The Bali Founder's Rolodex: Who You Actually Need to Know
When you land in Bali, everyone is warm and everyone seems connected. But the relationships that actually move your business forward come from a much smaller group. Here's how to find them.
Marina Jaubert
Founder, Ascend to Bali
In this article
- The 7 types of people who matter in Bali
- How to find them (the right way)
- Why warm introductions beat cold networking 10 to 1
- The Ascend network: who's in it
- How to get connected
The 7 types of people you need to know in Bali, and how to find them. From the connectors to the builders, the investors to the operators. The network behind the network.
When you land in Bali, everyone is warm. Everyone is friendly. Everyone seems connected. Then you notice that six weeks in, your business has not moved. You have met many people and made zero progress.
The reason is that friendliness and usefulness are different things. Bali has an abundance of the former and a scarcity of the latter, if you do not know where to look.
The 7 types of people who matter in Bali
| Type | What they give you | How to find them |
|---|---|---|
| The Connector | Warm introductions, social capital, access to rooms you cannot find on your own | They host events or are first-name basis with whoever hosts them |
| The Builder | Honest peer advisory, accountability | Coworking spaces, mastermind groups, curated community events |
| The Established Expat | Ground truth about Bali, what works, who to trust, who to avoid | Been in Bali 3+ years, usually not at every event, but known by the connectors |
| The Operator | Execution, someone who can get things done on the ground | Event producers, local business owners, service providers with a reputation |
| The Investor | Capital, co-investment opportunities, access to deals | Curated dinners, Ascend-type communities, not open meetups |
| The Client | Revenue, someone who needs what you offer and can pay for it | Wherever your ideal client avatar is, know this before you arrive |
| The Anchor | Long-term relationship, genuine friendship | Time, consistency, showing up in the same rooms repeatedly |
How to find them (the right way)
- ✦Identify one or two connectors in your space. There are connectors in every vertical, wellness, tech, real estate, coaching.
- ✦Get introduced through a mutual contact if possible, or attend an event where they are present and make a genuine impression.
- ✦From the connector, you access the other layers. This is slower than mass networking. It is also the only thing that actually works in Bali.
Why warm introductions beat cold networking 10 to 1
Bali is small. Everyone knows everyone within two degrees. Your reputation travels faster than you do. One bad cold DM to the wrong person and the community knows. Conversely, one strong vouch from the right person and every door opens.
In Bali, your reputation always arrives before you do. Build it deliberately.
The Ascend network: who is in it
The Ascend community includes founders building from Bali, international speakers who have activated through the community, real estate investors connected through Balinest, coaches running retreats and live experiences, and established expats who know the real landscape. The way in is an application and a conversation. If the fit is right, the introductions start immediately.
How to get connected
- ✦Apply for Ascend membership, the vetting process itself tells you whether you belong in this room
- ✦Come to one Connect & Co-Create event and show up fully present
- ✦Download the Bali Insider Guide for the ground-level orientation before you arrive
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