How do you collaborate with co-founders at startup events?

Japan Networking Tips: Nail your pitch: Keep it short & sweet! Explain who you are, what you do, and your value in just a few sentences. Double-sided business card: Must-have! Clearly show your name, role, and address in both Japanese & English. Go green: Include a LinkedIn QR code for easy connection & less paper waste. Join the LinkedIn trend: Connect with event contacts and follow up with personalized emails about potential collaboration. Don't underestimate the card: Be polite, make eye contact, and show genuine interest – it makes a lasting impression. Bonus: Research the event to tailor your pitch and identify potential connections. Go network! This guide will help you shine in any Japanese networking event.

Preparation is Key: Research attendees (I use to save the pics of the ones I want to meet on my mobile), refine your pitch, and identify your co-founder needs. Engage Meaningfully: Prioritize quality interactions, listen actively, and be open without oversharing. Plan the Next Step: Ensure a follow-up strategy to continue conversations with potential co-founders post-event.

Look for information on if the event was run previously. Look to see what the demographic of the audience is. Think about where your idea is. Is it ready for investment of money or time, does it need further consideration with likeminded people? These two different outcomes will shape your perception of usefulness of the event. Go to the events that suite your journey better.

Another few items to be aware of is to know your costs. 1) Start up 2) fees for lic. 3) and cost of goods sold Knowing these three and having a clear and precise answer is always best answer. Remember, If your being asked a question by a perspective startup partner then they know the answer already, or have a close idea of the answer. With this being said, this is not there first time. Even if it is, this is always a good to always have in your pitch. Also remember to have a 2 min pitch memorized and then a 5-7 min one after someone is more interested. Draw them in with 2 min pitch or sometimes called the “elevator pitch”. And close the deal with the 5-7 min pitch.

In my experience, I recommend using the event website, app and ideally also LINKEDIN to establish contact in advance with tailored messages to the most interesting co-founders and contacts to meet during the event !! One of main advantages of LINKEDIN over event apps is the possibility of staying in touch after the event app is closed in addition to know more about the co-founder and key contacts background, mutually shared interest for better and faster matching before, during and after the events !!

I've been speaker , invited as mentor, as jury for multiple startup events, number may be 2500+ till date after that I forgot to count. My tips : Develop a networking strategy that plays to each co-founder's strengths. Divide and conquer by targeting different individuals, groups, or sessions, and then share insights and contacts afterward. Be open to new ideas and opportunities. Startup events often present unexpected chances for collaboration or partnerships. Stay flexible and ready to adapt your strategy based on the event's dynamics. After the event, make sure to follow up on leads, contacts, and potential partnerships. Establish a follow-up strategy and share the responsibility of maintaining these connections.

Early-stage startup founder in Bangladesh here. I remember Bangladesh Startup Summit 2023 where the floor brimmed with people who were too wide and too deep for me to connect. A bunch of them I already knew for years. A lot of foreign faces that didn't match my vision. We were early-stage, they were series A and beyond. I didn't succeed in getting introductions to people I needed to - and that's fine. We moved on and lived to fight another day. That's the lesson to take away from this.

Your introduction itself makes a huge difference. Its not just about who you are but also about why you do what you do. Follow that up with how you can help and what your seeking. Seek the other persons introduction respectfully and listen. take mental notes to carry the conversation forward sensibly. And do exchange cards or contact details. Keep you linkedin scan code handy so people can send you an immediate connection request.

One of the challenges I observed is not actually knowing the person or people you would like to network with. In cases like that, it is also helpful to first go through someone who knows them. Warm introductions are always a great idea. That being said, as already mentioned being respectful and maintaining boundaries is very important.

Respecting your co-founder is paramount in building a successful partnership. Collaboration in a startup just like a delicate dance, and mutual respect is the music that keeps it harmonious. When you value your co-founder's ideas, skills, and contributions, you foster an environment of trust and open communication. It is all about respect.

There’s a lot of excitement and energy when it comes to startup events where founders are pitching their ideas and companies. Many of the connections culminate with a click, a text, or a connection on social media or LinkedIn, but often what is missing the follow up. When meeting someone interesting or a promising prospect, it’s more than adding them to a collection of followers and likes. I make sure to remind them when and where we met, why I found the conversation interesting and valuable, and an invitation to continue the conversation or make the introduction to my network or send the article that we spoke about. It’s the follow through that will help jumpstart a long and hopefully fruitful relationship.

1. Act Quickly: Ideally 48hs, reach out to potential collaborators with a timely thank-you note or connection request, or deliver what you promised. 2. Deepen the Connection: Propose a more in-depth conversation over coffee or a virtual chat. 3. Stay Engaged: Maintain a log of contacts and periodically update them on your startup's journey and achievements. Use, CRMs, Newsletter, and Linkedin to nurture your connections!

Profit from new generative AI, automation & productivity tools to facilitate and enrich follow-ups after events !! Coordinate all contact details accumulated during the event (business cards, event app, linkedin, whatsapp) Prepare short follow-up message including digital e-card with contact details and if interested propose meeting to discuss shared interest or better specific collaborations ...

