John Hetherington’s Post

Conference season is almost here, and we’re kicking it off on September 9th at Startup Boston Week! 🚀 To help you prepare for #SBW2024 and other incredible startup events across #Boston, we're teaming up with the City of Boston | Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Cabinet for a deep dive into mastering networking. Walking into a room full of strangers can be daunting, but we’ve got your back! This panel will equip you with strategies to turn any networking event into a goldmine of connections. Here's what we'll cover: 💡 Pre-conference prep to maximize your experience 💡 Navigating a room full of unfamiliar faces 💡 Keeping conversations natural while assessing connections 💡 Politely wrapping up conversations to make new connections 💡 Effective follow-up tips beyond the usual "great to meet you!" Whether you're an introvert, new to the scene, or just looking to up your networking game, this session is for you. Register for this free webinar on September 4th 🔜 https://lnkd.in/gViMnVmC

Got on the signs train, John Kraski gave me the idea... Crombie allowed me to have a great picture 😎 This picture brings back great memories from Austin Startup Week at Capital Factory last year. It was one of those moments where everything clicked—new connections, fresh ideas, and a deep sense of community that only grows stronger with each conversation. I walked in with excitement and curiosity, and left with insights that have shaped my approach to both business and life ever since. In my coming and goings to Austin I had the opportunity of meeting and learning from LinkedIn top voices, but more important GREAT PEOPLE such as Mario Hernandez and Adam Robinson, and tech entrepreneurs' leaders like Joshua Baer and Jay Boisseau reminded me of the power of genuine relationships. It's not just about handing out business cards or exchanging messages—it's about truly connecting, listening, and learning from each other. That’s what makes these experiences so valuable to me, both personally and professionally. What struck me the most during that week wasn’t just the brilliant minds or innovative startups—it was the openness and empathy everyone brought to the table. People were eager to share, listen, and help each other grow. This wasn’t about superficial networking—it was about creating real connections rooted in mutual respect and a shared desire to build something meaningful. As someone who values empathy deeply, this experience reminded me that true success in any field isn’t just about knowing your stuff—it’s about understanding the people around you. It’s about taking the time to listen, learning from every encounter, and being willing to offer support without expecting anything in return. That’s what makes these connections last, and that’s what keeps pushing me forward. This photo is a snapshot of that journey—of meeting new people, learning from their experiences, and growing together. Whether it’s at an event or here on LinkedIn, I’m always ready to connect, share, and keep learning. Let’s keep the conversation going! 💡🚀 #CommunityBuilding #GrowthMindset

🚀The Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) is taking it to the next level! 🚀 We’ve got something big coming, and we need YOU! 🌟We're launching our very own IIE Newsletter soon, and we want YOU to help us name it! 🔊 Comment below with your best name suggestion for the newsletter, and we’ll choose one lucky winner to receive an exclusive IIE T-shirt! 👕🎉 Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting moment and make your mark on the IIE community. Plus, think of the bragging rights! 😉 💡 Remember: Being a part of IIE connects you to the cutting-edge of innovation and entrepreneurship, Deep TechCrunch , Forbes and FORTUNE , we got you! Helping you expand your skills, network, and resume. So why not get involved now? 🗓️ We can’t wait to see your creative ideas. Let’s make history together! #IIE #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #FOMO #NewsletterNaming #JoinUs #Networking #IIETshirt #NameOurNewsletter #StartupCommunity

