Getting The Most Out of Networking at Conferences & Events

Getting The Most Out of Networking
at Conferences & Events
Andy Stoll, co-founder Seed Here Studio @andystoll #sourcelink

Andy Stoll
serial entrepreneur  
Seed Here Studio, co-founder
EntreFEST, co-producer
@andystoll
@andystoll #sourcelink

a story

Up America Summit in The Creative Corridor, October 15, 2015
A SEMINAL
MOMENT
Scott Heiferman!
CEO/Founder, meetup.com
Scott Case!
Co-Founder, priceline.com!
Founding CEO, Startup America

THE MAKING
OF A MOMENT
[it all started 2.5 years earlier]

Startup America Partnership Launched by AOL Founder Steve Case, Jan 2011

Scott Case named CEO, made Initial contact with him, March 2011
March 10th (SXSW) >

ﬁrst extended chat in New Orleans, spring 2011
April 13th (via Twitter) >
May 5th (while in New Orleans) >!

making a connection, June 2011
Jeff Slobotski, Silicon Prairie News 
needed speakers for SPN’s Thinc Iowa
conference in Des Moines
Scott Case
Scott needed help spreading the word
about Startup America to the entire country
How can I help? !
an introduction.

Scott Case visits Iowa for the ﬁrst time, October 2011

Scott’s visit catalyzes the launch of Startup Iowa two months later, December 2011

Washington Post: Did any
states’ efforts stand out
to you over the course
of the ﬁrst year?
Case: There’s…a real
movement in Iowa,
centered in Des Moines and
Cedar Rapids, where we
have some great start-up
momentum building. There’s
a lot of wealth in that state
and some great businesses
have started there.
Startup America promotes startup community growth in Iowa, January 2012

Iowa’s reputation as a startup destination grow nationally, December 2012
“I have found Iowa to
be the most interesting
place. I’ve been
impressed by Iowa
rallying around its
startups and saying,
‘We’re going to make
this work, and it’s
important to our
success.
Scott Case, CEO  
The Startup America Partnership
in ‘Startup Rising Report’

Startup America invites Iowa to speak at The White House, February 2013

With growing buzz, Up Global selects Iowa for its ﬁrst Summit, August 2013

We ﬁnally asked for a favor, “Scott can you come to Iowa and speak?” October 2013
A SEMINAL
MOMENT
October 15, 2013

How one connection in Austin turned into a seminal !
moment for Iowa…
Startup America launches 
Jan ‘11
UP Global Summit!
announce in Iowa 
Aug ‘13
Stalking Scott Case at SXSW 
March ‘11
1st mtg in New Orleans 
May ‘11
Jeff invites Scott to !
speak at Thinc Iowa 
Oct ‘11
Startup Iowa !
launches 
Dec ‘11
Visibility of Iowa’s startup  
community grows nationally !
via Startup America 
’12-‘13
Buzz generates interest  
from Up Global to showcase !
ass-kicking “ﬂy-over” state!
Aug ‘11
Scott goes onstage !
in Iowa City 
Oct ‘13
Scott & Jeff introduced 
July ‘11

How to Network

How to
make new !friends

The goal is to build
authentic, trusting,
long lasting
friendships.
(That’s it.)

Emotional Bank Account
“measures the amount of trust built into relationship”
deposit (+) withdraws (-)
helping
kindness
courtesy
honesty
keeping commitments
!
discourtesy
disrespect
betraying trust
taking advantage
politicking
making more work

How I approach
conferences and
events.

#1
Figure out who is
going and who  
I want to meet.
Make a list. @andystoll #sourcelink

#2
Introduce yourself and
have a prepared
opening to generate
curiosity
(tell a repeatable and memorable story,  
but not necessarily the whole story)

#3
Actually listen.

#4
Find commonality.
Not obvious? Ask:what’s your story?  
how’d you get here? 
what do you need help with? 
Listen for conversation bites to prompt 
more questions. Get them talking.

#5
No seriously, actually listen.
(do not try to fake genuine interest, you can’t.)

#6
Make a point to
remember their name
and one fun fact. 
(write it down.)

#7
Don’t ask for anything,
unless it is offered. Offer.  
(always give before you get.)

#8
Stay in touch and be
helpful where  
you can.
(Ping them every so often to stay on their radar.) 

#9
Create  
mutually beneficial
connections.  
** remember the double opt-in intro**
[be the connector, people will love you for it]

#10
Don’t help everyone,
focus on those who
matter most.

My Golden
Rule
Help people.

Three tools I use.

#1
People to meet list.

#2
People I’ve met list.

#3
Pen & Paper

Attend EntreFEST
and practice your
networking skills.
make new !friends

Full conference pass (2, days, all sessions, 4 meals):
$149 (before 5/1) $175 (after 5/1)  
(Student & Group Discounts Available) Use the promotional code SOURCELINKWEBINAR for $10 off!

1. Figure out who is going and make a list.
2. Introduce yourself and be prepared & memorable.
3. Actually listen.
4. Find commonality.
5. No seriously, actually listen.
6. Don’t ask for anything. Give before you get.
7. Stay in touch and be helpful.
8. Create mutual beneficial connections.
9. Don’t help everyone, focus.
Andy’s 10 steps to making friends at conferences…
Andy@seedherestudio.com
@andystoll

Getting The Most Out of Networking at Conferences & Events

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