There comes a time in every founder’s life when they realize that they must guard their runway the same way that Gollum guarded that ring.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t spend. We spend and we extract every last bit of juice from it.
In the last month we have done the conference circuits in Germany and then Dubai. Both amazing, both not exactly cheap. Which meant that we had to use every tool in our kit to maximize the investment.
Time will tell whether we were successful or not, but I feel satisfied with our effort. And for a frugal founder that’s saying something, isn’t it?
So here are 5 tried-n-tested ways in which you, dear frugal founder, can make the most of a Conference -
Number 1: Research the Attendee list
Most conferences today have apps with their agendas and floor plans and what not. But the thing we salivate for is of course the attendee lists.
The moment you get hold of that list is when the conference begins. According to me the best way is not to carpet bomb, but to do that bit of research that helps you narrow down on the people you actually want to meet.
Armed with this wish-list, you can write to them or just be better prepared for when you meet them.
Number 2: Walk the walk, talk the talk
A gleaming new stack of visiting cards and a sturdy pair of shoes make you conference-ready.
Whether you have a stall or not, the true joy of a conference is in walking around and mingling with your fellow entrepreneurs. Not only is that a great way to generate business, get feedback, exchange knowledge, but also an astounding opportunity to get inspired, again, by this most irrational of human endeavors - entrepreneurship.
You will meet people straight out of college or those in their second or third careers, with the same zeal for the product or service they are selling. You will return much richer for having met them, refreshed and ready to roll.
And it is not about collecting cards, not at all, but about meaningful connections and conversations that not only replenish you but also in time become a value-add for your business.
Number 3: Write it all down
Inspiration and all is good, but let’s not forget the reason you are there. It is good practice to quickly jot down a point or two capturing the essence of the conversation, so that a few days later, abreast a laptop, you are not scratching your head trying to remember why exactly that interaction had seemed so promising then, but is irretrievable now.
I do feel a bit bad mutilating those beautiful cards with my hasty scrawl, but if I were a visiting card I would just be happy to still be relevant.
Number 4: Plan your adjacencies
To the extent possible, it is a good idea to set up other meetings outside of the conference. Like in Dubai, apart from Gitex, I was a part of two delegations (that offered me their own unique experiences) and managed to rustle up a mini-alumni gathering with the kind assistance of acquaintances. I stayed at a friend’s and loved catching up with them after a long day of conferencing.
Number 5: All the post-stuff
Just like the conference starts before it actually does, it also goes on till the time the last email has been written and the final LinkedIn connection request sent.
The post-work is as important as the work-work, and a good haul morphs into opportunities and partnerships that are mutually beneficial and return your investment many times over.
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This is my 5-point toolkit for maximizing a conference.
To be honest, getting your business out there in front of new people is a wonderful thing in itself, you see at first-hand how people respond, what they spark to and what they don’t. It’s also an opportunity for them to see you and remember your brand for years to come.
So a conference is never a waste of time or money. But we - frugal founders that we are - we look for ROI everywhere, don’t we?
