Event Schedule For Venture Capitalists - NY Tech Week 2024

Let's be real: Techweek is overwhelming and although there are many events and no shortage of founders, finding high-quality founders who are serious with real tangible traction is hard. And if there is one, he or she is probably already on the radar. We generate this list with one intention: to help you strategically plan your week to seek out under-the-radar founders. 

Plan your week

• Comprehensive list of events - NY Tech Week 2024
• Side parties, mixers, and dinners list
• Tailored Techweek game plan for VCs
• Tailored Techweek game plan for Early-stage Founders

How to effectively “network” with founders?

While it seems like an easy task, the power dynamics between founders and investors can often lead to awkward interactions. Mostly because most investors haven't been founders and vice versa. 

DOs:

• Be extra curious: founders live and breathe with the problem they are solving, the more curious you are at learning more about that, the more energized they become.
• Talk to non-founders: this one is not obvious but the best founders of tomorrow are often startup employees of today, pay attention to career trajectory instead of job title.
• Be vulnerable: things are tough for founders but it's tough for VCs too with many funds not being able to get base commitments from LPs. It's ok to share the struggles without disclosing too much information. And remember: a successful founder today is an LP tomorrow.

DONT's:

• Ask “What are you building?”: founders have to pitch all day and they likely dislike having to do it again at a happy hour. It also tilts the power dynamics and makes you feel disingenuous. Instead, google the name of the company and ask things like “I see that you work on X, what's your thought on Y?”
• Just hang out with other VCs: this is something many people in the industry often do, and while it's nice to stay within your comfort zone, this is the best opportunity for you to get to know founders at the ground level.
• Tell someone they're “not a fit”: fit goes both ways and sometimes networking events can be transactional, let's not worsen it. Instead of assessing fit, see if they know someone who might fall within your investment thesis.