Mandatory vs. optional profile fields: what they are and what they unlock

Your Netch profile has 14 fields split into two groups. The first 8 are mandatory. They gate the matching system. The second 6 are optional. They improve how you appear to other members. This article covers every field, what it does, and why it matters.

Mandatory fields (8)

These are the 8 fields under the Your Profile section. All 8 must be filled in and saved before filters and swipe recording work on Discover.

Full Name

What it is: Your real first and last name. Must be at least 2 characters.

Why it matters: Other members see this on your profile card. Use the name you go by professionally.

Job Title

What it is: Your current role. There's no fixed list, type it in.

Why it matters: It's the first thing people read after your name. Be specific. "Head of Product" lands differently than "Manager."

Company

What it is: The company or organization you work at right now.

Why it matters: Gives context to your role. It shows up on your profile card alongside your job title.

Country

What it is: Your country of residence. Selected from a dropdown list.

Why it matters: Used for location-based context in your profile. If you want to appear in city-level searches, add your city in the Stand Out section.

Professional Bio

What it is: A free-text description of your professional background. Minimum 10 characters, maximum 500.

Why it matters: This is where you explain what you do and what you've worked on. Other members read it before deciding to connect. Keep it clear and human. A few sentences is enough.

Goals

What it is: A multi-select list of your networking intentions. Pick at least one.

Available options:

• Share knowledge
• Find a mentor
• Just meet interesting people
• Explore new ideas
• Find collaborators

Why it matters: Goals help Netch understand what you're looking for. You can pick more than one. They're visible on your profile so others can see if there's alignment before swiping.

Calendar Link

What it is: A booking URL where matches can schedule time with you. Must be a valid URL starting with https://. Common tools: Calendly, Cal.com, Google Calendar appointment pages.

Why it matters: When you match with someone, Netch sends an automatic message that includes both your calendar links. Without a valid calendar link, this handoff message can't be sent. It's the most commonly missed field.

LinkedIn

What it is: Your LinkedIn profile URL.

Why it matters: We use this to verify you're a real SaaS professional. It also gives other members more context about who you are before they connect.

Optional fields (6)

These are the 6 fields under the Stand Out section. None of them gate any feature. Each one makes your profile more useful to others in a specific way.

Industry

What it is: The industry you work in. Selected from a list.

Available options: Technology, Finance, Healthcare, Education, Marketing and Advertising, Media and Entertainment, E-commerce and Retail, Real Estate, Legal, Consulting and Professional Services, Non-profit and Public Sector, Other.

What it unlocks: You appear in search results when other members filter by industry.

Sectors

What it is: The business model or market type you operate in. Multi-select.

Available options: B2B, B2C, SaaS, Marketplace, Agency / Services, Platform / Developer Tools, Enterprise, Consumer Products, Other.

What it unlocks: You appear in search results when other members filter by sector. Pairs with Industry to give a full picture of your context.

Personal Bio

What it is: A free-text field for anything personal. Hobbies, interests, what you're reading, how you spend weekends. Maximum 500 characters.

What it unlocks: Gives members a reason to connect beyond your job. A shared interest or a relatable sentence can be the thing that tips a match into a real conversation.

Tools

What it is: A multi-select list of tools you use in your work. The list covers design, development, product management, marketing, analytics, sales, communication, and more.

What it unlocks: You appear in search results when other members filter by a specific tool. Useful if you want to connect with people who use the same stack.

Skills

What it is: A multi-select list of professional skills. Categories include strategy, design, growth, sales, development, data, operations, and leadership.

What it unlocks: You appear in search results when other members filter by skill. Helpful for finding collaborators or mentors in a specific area.

City

What it is: Your city, selected from a dropdown list.

What it unlocks: You appear when other members are looking for connections in a specific city. Relevant if Netch events come to your area or you want to meet people locally.

Communities and Events

There's a third section at the bottom of the profile page called Communities and Events. It lets you mark yourself as a participant in partner communities or past Netch events.

This section is not counted in the 14-field score. It doesn't affect matching or filters. It's a way to signal shared context with other members who came through the same communities or events.

Quick reference