Comparison · 15 material differences
C12 vs Genius Network
This comparison was generated on request from the records. It carries no editorial verdict and is not indexed. The published comparisons are listed on the compare page.
Read down each column for one organization, across a row for the difference. A bronze mark at the left of a cell means the organizations differ on that row. A dash or “not published” means the organization does not disclose the fact — it is not a zero.
Verified September 2026
Peer advisory
Verified September 2026 C12
Christian chief executives, business owners and executives of growth-stage companies with at least ten employees and more than US$2 million in annual revenue.
Paid mastermind
Genius Network
Founders and chief executives of established companies with at least US$1 million in annual revenue who can meet the annual fee.
What the records say
- Role or title — C12: CEO, business owner, president, managing partner, executive director or business-unit general manager; Genius Network: No published role or title.
- Minimum company revenue — C12: Greater than US$2,000,000 in annual revenue; Genius Network: "You run a company that's making at least $1 million in annual revenue".
- Minimum employees — C12: 10 or more employees; Genius Network: No published minimum employees.
- Annual dues — C12: C12 publishes no dues schedule; amounts are set locally.; Genius Network: Not publicly disclosed. The membership page states only that "No one comes as a guest. Every Member and Attendee pays to participate" and that no discounts or free passes are offered..
Side by side
| C12 | Genius Network | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Peer advisory | Paid mastermind |
| Founded | 1992 (Founded in October 1992 by Buck Jacobs, reportedly in Florida, to bring Christian business owners and chief executives together in small peer groups.) | 2004 (The organization's About page dates its formation to 2004, when Joe Polish converted a client's request for a year-long group into Genius Network.) |
| Headquarters | United States | Tempe, United States |
| Geographic footprint | More than 160 metropolitan areas across five continents, with named operations including Brazil, South Africa, Kenya and Malaysia | Member meetings are held at the organization's Tempe, Arizona offices; the public annual event is held in Scottsdale, Arizona. |
| Members | 4,900as of September 2026 | Not publicly disclosed |
| Chapters | Not publicly disclosed as a forum count. C12 states it operates in "more than 160 major metropolitan areas" and is guided by "over 250 full-time Chairs", but publishes no total number of Forums. | No chapters; the group operates from a single Arizona base. |
| Primary audience | Christian chief executives, business owners and executives of growth-stage companies with at least ten employees and more than US$2 million in annual revenue. | Founders and chief executives of established companies with at least US$1 million in annual revenue who can meet the annual fee. |
| Typical member | Members are Christian CEOs, owners, presidents, managing partners, executive directors and business-unit general managers. C12 reports an average member tenure of five to seven years, with some members of several decades' standing. | The organization's FAQ states that "the average member or attendee in Genius Network runs a $9 million dollar per year company". Published member testimonials come from consumer-brand founders, authors and marketing operators. |
| Qualification | ||
| Role or title | CEO, business owner, president, managing partner, executive director or business-unit general managerKey Player Forums exist separately for senior executives and managers below CEO level at member companies.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published role or title |
| Minimum company revenue | Greater than US$2,000,000 in annual revenueStated in C12's FAQ; C12's apply-to-join page states the employee test without repeating a revenue minimum.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | "You run a company that's making at least $1 million in annual revenue"Stated on the membership page as a membership requirement.verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Minimum employees | 10 or more employeesverified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published minimum employees |
| Invitation required | Yes | No |
| Sponsor required | Not documented | Not documented |
| Application process | Candidates complete an application covering personal, business and financial information, and agree to a membership covenant on attendance and doctrine. C12 describes membership as invitation-only but open to any qualifying Christian CEO, owner or executive who meets the employee and revenue tests. | Prospective members complete an application, described on the site as a confidential waitlist application, and are vetted against the published revenue floor and a contribution test. Non-members may separately apply to attend the annual event, the one meeting each year opened to the public. |
| Selectivity | Not publicly disclosed. C12 publishes no acceptance rate. | Not publicly disclosed. The organization says applicants must "qualify" but publishes no acceptance rate or waitlist length. |
| Cost | ||
| Annual dues | C12 publishes no dues schedule; amounts are set locally. | Not publicly disclosed. The membership page states only that "No one comes as a guest. Every Member and Attendee pays to participate" and that no discounts or free passes are offered.verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Monthly dues | Not publicly disclosed. C12 states it is "a dues-based membership paid monthly" and that "dues amounts are determined locally based on market economics and dynamics". Dues cover monthly meetings, materials and one individual coaching session.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | Genius Network publishes no prices. A higher-priced tier (reported by third parties as GeniusX at US$100,000 a year) is referenced in secondary coverage but could not be independently verified on the organization's own site. |
| Event costs | C12 publishes no dues schedule; amounts are set locally. | Not publicly disclosed. The annual event page shows the November 5-7, 2026 Scottsdale event as sold out and routes non-members to an application rather than a published ticket price.verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Membership term | Dues paid monthly; C12 reports average member tenure of five to seven years | Annual; the membership page recommends committing for at least three years |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | Monthly in-person Forum plus a monthly one-hour FOCUS60 coaching session; C12 states the total commitment is less than 100 hours a year | Two member meetings per year chosen by the member, plus the annual event |
| Peer forums | Monthly invitation-only Forums of Christian CEOs, owners and executives led by a full-time C12 Chair, described as sitting with around a dozen proven leaders. C12 does not publish an exact average Forum size. | No assigned confidential forums are published; the group meets as a room, with Ten Minute Talks and facilitated problem-solving sessions, supported by a private online community |
| Confidentiality | Forums are described as confidential and invitation-only; C12 does not publish the text of its confidentiality terms. | Not publicly disclosed |
| Time commitment | Less than 100 hours a year per C12 | Not documented |
| Organized as | Forum-based, Event-focused | Event-focused, Virtual |
| Confidential peer forums | Yes | Partial |
| Local chapters | Yes | No |
| Virtual membership | No | Partial |
| Online community | Partial | Yes |
| Member directory | Not documented | Partial |
| Events | Yes | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | Yes | Yes |
| Leadership development | Yes | Yes |
| Retreats | Partial | No |
| Travel | No | No |
| Family programming | No | No |
| Spouse and partner programming | No | Not documented |
| Next-generation programming | No | No |
| Investment discussions | No | Partial |
| Investment opportunities | No | Partial |
| Philanthropic component | Yes | Not documented |
| Networking emphasis | Medium | High |
| Social emphasis | Medium | Medium |
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Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: C12 · Genius Network