Personal and community use is free. The main features—group creation, event publishing, participant management, and messages—are all free. Paid services include payment-processing fees and advertising, but neither is necessary at launch. Miyako de IT has also operated primarily on the free plan for 7 years and 165 events.

Are there requirements for creating a connpass group?

Anyone can create a group after opening an account; there is no review or approval. After setting a group name, description, and cover image, you can publish the first event that day. Because an ambiguous theme makes recruitment harder, clearly state the region and technical area.

How many people make a successful first event?

Three to five are enough. Miyako de IT also started with two people and grew to 615 members over seven years. Trying to gather ten people immediately sharply increases venue and operating burdens. Several small events that let people learn each other's names are easier to sustain before expanding.

Why begin with a co-working study session?

It has the lowest operating burden because it needs no speaker, presentation materials, or sponsor. Participants can be satisfied simply by progressing with their own work, so the experience is not dependent on how much the organizer prepares. Miyako de IT also began with monthly co-working sessions, which account for many of its 165 events. Expanding later into lightning talks, study groups, and hands-on sessions is realistic.

What should I do if participation does not grow?

Do not panic; maintain a monthly rhythm. Search traffic inside connpass grows as holding records accumulate. A consistent theme, a predictable schedule, and visible event records generally bring stability within six months to a year. Social-media promotion and Discord also help, but continuity is the strongest recruitment measure.

How to Start an IT Community on connpass: A Kyoto Case That Grew from 2 People to 615 Members [2026]

Key points (30-second read)

- Conclusion: connpass is a standard platform for IT study groups where group creation, event publishing, and participant management are all free.

- There are six steps: create a group; begin with a co-working study session; secure a venue; write the announcement; recruit; and continue monthly.

- 3–5 people are enough for the first event. Kyoto's Miyako de IT started with two people and grew over 7 years and 165 events to 615 members.

- The three main failure patterns are starting too big, overdesigning the event, and carrying everything alone.

Many people have thought, “There is no community in my area where IT engineers can gather casually.”

Launching an IT community is not as grand an undertaking as it may sound. You do not need a large study group or a sponsored event from the outset. You can begin small, and connpass is a convenient service for doing so.

What is connpass?

connpass is a platform designed for IT study groups and events. It suits the early stage of a community for three reasons.

1. People already use it to find IT events.

2. It supports ongoing operation organized around a group.

3. It provides enough publishing capability for a new group.

STEP 1: Create a group

First, establish a visible fact: “this community, on this theme, exists in this region.” Choose a group name that communicates its purpose at a glance.

Explore upcoming Miyako de IT events →

STEP 2: Start the first event with a co-working study session

No speaker is required, no presentation materials are required, and preparation is light. Whether in a regional area or a major city, what matters first is not extravagance but the ability to hold the second event.

STEP 3: Write an event page that explains why people should register

At minimum, state what the event is, who it is for, what to bring, whether late arrival is allowed, and whether beginners are welcome.

STEP 4: Choose a venue you can keep using

Prioritize access, Wi-Fi and power, whether the space works with a small group, and whether the organizer can continue renting it without strain.

STEP 5: Recruit reliably rather than broadly

Trying to attract a large crowd for the first event is a mistake. 3–5 people are enough.

STEP 6: Continuity creates a community

Holding one event does not create a community. Set a manageable rhythm of about once per month.

Common mistakes

Trying to start too big
Overdesigning the event
Taking on everything alone
Letting attendance numbers dictate every decision

Conclusion

connpass makes the act of launching an IT community straightforward. Start small and continue; the community forms afterward.