Membership requirements
Membership in IADBE requires outstanding achievements in business, confirmed with documents and judged by the admissions committee. Please read the criteria before you apply: the application form is at the end of this page
Who can join
A person working in business — as a founder, executive or expert — whose achievements are recognised beyond their own organisation. The admissions committee looks at the whole record against the areas below and admits candidates who show clear distinction in them, with documents.
Areas of distinction
International or national recognition
Extraordinary achievements in business that have been recognised at international or national level. Your work is known beyond your own company and your own city
Awards and rankings
Prizes and awards for achievements in your field, places in professional rankings, written recognition from business organisations or government bodies
Publications and public voice
Articles and books you have written, interviews and publications about you in business, trade or major media, talks at professional conferences
Expert evaluation
Judging the work of others: juries of competitions and awards, expert councils, investment and selection committees, mentoring in accelerators; membership in associations that admit by achievement
Contribution to the field
Methods, products, inventions or practices you created that others have adopted, and companies you founded or built
Leadership and results
A leading role in organisations with a strong reputation, and results that can be measured: growth, funding raised, deals, the sale of a company, remuneration well above your field
The committee’s decision names the achievements for which a member was admitted.
What is not enough on its own
Education, years of experience, a job title, a recommendation or payment do not make a person a member on their own. Support from current members is welcome and taken into account, but the decision rests on your achievements.
How the review works
Application
Fill in the short form below. Applying is free
Documents
We email you the list of what to send: a CV and evidence of your achievements in the areas above. The review starts once we have the complete file
Committee
The admissions committee checks your evidence against the criteria. The review takes one week from the day we receive the complete file
Decision and fee
You receive a written decision. If you are admitted, the letter includes payment details for the application review fee of 1,500 Georgian lari (GEL), payable in lari or the equivalent in US dollars or euros. If your application is declined, you pay nothing
Membership documents
Once the fee is paid, we issue the membership documents: scans by email free of charge, originals by post at the member’s expense
Nothing is paid on this site or before the decision. The association has no membership fees.
Membership documents
Admission is confirmed in writing. Each new member receives these documents in English, signed by the head of the association:
- Certificate of membership with a number
- Extract from the minutes of the admissions committee
- Letter confirming membership
- Extract from the charter of the association
A member can ask the association for further confirmation of membership at any time.
Membership is perpetual, and the association has no membership fees.
Questions about membership
Is every candidate admitted?
No. The admissions committee admits only candidates whose evidence meets the criteria. Other candidates receive a written refusal and pay nothing.
Who decides on admission?
The admissions committee. Its decision is recorded in the committee’s minutes, and every candidate receives it in writing. The chair of the committee writes to candidates.
Can I become a member by paying a fee?
No. Payment, education or years of experience alone do not make a person a member. The application review fee of 1,500 Georgian lari (GEL) covers the work of the committee and is paid once, after a positive decision. There are no membership fees.
How long does the review take?
The review takes one week from the day we receive the complete file. Until all the documents on the list have arrived, the review does not start.
What evidence should I send?
A CV and documents that confirm your achievements in the areas above: awards, publications, proof of judging the work of others, and so on. We email you the list after you apply.
What documents does a member receive?
A certificate of membership with a number, an extract from the minutes of the admissions committee, a letter confirming membership and an extract from the charter of the association. All are in English and signed by the head of the association. Scans come by email free of charge; originals are sent by post at the member’s expense.
Does membership expire?
No. Membership is perpetual and there are no membership fees. It can be ended if the evidence turns out to be false.
How can a third party confirm my membership?
The certificate of membership carries a number. At your request the association confirms your membership in writing: write to info@iadbe.org.
Can I apply from any country?
Yes. The association is open to experts from any country, and the application is sent through the form on this page.
What is the legal form of the association?
IADBE was founded in 2007. The association is not registered as a legal entity; it operates as an unregistered union under Article 39 of the Civil Code of Georgia. It is governed by its charter, a mutual agreement of its members.
Does membership guarantee a decision by a third party?
No. Membership documents confirm membership and the association’s own decision only. They do not guarantee any decision of a government agency, employer, court or other third party. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney.
Apply for membership
Leave your details and we will email you the list of documents for the review. It takes about a minute.