What happens at a first gathering

The most common hesitation we hear is not about the price. It is about walking into a room of strangers.

So here is the whole thing, without any mystery.

The short answer

You arrive at a hand-picked place near you, there are four other mothers you have already been chatting with for a week or two in a private group, and you talk. There is no programme, no round of introductions and nobody running the session.

Before: the group chat

Every circle starts in a private WhatsApp group. By the time you meet, you know first names, roughly where everyone lives and how old the children are. That removes almost all of the first-ten-minutes discomfort.

During: nothing performative

Food and drinks are not included and may be available depending on the venue. Mothers usually order something and stay as long as it works for them.

After: the part that matters

The same five women stay together, so the second gathering starts where the first ended. That continuity is the entire point.

How Alma Circle works

You answer one questionnaire about where you live, the age of your children and the season you are in. We compose a circle of five mothers who live close to each other and are going through something comparable.

Your circle starts in a private WhatsApp group, agrees on a moment together, and meets in a real place. Then it keeps meeting, because the same five women stay together.

• One questionnaire, no swiping and no public profile
• Five mothers, matched on proximity, life stage and season
• A private group first, a real gathering second
• One questionnaire, then we set the day, the hour and the place

What if I am the shy one?

The group chat does most of the warming up before anyone meets, and a circle of five means you are never responsible for carrying the conversation.

What exactly is an Alma circle?

A circle of five mothers who live near each other, matched on the age of their children and the season they are going through. The circle starts in a private group chat and then meets in person, and the same five women keep meeting.

How much does it cost?

You answer the questionnaire, we compose your circle and set the day, the hour and the place. Food and drinks at a gathering are not included.

How long does it take to get matched?

It depends on how many mothers have joined near you. A circle needs at least four mothers in the same area and life stage, so density decides the timing rather than a fixed delay.

Do I have to bring my child?

Gatherings are for the mothers by default. Circles of mothers with babies under one often choose to come with their baby, and the circle decides.