How to make networking work at startup events.
Most attendees leave a startup event having met the people standing next to them. Planned networking fixes that, and it starts at registration. Here is how to set it up on MyStartupValley Events.
Updated by the MyStartupValley team.
What makes networking work
Ask what people are looking for
Investors, co-founder, customers, mentors or hiring, chosen at registration.
Show who is in the room
A searchable list with role filters beats name badges.
Suggest who to meet
A short list per person, ranked by fit with the reason, gets people moving.
Respect people's time
Connects need the other person's yes; non-founders get limits so nobody is spammed.
How to set it up
- Add "What I'm looking for here" to registrationIt feeds Top 5 to meet and shows on each person's card.
- Let people choose to appearWho's here is on by default for founders and off by default for investors.
- Share Top 5 at the startEach attendee sees the 5 people most worth meeting with a one-line reason.
- Enable meeting requestsFounders send a short note; investors and mentors schedule or ask for updated data.
- Follow up the next morningRemind attendees to answer pending meeting requests while the event is fresh.
Questions.
How do I stop investors being spammed?
Keep investors hidden unless they choose to show, require acceptance for every connect and cap connects for non-founders.
Does the attendee list stay open after the event?
On MSV Events, Who's here closes 24 hours after the event.
How can founders book meetings with investors at an event?
On MSV Events a founder sends a meeting request with a short note from their Event Pass. The investor schedules a time, asks for updated data first, or hands it to their team. Requests nobody acts on expire after 7 days. Meeting requests are free at events.
Is there a free tool that suggests who to meet at an event?
Yes. MSV Events includes Who's here, Top 5 to meet and meeting requests free for organisers.
More: How to run a demo dayPitch event checklistMove from Luma or Google Forms
Run your next startup event on MSV Events.
Registration, Event Pass, QR check-in, networking and meeting requests on one free link.