Sesame Summit 2026 – application open

How to Level Up Your Networking Game

And let’s be honest, those times were amazing. All of us conference junkies where somewhat addicted to this jet-setting lifestyle, waiting for the next fix and the next group of “friends” whose friendship expired within 24 hours after the conference was over. Zoom drinks won’t ever come close to the real thing, much like virtual sex won’t fully satisfy your appetite to exchange bodily fluids with another human being.

So what can you do? You can use this quiet time to level up your networking game, for when the events industry resumes to normal, or even when it comes to online events.

The goal of networking is to establish mutually beneficial genuine connections with people.

Here are four easy ways to do this:

Nurture your existing connections

Catch up with those connections you might have let go. Pull all those business cards out from your dusty drawer and start reaching out to the people who can add value to your network. The basic principle here is to drop your agenda. No pitching! Reach out to say hello, remind people where you met, and ask them how they’ve been. Suggest jumping on a quick call and when you do, focus on what you can give, rather than on what you can sell them.

Work on your personal brand and online presence

Now that you aren’t travelling between continents to attend or speak at conferences, you are also less distracted. Use this focus to work on your personal brand. Invest in a better headshot done by a professional photographer. Create more and better content, grow your social media accounts. Got videos where you speak on stage? Make a reel to promote yourself as a speaker. If you don’t have the skills to do this, there are plenty of video editors out there that need work. And they don’t cost a fortune. All of this will give you a head start when conferences come back to what they were.

Check out the Ad World virtual conference on 2-4nd November

Join a private member’s club in your town (or request a day pass)

A visit to a private member’s club will bring back some good memories of what conferences used to be. Fine food, selected crowd, business vibes. You have probably saved a significant amount of money by not travelling the world to go to events. Invest this amount in the right membership. Most private member’s clubs also hold online events or networking sessions. Getting in can be challenging and you might need to find people who can refer you. Alternatively, you can see which clubs in your area offer day tours or can give you a free day pass to experience the place.

Attend The Conduit’s Virtual Open House on 27th October

Book a day pass at The Conduit in London

Request a tour at AllBright of their Mayfair or West Hollywood clubs (women only)

Try applying for Soho House’s Every House or Local House membership

Go on a retreat that gathers professionals within your niche

It takes some time to appreciate the quality of retreats that people in the conference world organise. This is where a weekend can cost you some’s monthly salary (or your monthly salary), but if you pick the right ones, it will pay off in high-level connections and a quality experience you will remember for years to come. In my view as a hardcore budget traveller, those retreats are worth it. Even if you can only afford one or two per year.

SummitSummit is one such retreat that gathers a quality group of VCs and entrepreneurs. Their 2020 Iceland retreat got cancelled due to Covid and they are currently working on rescheduling it for 2021. They also organise regular retreats in Greece.

Virtual Open House at the Conduit 2020 – 27 October 2020 – The Virtual Open House is the ideal opportunity to learn more about how the Conduit is bringing together knowledge, capital and ideas for tangible and sustained positive impact.

Ad World – 2-4 November 2020 – Ad World is one of the largest online events for digital marketers in the world. For three days, Ad World will stream 15+ Digital Advertising Tracks, consisting of hyper-focused speeches, workshops and live Q&A sessions to help take your business to the next level.

SummitSummit – 25-26 March 2021 (tbd) – Our mission is simple: Connect world-class innovators and investors from Europe, Asia, and the US to create a long-lasting community. Out Of Office is the new way to network, raise funds, and build connections.

you might also like

blank
New Materials 17 hours ago

Winning the JEC Startup Booster's 2025 Sustainability Award transformed Strong by Form from a 'promising startup' into a serious player with industrial credibility.

