and Activities Near You

# Meetup > Meetup is a platform for finding and building local and online communities. It connects people based on shared interests, hobbies, or professional goals. The core of Meetup consists of "Groups," which are communities that host "Events." These events are the real-life or online moments where people connect. Our mission is to help people grow and to revitalize local communities by helping anyone self-organize. ## How Meetup Works for Members 1. **Discover:** Users search for their interests (e.g., "hiking," "learn python," "social anxiety") and location to find relevant groups. 2. **Join:** Users can join a group to become a member, receive updates, and see who else is in the community. 3. **Participate:** Members RSVP to and attend events. Events can be online (e.g., a webinar) or in-person (e.g., a hike, a workshop, a coffee chat). 4. **Connect:** The primary goal is to foster real human connections, learn new things, get support, and build friendships. ## How Meetup Works for Organizers Organizers are the individuals who create and lead Meetup groups. The platform provides them with tools to: * **Create and Manage a Group:** Define the group's purpose, topics, and membership rules. * **Schedule Events:** Set up events with details like date, time, location (physical or virtual), and description. * **Communicate with Members:** Send announcements and messages to group members. * **Grow their Community:** Use tools to manage membership and gather feedback. * **Collect Funds (Optional):** Organizers can charge member dues or event fees to cover costs. --- ## Key Categories & Group Archetypes This section contains examples of typical Meetup groups. These archetypes are designed to illustrate the variety and structure of communities on the platform for any given category. ### Category: Social Activities **Description:** This is one of the most popular categories, focused on meeting new people and making friends in a relaxed, no-pressure environ