Nikita Sachdev, the founder & CEO of the award-winning Luna PR transforming communications in the Web3 and emerging tech landscapes.
Tech conferences have become a hotbed of innovation, attracting entrepreneurs and investors from around the world. For emerging tech startups, attending these events can be a game-changer.
Tomorrow’s market movers that attend tech conferences have the opportunity to help transform their respective trajectories. Even though these conferences can burn a circle in a startup’s nascent piggy bank, it is important to remember what kind of illumination awaits you at the end of the tunnel that may extend to, and not be limited to, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
On the brink of my PR firm’s stint at Consensus 2023, here are my top reasons to attend a tech conference.
5 Reasons Why
1. Weaving Connections
Networking is regarded as one of the biggest benefits of attending a convention of this kind. It provides both startups and startup executives with a remarkable opportunity to meet potential investors, partners and clients. These offer a unique platform to connect with like-minded individuals who share the same passion for innovation and provide unparalleled exposure to the brand, the idea, the message and, of course, the creators.
2. Insights From Pros
These summits are a hub of knowledge and expertise. They bring together industry leaders, experts and thought leaders to share their insights and experiences from real use cases. For startups, attending relevant sessions can provide access to valuable information that can help them navigate the challenges of the emerging tech space. AMA sessions are often included in these conferences, and this is a unique way to snag top-tier advice from the success stories of the industry.
3. Gaining Exposure
Conferences act as an excellent platform to showcase innovation in any shape and form, whether it is products or services. Exhibiting at such events can help a startup gain exposure to a wider audience, including but not limited to potential customers and investors. Startups can also leverage speaking opportunities to present their ideas and solutions to a relevant audience.
4. Cultivating Creativity
These congregations are a breeding ground for innovation. They bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and industries, providing an opportunity for the cross-pollination of ideas. This is not just the birthplace of business, but this is also where incredible collaborations, partnerships and projects are born that regularly shake up the industry, invigorate fresh perspectives and challenge the status quo.
5. Staying Ahead Of The Game
The emerging tech space is constantly evolving, and startups need to stay ahead of the game to remain competitive. Conferences offer a glimpse into the future, providing startups with insights into the latest trends and technologies. Always consider these conferences to be kaleidoscopic by nature. They can be shapeshifters and game changers for any business, startup or not.
5 Tips How
Attending these summits can be overwhelming, especially for startups. The options are plenty, but the approach remains the same.
Here are some tips to help entrepreneurs make the most out of these events.
1. Plan Ahead
From an agency standpoint, where there can sometimes be seven different conferences to be at seven days a week, the first and foremost advice is to review the event agenda in advance and identify relevant sessions and speakers to attend. This means having a dedicated partnerships team that liaises with the conference and assimilates every single aspect. Create a detailed schedule that aligns with your business goals and objectives.
2. Network
Take advantage of networking opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals. It’s never a bad time to prepare a pitch and have business cards or QR codes ready to share with potential partners, investors and clients during the conference and while attending side events and after parties. Being prepared places you at the primary instead of the auxiliary. This can also involve having printed collateral, summaries, briefs and bios that can be easily distributed while striking up a conversation.
3. Be Open To Learning
Attend sessions outside your comfort zone to gain fresh perspectives and new ideas. Engage with speakers and other attendees to expand your knowledge. Emerging technologies evolve with each passing second, and these sessions are where you stay updated and informed while perfecting your edge.
4. Be Memorable
Stand out from the crowd by showcasing your brand and products. Create engaging visuals and collateral that highlight your unique value proposition. Think out of the booth. This is the kind of investment that may not fetch you instant returns, but in terms of securing leads and getting on board with conversations that incur real change, there is no other element that eliminates the competition.
5. Follow Up
After the event, follow up with the individuals you connected with. Create a synchronized and seamless system to secure potential leads. Send personalized emails or messages to maintain relationships and explore potential partnerships immediately before the fizz runs out.
Conclusion
As the tech industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, attending conferences becomes more critical than ever for startups to stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies. An evergreen study often quoted by partnerships professionals once showed that companies that invest in conference attendance experience a significant boost in revenue, with an average return on investment of 4:1.
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