A lot of founders think they’re being smart by saying no to events.
They tell themselves they’re “saving time” by staying at the desk, tweaking the deck, or sending cold emails.
In my book? That’s just stupid.
Why?
Think about it for a second. Events are the biggest time-saver of them all.
Where else in your fundraising journey do you get the chance to meet dozens of potential investors all in the same room at the same time?
Normally, it takes weeks (sometimes months!) of cold emails, introductions, back-and-forth scheduling, and coffee meetings just to get in front of a handful of investors.
At an event? You can meet 10 - 20 investors in one single evening.
That’s not a distraction - that’s efficiency.
The only question is: how fast can you move the room?
Where Founders Blow It
Here’s the irony: even the founders who do show up often waste the opportunity.
They:
-
Spend 25 minutes stuck in one conversation
-
Wait around for people to come to them
-
Pitch like it’s their one shot to close a deal
-
Leave with two contacts instead of fifteen
And then they brag about the “amazing chat” they had.
Let me be clear: one “amazing chat” is not momentum.
It’s just a missed room.
If this sounds familiar, don’t worry - it’s not about working harder, it’s about working faster.
Move the room. Don’t get stuck in it.
Here’s the mindset shift: your goal is not to close an investor at the event.
Your goal is to collect as many leads as possible and then follow up after.
That means:
-
3–5 minutes max per conversation → Leave them curious, not exhausted
-
Grab their contact, move on → Don’t pitch the whole company, just hook them
-
Follow up the same evening → While you’re still fresh in their mind
-
Stack your wins → Aim for 10+ leads, then qualify later
This is not about being pushy.
It’s about being efficient.
Events are like speed dating - short, memorable, and designed to set up the second meeting.
Why This Works
-
You save weeks of time you’d normally spend chasing investors
-
You create momentum by having multiple meetings lined up at once
-
You stand out because you move with purpose (most founders don’t)
-
You turn one event into a pipeline of opportunities
Meanwhile, the founder who stayed at their desk that night? They’re still polishing their deck, waiting for someone to answer their email.
Quantity creates quality - if you act fast.
Remember:
Events are the ultimate fundraising hack.
You can spend a month chasing five investors… or one evening collecting 15 leads.
The next time you walk into a room full of investors, remember:
You’re not there to have long conversations.
You’re there to move the room.
Collect first. Qualify later. Follow up immediately.
That’s how you turn an event into real fundraising momentum.
Don’t just attend the room. Own it.
That's all for today. Hope you liked it!
See you next Thursday.