BNI India Surpasses U.S. to Become BNI's Largest Country by Membership
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Milestone reflects rapid Chapter expansion and a growing community of more than 75,000 entrepreneurs building businesses through trusted relationships and referrals
BENGALURU, India, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BNI® (Business Network International), the world's largest business referral network, announced today that India has become the largest country in its global network by membership, surpassing the United States, where BNI was founded more than 41 years ago.
As of August 31, 2026, BNI India has 75,300+ Members across 1,559 Chapters in 146 cities, marking a significant milestone in the organization's growth in India.
"Reaching this milestone is significant, but the real magic is what happens inside these 1,559 Chapters every week," said Hemu Suvarna, President of BNI India. "An entrepreneur may walk into BNI looking for business, but what they often find is something equally valuable: a trusted network. They learn how to articulate their business, how to give before expecting something in return, how to hold themselves accountable and, in many cases, how to lead."
The milestone has been fueled in large part by the continued launch of new Chapters, expanding access to BNI's structured referral networking model for entrepreneurs across the country. In 2026 alone, BNI India launched 125 new Chapters, year to date, creating new communities where business owners can build relationships, exchange referrals and develop as leaders.
BNI India's growth has been supported by a series of initiatives designed to foster a growth mindset and strengthen Chapter communities. These include +1 Net Add, encouraging consistent membership growth; 41@41, which marked BNI's 41st anniversary by challenging Chapters with fewer than 41 Members to grow beyond that milestone; and Launch2Fame, focused on accelerating growth through new and developing Chapters.
"We are not simply building a larger network," said Mary Kennedy Thompson, CEO of BNI. "We are helping entrepreneurs build businesses, confidence and relationships and, in many cases, a better life. When entrepreneurs grow together, the multiplier is greater than business. Perhaps that is the most important business we are in."
At the center of BNI's model is its longstanding Givers Gain® philosophy: the belief that by creating opportunities for others, Members ultimately create opportunities for themselves. That philosophy is reinforced through weekly Chapter meetings, relationship building, professional development and leadership opportunities.
"Leadership is central to what happens inside a strong BNI Chapter," Suvarna added. "Good Chapter leaders do more than run meetings. They create accountability, recognize effort, make introductions, encourage Members to learn and give people opportunities to lead. I have watched quiet Members find their voice through leadership roles, and I have seen entrepreneurs become better businesspeople because someone held them accountable to a commitment they made."
As BNI continues building on its momentum throughout the second half of 2026, the organization remains focused on expanding into new markets across the United States and internationally while supporting entrepreneurs through meaningful business connections and long-term franchise growth. To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit www.bni.com.
About BNI®
BNI (Business Network International) is the world's largest and most successful business networking organization. Today, BNI has over 355,000 Member-businesses participating in over 11,800 BNI Chapters that meet in-person, online, or in a hybrid format each week in 77 countries around the globe. Since inception in 1985, BNI has proudly helped 2.28 million businesses garner over $228 billion USD in revenue. To learn more about BNI and how you can visit a Chapter, go to www.bni.com.
source: BNI