In today's fast-paced business ecosystem, timely follow-ups are crucial to ensure you dont miss on potential collaboration opportunities. After attending a startup event, reach out promptly to those who expressed interest in your startup. Personalized thank-you messages referencing specific points from your conversation show genuine interest. Request follow-up meetings over coffee or video calls to discuss ideas further. Track interactions and manage contacts efficiently. Periodically update your contacts on significant developments and milestones to maintain connections. Remember prompt follow-ups will help you solidify connections and lay the grounds for long-term partnerships.

It's easy to meet someone who you vibe with at an event. The real challenge comes after, in figuring out - is this a real connection? Can you trust this person? You can't rush into a business relationship. It's like dating - you can't propose before getting to know each other and developing a relationship of mutual trust, sustained over time.

You should also validate your ability to communicate effectively with any potential partner. Can you say it how it is? Do you feel comfortable disagreeing with a statement of outcome? How risk averse are you? These factors and how you deal with them shape any co-founder relationship. If possible spend some time with a founder that is much further ahead in their journey to get some insight on working with co-founders. This will help you understand how to shape your fit and finish with a potential team.

This is like getting married,) 1. Test the Waters: Collaborate on a mini-project or participate in events like hackathons to check synergy. 2. Seek External Insights: Obtain feedback from mentors or peers familiar with both parties. 3. Open Dialogue: Maintain transparency about aspirations, challenges, and expectations to ensure aligned visions. You could always use cliff and vesting terms in an agreement to ensure a long-term relationship together.

Ensuring a good fit with a co-founder is crucial for the success of your startup. Confirm that you and your potential co-founder have aligned goals and a common vision for the startup. Assess whether your skills and strengths complement each other. This balanced skill set is very important for your startup to forward more effectively. Compatibility reduces conflicts and fosters a positive working environment. Be honest about your expectations, goals, and challenges. If you are comfortable that the co-founder can fill in for your weak spots it would be a perfect partnership. Talk openly about points where you think there is possibility of incompatibility. This will ensure both are on the same page and prepared for potential hurdles.

Frequency of communication is very important. From first hand experience I can say that not a lot of people are aware of its potential, and should be taken on rather strategically.

Clear and open communication is crucial for co-founders, especially when navigating the complexities during this financial crisis. I found that being open to having difficult conversations—without taking things personally—was instrumental to having great working relationships. It's all about tackling challenges head-on to move the business forward.

This a real issue that I've come across when I started this path. Roles and responsibilities were point of conflicts. Nobody knew where the boundaries of responsibilities lay because of the infancy of the startup. Eventually, a lack of shared vision led to founder exits and a fresh start. If the vibes are not right, move on.

1. Define Roles and goals: Clearly outline responsibilities and set tangible objectives. 2. Stay Connected: Engage regularly, ensuring open and respectful dialogue. 3. Balance Speaking & Listening: Share insights while valuing your co-founder's viewpoint, and navigate challenges with mutual support. This is a roller coaster where resilience is super important.

offer invaluable opportunities to learn from experienced tech founders, connect with potential collaborators, and build trust within the ecosystem. By actively listening, sharing knowledge, and offering support, you contribute to a thriving environment where everyone benefits. Trust me, the rewards of participation will speak for themselves. Get involved and see for yourself!

Define short-term and long-term goals for the business. Ensure that everyone is aligned with the company's vision and mission. Break down larger goals into smaller, achievable tasks. Regularly review progress and make necessary adjustments. Acknowledge that conflicts may arise but approach them as opportunities for growth and improvement. Establish a conflict resolution process to address issues promptly and constructively. Seek common ground and compromise when necessary. Stay flexible and adaptable in response to changes in the market, customer needs, or internal dynamics. Embrace a mindset of continuous improvement and be willing to iterate on strategies and processes.

Learn to debate, this art form will save you from a lot of frustration as running a startup has many highs and lows. Airing grievance, being heard in a room where there is much opinion or even just getting along and sharing ideas needs some structure to get the best out of it. Debating allows everyone to talk and have diverse opinions, but to seek a resolution in a structured fashion creates understanding and buy-in without the need for people to be talking over each other or the biggest voice winning.

SIMPLE PRACTICAL TIPS 1) In case of using or dowloading e-cards & QR contacts add keywords for the event in order to find it easier in your agenda after the event ... 2) Do screenshots of contacts generated during the event to remember the way you contacted (event app, linkedin, whatsapp, linkedin ...) 3) Take photos of paper biz cards gathered in the event to get backup, generate album and keyword filtering & matching ...

Be simple! Specific and share contributions to the community. As founder and community builders, I have organised, attend and pitch in many events. If you are not familiar with startup ecosystem, being able to share your unique skills, expertise and even academic point of view is super important. We don't tag you by your fancy role, career or how many degrees -PhD do you have be authentic, collaborative and able to share/learn each other.