How to make the most of startup/tech conferences
Tips for Startups:
Set your goals: Why are you attending? Are you fundraising? Networking? Learning? Or there to have fun—which is ok too!
Don’t wing it! Utilize the Inventures app to plan your schedule and research participants. The app helps with booking meetings and discovery. Ensure your profile is updated with photos, key links, and messages.
Be Bold: Touching base with your regional partners and groups is important but remember the greatest thing about Inventures is you get to meet people from all over Canada and North America. Be brave and try to meet new people and ask great questions.
Update your social media to reflect that you’re @ Inventures. Add “@ Inventures” to your name on LinkedIn or Twitter/X to make yourself easily searchable. Need tweet ideas? Check out these 6 recommended tweets for conferences.
Clearly convey your value add. It’s helpful to frame this as “how can I help this person/brand/company” before switching to the transactional details.
Connect at social events and Inventures evening events. Many of these events are designed to be a friendly environment to establish connections away from the hustle. These connections are often longer-lasting because they’re purposeful, not transactional.
If you DM or email someone, be clear in your ask. Instead of “Hi there I’d like to connect with you” TRY “Hi FIRST NAME, I saw you’re working on [niche or industry topic] and wondered if we could chat for a few minutes during Inventures about [your specific ask or topic].”
Wear very comfortable shoes and bring extras to ensure you stay focused and energetic throughout the event.
Follow Up Post-Conference: The real impact happens after the event. Follow up with the contacts you made, share insights from the conference on your social media, and continue nurturing the relationships you’ve built.
Recommended Readings
Maximizing Tech Conferences: Insider Strategies for Networking Success