Key takeaways
- Ask what you will use. Every extra question is one more reason to stop.
- Show a one-line reason with each question, so members see why it matters.
- Make anything sensitive optional, and never ask for government ID numbers.
- Ask permission to send introduction requests as its own question.
Community onboarding questions to copy
Use the basics as they are, pick two to four community questions, and keep the reason lines: members are more willing to answer when they can see why.
BASICS
1. Your name, as you'd like other members to see it
Why we ask: so people you're introduced to know who you are.
2. The city you're based in
Why we ask: so we can connect you with people nearby.
3. What can you help other members with? (pick from our list)
Why we ask: so requests reach someone who can actually help.
4. Other cities you serve (optional)
5. One line about you (optional)
COMMUNITY QUESTIONS (pick 2 to 4)
6. Company or business name
Why we ask: so the person you're introduced to knows where you work.
7. Industry or sector
8. Years in business
9. Company website (optional)
10. What are you looking for in the next three months? (optional)
11. Who would you most like to meet? (optional)
12. Are you hiring? (yes or no)
13. Happy to mentor newer members? (yes or no)
PERMISSION
14. Would you like to receive introduction requests from other members? (Yes, send them / Not now)
Why we ask: we only send you requests if you say yes, and you can change this any time.Questions by type of community
| Community | Questions to add | Why they help |
|---|---|---|
| Business network | Company name, industry, years in business, website | Members can judge fit before agreeing to an introduction |
| Founder community | Startup name, stage, sector, hiring or not | Founders at the same stage can help each other most |
| Alumni group | Batch year, programme, current organisation, open to mentoring | Shared batches and employers make introductions warmer |
| Accelerator or incubator | Cohort, startup name, where you need help, deck or website | Programme staff can match founders with mentors and peers |
How many questions to ask new members
As few as you can use this month. If nobody on your team will read an answer, or no introduction depends on it, drop the question. On WhatsApp each question is a separate message, so a list of fifteen feels long very quickly.
Make most questions optional and require only the ones you need to make an introduction. You can always ask more later, once members have seen the community is useful.
Questions to leave out
- Government ID numbers such as Aadhaar, PAN or passport numbers. No introduction needs them.
- Health, religion, caste, sexual orientation, political views and personal finances, unless your community genuinely needs the answer. If it does, make the question optional and explain why.
- Phone number, if members join from WhatsApp. You already have it, and asking again looks careless.
- Questions you ask "just in case". Data you don't use is still data you have to protect.
Profile questions in Milvao
Milvao asks name, city and skills, then your community's own profile questions. Each question has a type (text, number, choice, yes or no, date, link or email), a reason members can read, required or optional, and who can see the answer. Members answer in the WhatsApp chat right after joining, one question at a time, or on their private profile form. Answers are never sent to the AI that reads requests, and are deleted with the member. Starter sets for business networks, founders, alumni and accelerators are built in.