It is clear that the development path of every startup begins within the local environment — the market they know best — but this stage should not last too long, especially when coming from a small market like ours.
In most cases, naturally, after local promotion, the next step is entering regional markets, especially those within the same language area, followed by expansion into more distant or developed markets.
In addition to sheer market potential, one must not overlook other crucial factors necessary for the successful development of a startup:
- Access to appropriate talent
- Access to technical infrastructure and technological expertise
- Access to financial resources
- Access to key partners
Beyond occasional meetings with important stakeholders, there are events that can significantly ease and accelerate this process. These include conferences, fairs, and similar events where one can meet and connect with future collaborators.
For Serbian startups, participating in international events and conferences can be key to success and growth. These events offer a unique opportunity to connect with global markets, gain new contacts, learn about the latest trends and technologies, and promote themselves on a broader level.
Why Attend These Events?
There are many reasons to attend international events. Here are just a few:
- Connecting with potential investors: International events are a great opportunity for Serbian startups to present their ideas and products to investors from around the world who are interested in investing.
- Opportunity to gain new knowledge: International conferences often bring together experts from various fields, offering participants the chance to hear about the latest trends and technological innovations. These events can be highly inspiring and educational, helping Serbian startups improve their products and business strategies.
- Promotion on a global level: Participation in international events gives startups a chance to present their products and services to a broader audience. These events often attract media and influencer attention, which can result in increased visibility and better market positioning.
- Connecting with potential partners: International events are an excellent opportunity for startups to establish contacts with potential partners, distributors, or suppliers. These contacts can be of great importance for further business development and expansion into new markets.
- Inspire the team: Attending international events can be an inspiring experience for the entire startup team. Seeing the success of other startups and hearing innovative ideas can encourage the team to think outside the box and work harder to achieve their goals.
Do’s and Don’ts at International Events
If you haven’t attended international conferences before and feel a bit nervous about presenting your idea to a larger audience — don’t worry. Here’s a list of things to do and what to avoid.
Do’s: How to Best Prepare for Attending Events and Conferences
For startups, it’s important to be well-prepared for international events and conferences in order to get the most out of the experience and build useful connections. Here are some key tips for successful preparation and participation:
- Set goals: Before you go, define what you want to achieve by attending. Do you want to attract investors? Gain new partners? Promote your product or service? Setting clear goals will help you focus your activities and measure the success of your attendance.
- Research the event: Thoroughly research the event before attending. Find out who will be there, what topics and panels are planned, and what networking and promotional opportunities exist. This will help you plan your activities during the event.
- Research cultural differences: This is especially important if the market is “far away” — both geographically and culturally. It’s crucial to understand the business culture, working habits, and cultural specifics of the host and other expected participants. For example, your preparation for an event in East Asia, the Middle East, or North America cannot be the same.
- Prepare for networking: Networking is a key part of international events, so be ready to communicate with potential partners, investors, and peers. Prepare a short pitch about your startup and be ready to talk about your ideas and goals. Most major events use specialized platforms for organizing networking activities. These platforms help with preparation, presentation, finding the right contacts, and even scheduling meetings directly.
- Promote your attendance: Use social media and other communication channels to announce your participation and attract attention from attendees. You can also organize special events or presentations to further promote your startup.
- Follow up on contacts and continue communication: After the event, it’s important to follow up with the contacts you made. Send thank-you notes, follow-up emails, and additional information to people you spoke with and continue building the relationships started during the event. This activity is critical — and often where mistakes are made, leading to missed opportunities for collaboration.
Don’ts: What to Avoid at International Events and Conferences
Startup representatives should be cautious to avoid mistakes that can reduce the effectiveness of their participation at international conferences and events — or even lead to awkward situations. What to avoid:
- Being overly aggressive in networking: While networking is important, being too aggressive or pushy can backfire. It’s important to establish natural and friendly contact and avoid being intrusive.
- Disregarding agreements: If you’ve arranged a meeting or some other form of collaboration with someone at the event, it’s important to honor those commitments. Failing to do so can damage your reputation and hurt your chances for future cooperation.
Author: Filip Ilić
Source: ICT Hub
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