Much More Than Networking: The Strategic Value of Events for Entrepreneurship

When a startup is taking its first steps, the focus is usually on product development, customer acquisition, or fundraising. However, there is a tool that can accelerate all of these processes at once and that sometimes goes unnoticed: events within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

This was one of the main conclusions of the webinar “The Power of Events: How to Boost Your Project from Its Early Stages,” organized by the ONE Platform and featuring Emilio Corchado, founder of Startup Olé, and Ángela Castelló, CRO of Valencia Digital Summit (VDS).

Through their experiences at two of Spain’s leading innovation and entrepreneurship events, both agreed on one key idea: events are not just spaces for networking, but genuine platforms for creating opportunities, validating projects, and accelerating the growth of a startup.

Build your network before you need it

One of the most repeated messages during the session was the importance of building relationships in advance.
Many entrepreneurs begin looking for investors when they need funding or try to contact potential customers when sales are not coming in. However, the experts insisted that the most valuable relationships are usually built long before that need arises.

Events make it possible to build a strong network of contacts made up of investors, companies, universities, accelerators, public administrations, media outlets, and other entrepreneurs who can become strategic allies in the medium and long term.

The recommendation was clear: do not wait until you need help to start building connections. Invest time in building quality relationships that can support the evolution of your project.

Because in many cases, a conversation today can turn into an opportunity months later.

Before attending, define what you are really looking for

Another key takeaway was the need to attend events with a specific goal in mind. Not all entrepreneurs are looking for the same thing, and not all events offer the same opportunities. That is why, before registering, it is worth answering a simple question: What does my project need right now?

It may be funding, market validation, specialized talent, customers, visibility, or access to new markets. The answer will determine both the type of event you should attend and the people you should aim to connect with.

If you are looking for funding, your priority will be to identify the right investors for your stage of growth. If you need customers, you should focus on companies or potential users. If your challenge is strengthening your team, you may need to connect with universities, business schools, or entrepreneurial communities.

Being clear about your goals allows you to optimize your time and multiply the impact of each meeting.

The golden rule: before, during, and after the event

The speakers agreed that successful participation in an event depends on three clearly differentiated stages.

Before. Preparation is essential. Researching who will attend, reviewing profiles of interest, identifying potential meetings, and preparing a clear and concise pitch are actions that make a difference. Today’s events offer networking tools, apps, and meeting agendas that allow participants to plan meetings in advance. Making use of them is a competitive advantage.

During. The event is the time to start conversations and identify opportunities. But it is not about collecting business cards or having as many conversations as possible. As the experts highlighted, the quality of your connections is far more important than the quantity.

It is also advisable to attend talks and panel discussions related to your sector. Very often, the best conversations happen right after a presentation or in informal networking spaces.

After. Without follow-up, contacts quickly lose their value. Both speakers recommended making a first follow-up within 48 hours after the event, thanking the person for the conversation, and clearly proposing next steps.

A contact without follow-up is a missed opportunity.

Much more than networking: validating, learning, and finding talent

Although events are usually associated with networking, the webinar highlighted a less well-known advantage: their ability to validate projects.

Presenting a proposal to investors, potential customers, or industry experts makes it possible to obtain direct feedback on the business model, identify areas for improvement, and better understand the real needs of the market.

In addition, events are an extraordinary opportunity to discover talent and find future collaborators or even co-founders.

In early stages, when building the team is often one of the main challenges, these spaces facilitate connections that are difficult to achieve through traditional channels.

Choosing well is also a strategy

Another important message was that it is not always worth attending every available event. Each gathering has a different profile, a different audience, and specific objectives. Some events are more focused on funding, others specialize in particular sectors, and some have a more international outlook.

Therefore, it is important to select those that truly respond to your project’s needs at any given moment. The key is not to attend more events, but to attend the right ones.

An opportunity to drive your growth

Events continue to be one of the most valuable spaces for any startup. They make it possible to connect with investors, reach potential customers, find talent, validate ideas, and discover new collaboration opportunities.

But above all, they offer something that is difficult to replicate in the digital environment: in-person conversations capable of building trust and opening doors that would otherwise be much harder to get through.

If you are building an entrepreneurial project, incorporate events into your growth strategy. Prepare yourself, define your goals, and participate actively.

Because a single conversation can become the boost your startup needs to take the next step.
Want to know all the details? You can watch the full webinar video and access the main recommendations shared during the session step by step.

If you do not want to miss the upcoming sessions, check the webinar agenda of the ONE Platform.