blank
Consumer 7 days ago

Walking through the sprawling halls of IFA Berlin 2025, it’s immediately clear that this isn’t just another trade show. This year’s edition solidified IFA Next as Europe’s premier showcase of consumer technology startups, an event where innovation meets practical applications in a comprehensive hardware-focused startup environment. The heart of European consumer tech innovation IFA Next has evolved into Europe’s hub for the latest on consumer tech. It’s where the continent’s most promising hardware startups converge with global visionaries and industry pioneers. This isn’t just marketing speak — Hall H25, dedicated entirely to consumer-focused hardware, was in many ways the largest and most influential gathering of consumer technology startups in Europe. The centerpiece was the Dream Stage, where bold ideas are shared through keynotes, panels, and highly anticipated pitch battles. Unlike other tech conferences, IFA Next maintains laser focus on technologies that will directly impact how people live, work, and interact with their environments. The Dream Stage is also where Europe’s next consumer tech unicorns are spotted far before they take flight. The finale of this year’s IFA Next Pitch Battle 2025: Breakthrough Battle saw founders presenting concepts to investors, media, and industry experts, competing for visibility, investment, and growth opportunities. Complementing the Dream Stage was the IFA Lab, an interactive testing ground where exhibitors, investors and industry  professionals collaborate to bring innovations from prototype to store shelves. The Lab is where Europe’s startups refined their ideas, engaged with industry experts, and pushed new technologies from concept to market reality. Hall H25: Europe’s consumer tech capital Hall H25 was home to what has become Europe’s largest dedicated consumer technology startup space. Beyond the sheer numbers, the hall is an indicator of how mature Europe’s hardware ecosystem has become. IFA Next specifically champions hardware solutions that people can touch, use and integrate into their daily lives. The diversity and ambition on display were remarkable. Both European and international startups presented solutions spanning healthcare, sustainable products, and cutting-edge tech for everyday use.  What stood out Addressing a critical gap in healthcare technology that affects families across the world, Coro, which won an IFA Innovation Award, accurately measures milk supply in real-time during breastfeeding. This is exactly the kind of practical, user-oriented innovation that defines IFA Next’s positioning. LeydenJar Technologies‘ groundbreaking battery technology deserves special mention for fundamentally rethinking energy storage for everyday devices. This startup is tackling what will arguably be one of the biggest challenges for consumer electronics as AI-powered devices become ubiquitous in European homes: more energy storage while keeping the dimensions small. Dtablet’s medication management solutions address  healthcare challenges that affect millions of European families. Their focus on reducing dosing uncertainty represents the practical, user-centered approach that characterizes Europe’s tech startups. Paptic’s bio-based, recyclable packaging materials are made from renewable wood fibers, a distinctly European approach to sustainable products. The startup won multiple awards, demonstrating how European startups are leading global sustainability trends. Unframe showcased immersive applications combining virtual reality and artificial intelligence, a bellwether of  next-generation digital experiences. The startup’s user-centric approach to VR and AI reflects its emphasis on practical applications over pure technological spectacle. Broadcasting innovation: IFA’s Twitch strategy One of the most forward-thinking aspects of IFA 2025 was the creation of dedicated Twitch live rooms for presenting products and news in real-time. Modern users expect interactive, accessible content about the products that will impact their lives, so this integration of live streaming represents a crucial evolution in how innovations reach their intended audiences. Sessions like “Retro Tech Rewind” with IFA CEO Leif Lindner were specifically designed for Twitch, demonstrating IFA Next’s commitment to making innovation accessible beyond the convention floor. This approach to content delivery could set new standards for how European startups engage with their markets. Europe’s consumer tech ecosystem at scale What makes IFA Next compelling is its comprehensive approach to nurturing consumer-focused innovation. It’s not just about displaying finished products; the focus here is on creating an environment where startups can connect with VCs, retail partners, buyers, and over 4,500 journalists. This ecosystem brings together everything from AI-powered home devices, smartphones, laptops and sustainable products to smart health solutions and wearable technology. With dedicated spaces for both demonstrations and retail networking, IFA Next bridged the gap between cutting-edge research and retail opportunities, a critical pathway for European hardware startups. While cities like London, Berlin, and Amsterdam host numerous tech conferences, none of those events match IFA Next’s specific focus on hardware innovation or its ability to connect startups directly with the global consumer electronics retail ecosystem. Samsung’s strong AI focus Samsung has put in a lot of time and effort into comprehensively integrating AI across its consumer product ecosystem. Take for example Its AI-enabled refrigerator: besides keeping your groceries fresh, it can propose recipes, and even identify missing ingredients — it’s a masterclass in how established brands are setting the bar for startups to reach and surpass. Samsung also showcased its expansion beyond traditional consumer electronics into B2B applications. Its IoT systems and 3D building visualization software demonstrated how consumer tech innovations can scale into commercial applications — a pathway many European startups at IFA Next are actively pursuing. The future of European consumer tech IFA 2025 has demonstrated that Europe’s technology startup ecosystem isn’t just thriving — it’s defining global trends. From sustainable packaging solutions to revolutionary healthcare devices, European startups at IFA Next are solving real problems with practical, scalable solutions. The combination of established electronics giants setting innovation benchmarks, ambitious startups developing market-ready solutions, and innovative presentation formats showed that IFA Next has become more than Europe’s largest consumer tech startup showcase: It’s evolved into an essential preview of European technology leadership. For anyone interested in understanding where European consumer technology innovation is heading, IFA Next represents the definitive annual checkpoint. The innovations showcased here by European and international startups will likely be the everyday products of tomorrow, and Europe’s leadership in making that transformation happen is becoming undeniably clear. As Europe’s premier consumer tech startup showcase, IFA Next

Electric vehicle charging and sustainable mobility technology representing LIZY's circular electric leasing approach
Events 3 weeks ago

Startups don't have infinite budgets and resources are tight. Spend has to be justified, and tens of thousands on sponsorship need more than vibe.

Subscribe to
our Newsletter!

Stay at the forefront with our curated guide to the best upcoming Tech events.