Startup Founder's Guide to Networking

Why is networking important?

There are several benefits to networking, especially when first creating your startup. The most obvious reason to network is to get the word out about your startup and generate buzz for your product. Networking events can also be a great place to meet investors or potential partners that can help your startup to expand and grow.

Finding the right networking events for you

There are many different kinds of networking events for you to utilize. A traditional conference can be good to get in-person interaction, but virtual events can help you to expand your reach beyond your current physical location. Read up on different types of events, and utilize whichever feels right for you and your startup.

Industry-specific conferences: Industry-specific conferences are good for keeping up on industry trends and meeting your competitors. Use these kinds of events to build a network with your peers. However, when choosing an industry-specific conference, you may find that the vendors outnumber the customers, making it a difficult space for finding a prospective audience.
Virtual events: Online events such as webinars or virtual happy hours can bring in large numbers of attendees and expand your reach beyond your home base.
Online networking: Platforms like LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter) have become communication hubs for startup founders to engage in business-focused discussions and share ideas.

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Making the most of networking events

You should never attend a networking event without a plan of action. Going into these events blindly will just be a waste of your time. To make the most of the networking experience, here are some tips:

Know your goal: What do you want to get out of the event? Investors? Potential customers? Business partners? Each of these goals require different kinds of preparation, so it’s important to know exactly what it is you’re looking for.
Research who will be there: Know what kinds of people or companies will be in attendance at the event so that you can appropriately tailor your pitch.
Be prepared to pitch your startup: As a startup founder, you should always have your elevator pitch prepared in order to easily get word out about your business. Having additional hand outs such as business cards or brochures can also help to ensure prospects remember you and your startup beyond the event.
Interact with people: Don’t sit around waiting for people to come to you. Make an active effort to interact with people and build up relationships. Be social, authentic, and positive in order to create a lasting impression.
Follow up on your connections: Don’t let these new connections go to waste. Following up after the event is essential in maintaining the relationships formed. Personalize your follow-ups in order to help strengthen your connections beyond the event.

Brana Webb

Brana Webb is a versatile marketing professional with a decade of experience leading brand, content, and digital strategies across industries ranging from financial services to consumer goods. With 8+ years of experience driving brand growth and customer engagement across the banking and fintech space, she has developed a strong track record of translating complex ideas into compelling campaigns that resonate with target audiences. In her current role at Grasshopper, she leads strategic marketing initiatives that support product launches, deepen client relationships, and fuel business growth. With a background spanning both in-house and freelance work, Brana brings a thoughtful, creative, and data-informed approach, helping teams connect more meaningfully with their audiences and move faster toward their goals.