This exclusive networking site doesn’t care how much your title earns you, but what your title is.
This exclusive networking site doesn’t care how much your title earns you, but what your title is.
We all know about Linkedin either from the news, word of mouth or, more likely, the deluge of connection requests in our inbox after signing up. The “world’s largest professional network” is so enthusiastic about connecting people that it’s very often connecting the wrong ones. And that’s a problem The Marque can fix.
Launched by entrepreneur Andrew Wessels last year, The Marque pegs itself as an recommendation-only business network exclusively for the successful. Not the rich, mind you, but people who have reached the pinnacle in their respective fields. Membership is £1,000 (S$1,750) a year, and members already include the likes of Nadja Swarovski, executive board member at Swarovski; Sir Charles Dunstone, co-founder of Carphone Warehouse; Su-Mei Thompson, chief executive of The Women’s Foundation; and Alexander Gilkes, co-founder of online auction site Paddle8. And these are just the ones with public profiles.
Privacy is a priority at The Marque, and Wessels assures us member data will never be sold. What goes on inside The Marque are members-only interactions, events and investment deals. And those without the time to manage an online profile in the first place can rely on their assigned relationship manager to accept requests or update information on their behalf. “There are so many incredibly intelligent, successful people out there who aren’t being catered to,” says Wessels. “They’re too busy running companies to sit and tweet or Instagram, so we’re here to help take old-fashioned networking and drive it into the 21st century.”
The networking platform started in London with 50 members and has since expanded into Hong Kong, with interested parties from Singapore as well. “We’ve had to turn some people down, which is hard for a young company wanting to grow, but compromising quality will just mess up the business.”
He hopes to bring The Marque to the US, New Delhi, Dubai and Shanghai, but admits that its direction will be driven by member recommendations.
