1.
Networking for Entrepreneurs
MaRS Entrepreneurship 101
January 21, 2015
Presented by: Andrew Yoshioka
President, Sanbonki Inc.
www.sanbonki.com @ay_sanbonki_inc

2.
How can networking mitigate these
from happening to your venture?
2Wednesday January 21, 2015 Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking
http://fortune.com/2014/09/25/why-
startups-fail-according-to-their-founders/
https://www.cbinsights.com/blog/startup-
failure-post-mortem/

3.
Why do other people go to
networking events?
• Business development
• Investment/Investor relations
• Corporate development
• Validate ideas/Market research
• Find partners/co-founders
• Find a job
• RELATIONSHIPS
• Deliberately came to hear your
sales pitch!!
..
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 3

4.
4 Steps to Network Like A Pro
• Remember that networking is
a two-way street
• Understand the business of
those in your network
• Prioritize your network
• Don’t burn bridges
www.inc.com/rhett-power/4-steps-to-networking-like-a-
pro.html?cid=sf01001
http://www.marche-restaurants.com
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 4

5.
Avoid these three mistakes
• Misunderstanding there is a
pecking order
• Asking to receive before you give
• Failing to specifically state your
value proposition
https://hbr.org/2014/02/three-mistakes-to-avoid-when-
networking/?utm_campaign=Socialflow&utm_source=Socialflow&utm_
medium=Tweet
http://www.marche-restaurants.com
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 5

6.
• Bluetooth Low Energy
• Low-power sensor hub
• Pattern-matching accelerator
• 6-axis accelerometer/gyro
• Open source software
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-01/07/intel-curie-quark-chip
http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/6/7505423/ces-2015-intel-curie-module-wearables
• “Intel's Curie Module lets
anyone build wearables the
size of a button”
• “…gets you pretty far along
towards a product”
How are you describing the product?
Features vs. Benefits
Intel CES 2015Intel CES 2015
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 6

7.
Get a social bank account –
and make deposits!
• Asking for an introduction
• What will they say about your
company?
• How will you get them to
describe it the way you would
want it described?
http://www.inc.com/adam-fridman/why-p2p-marketing-is-the-key-
to-everything.html?cid=sf01001
http://www.marche-restaurants.com
http://www.meetup.com/medtech/photos/
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 7

8.
Expanding your relationships
• Create your network from scratch
• Volunteer
• Talk to strangers
• Search out potential
collaborations
• Reach out before an event
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/229440 Master Your 'Mingle-
Ability': 5 Creative Ways to Network
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 8

9.
Corporate development
• Ask others about their story,
LISTEN!!! Warm them up to you
• Build your network before you
need it
• Follow-up, every time
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/239123 Build a Network That
Will Be There When You Need It With These 3 Tips
http://www.meetup.com/medtech/photos/
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 9

10.
Effort allocation/opportunity cost
• Networking at trade shows
• Business groups (B.o.T., meetup)
• Hackathons/Startup events
• Speed Networking
• Pub nights
• Social media
What are your Benchmarks of
Success for these tactics?
http://convention.bio.org/
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 10

11.
Social media connections
11Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking
• Social media platform etiquette:
Twitter vs F/B vs Linked In
• Conversations are a gateway
opportunity
• Keep in touch
• Reach beyond the screen
– Familiar elevator pitch
– Open to any opportunity
– Be yourself
– Go out and introduce yourself
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/240721 A Startup's Guide to
Professional NetworkingYahoo!, President & CEO

12.
Follow your plan/metrics
Sanbonki Inc. metrics:
• JAN2012 Peel RIC, LSO
volunteer, 80 connections
• JAN2013 Two collaborations,
180 connections, most business
via long time connections
• JAN2014 – DEC2014 90% of
repeat business from new
customer segments since 2012,
4-5x sales2012, 628 connections
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 12

13.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 13
http://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/7-networking-tips-for-
introverts-extroverts-and-the-socially-awkward.html

14.
Compiling a network (example)
[L-R] Nadia (CCRM & BTA volunteer), Anne-Claire (Wyatt & BTA
volunteer), Stefano (Axela), Nathalie (Six Degrees/OBI & LSO volunteer),
Rene (Weston Brain Fdn), German (Regxia)
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 14

15.
How can networking mitigate these
from happening to your venture?
15Wednesday January 21, 2015 Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking
http://fortune.com/2014/09/25/why-
startups-fail-according-to-their-founders/
https://www.cbinsights.com/blog/startup-
failure-post-mortem/

16.
Networking for Entrepreneurs
MaRS Entrepreneurship 101
January 21, 2015
Presented by: Andrew Yoshioka
President, Sanbonki Inc.
www.sanbonki.com @ay_sanbonki_inc
QUESTIONS?

17.
Five-minute blogs to read
http://www.inc.com/diane-gottsman/10-tips-for-your-next-
networking-event.html
http://wwwbusinessgrowthstrategies.ca/2148/networking-waste-
time/
http://www.inc.com/peter-economy/10-habits-of-remarkably-
powerful-networkers.html?cid=em01014week52c
http://www.inc.com/rhett-power/brighten-your-season-with-these-6-
holiday-networking-tips.html
http://www.inc.com/kelsey-libert/5-networking-tips-extroverts-can-
learn-from-introverts.html?cid=sf01001
http://m.fastcompany.com/3038750/strong-female-lead/the-secrets-
to-successful-networking-from-the-most-connected-women
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 17

18.
http://money.howstuffworks.com/business/professional-
development/10-networking-tips-people-hate-networking.htm
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/239476 Stop Leaving
Networking to Chance
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/239340 The 10 Most Important
Steps to Becoming a Master Networker
http://blog.tdsbusiness.com/tips-advice/4-simple-ways-to-motivate-
your-network-to-give-you-customer-referrals/
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/239307 Don't Let These 5
Excuses Stop You From Networking
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237961 The Power of Building
Offline Connections in a Digital World
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 18
Five-minute blogs to read

19.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238257 5 Tips for Authentic
Networking in a Co-Working Space
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/228151 How to Get More Out
of the Time You Already Spend Networking
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/233549 An Expert's Guide to
Steering a Conversation
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/233808 Strategic Networking
and How to Make the Most of Your Evenings
… and a 53-page review by Rotman and Harvard professors:
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/7528.html The Contaminating Effects of
Building Instrumental Ties: How Networking Can Make Us Feel Dirty
Wednesday January 21, 2015 MaRS Entrepreneurship 101 - Networking 19
Five-minute blogs to read