This document summarizes a presentation on networking for entrepreneurs. The presentation covered why networking is important for business development, investment, and finding partners. It provided tips for networking effectively, including remembering it is a two-way street, understanding others' businesses, prioritizing connections, and avoiding mistakes like asking for help without providing value. Specific networking tactics were discussed like attending events, using social media, and following up with connections. Metrics for success with different tactics were also presented.

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