📆 Triangle Tech | Friday event roundup 🤠 👋 I'm Chip Kennedy - a Research Triangle founder and community builder. 📚 This is a (sometimes weekly) list of useful, interesting, and intentional, and (mostly) free tech networking events for folks looking to learn, connect, hire, and build here. 💬 If you find it helpful, please share + tag more Triangle folks! On to the roundup... 📆 4/1 12:00pm 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 (free, audience: founders) https://lnkd.in/e8Xxf53T 📆 4/2 8:30am 𝗛𝘆𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 (free, audience: founders, entrepreneurs) https://lnkd.in/efAg9eHP 📆 4/2 8:30am 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 (free, audience: founders, entrepreneurs) https://lnkd.in/eryCc-2V 📆 4/2 5pm 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿 (free, audience: technologists of all backgrounds) https://lnkd.in/es6HaX9G 📆 4/3 8:30am 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 with Axios and GrepBeat (free, audience: founders, operators) https://lnkd.in/eN77iRt7 📆 4/3 𝗥𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗔𝗜 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 (free, audience: AI professionals, students, academics, business leaders) https://lnkd.in/ejY7sm7p 📆 4/4 4:30pm 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺: 𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻, 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗶 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 (free, audience: founders, operators, entrepreneurs in any stage) https://lnkd.in/eEH4syTQ 📆 4/5 6pm 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 (free, audience: Cary tech folks, entrepreneurs, anyone interested in exploring the new downtown Cary) https://lnkd.in/eusVr3em 📆 4/6 10am 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗖𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 ($20, audience: all folks involved or interested in the sustainable food industry) https://lnkd.in/ezBMjQWS ...and of course 📆 📆 📆 4/9 - 4/12 𝗥𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 https://lnkd.in/ec7ep4qq Thank you to dedicated folks building community across tech in the Triangle with these events and so much more! Ian Baltutis and Launch Chapel Hill First Flight Venture Center Sunny Su ⚡️ Venture Alchemist and DareToShift Mark Hinkle Lauren Romer Rebekah Gregg and Raleigh Founded Kimi Yingling and Innovate Carolina GrepBeat and many, many more! #triangletechnight #triangletech #techevents #raleighnc #durhamnc #chapelhillnc

At Remotify, we strive to provide the best for both our customers and employees. That’s why we joined the DMZ YYZ program from June 10 to 14, and here’s what we’ve learned! DMZ YYZ equips businesses with the connections and skills needed to break into the North American market. The daily workshops were a treasure trove of insights, focusing on the nuances of business expansion in North America. We had the chance to attend curated networking events, mingling with potential partners, customers, investors, and other entrepreneurs – a fantastic way to build meaningful relationships. Each startup, including ours, was assigned a dedicated DMZ Program Lead who arranged personalized meetings and introductions, offering guidance throughout the program. The one-on-one coaching sessions facilitated by DMZ’s experts and alumni gave us the opportunity to discuss our ideas in-depth with industry leaders, providing us with feedback and insights that are crucial for our growth. Attending Collision, North America’s premier startup and tech conference, was an eye-opener. It allowed us to expand our network, connect with potential customers, and gain a deeper understanding of the North American market. The DMZ YYZ program has been a transformative experience for Remotify, and we’re excited to leverage these learnings to serve you better! 🌟 Visit us at remotify.ph to learn more. #workculture #businessgrowth #business #remotework #remotifyph #remotify

Conferences are big waste of time for startup founders to network. Okay if you are a speaker or panelist - helps with visibility. Also, okay if you are doing it for sales. But, terrible places to network. Your time as a startup founder is limited and your networking is hyper targeted. You are mostly talking to customers, prospects, investors and potential hires/employees. Everything else is largely noise. Waiting in a conference and talking to the first person you have eye contact with is very sub-optimal.

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to pitch my business at a conference filled with passionate innovators. The energy was inspiring, and the theme of "collaboration over competition" was emphasized as a key value in our community. After my pitch, I approached two entrepreneurs with businesses similar to mine, hoping to learn potential synergies. I was excited about the possibility of sharing ideas and experiences to create value together. However, the conversations didn’t go as expected. Instead of openness, I was met with defensiveness, as if I was trying to take something from them. It made me think why do we still feel the need to compete, even in a community that encourages collaboration? Shouldn't we come together to grow collectively? Here’s what I’ve realized: real progress comes from partnerships. We don’t have to do it alone. By working together, we can achieve more. At BEL TECH Hub we’re always open to collaboration—whether it’s sharing insights, exploring joint ventures, or offering support. If you believe in collaboration, let’s connect and grow together.

✨ Have you checked out our Ultimate Guide to Tech Events for Fall 2024 yet? If not, it’s an essential resource for businesses of all sizes, from emerging startups to established tech leaders. This isn’t just a list of events. It’s a strategic roadmap designed by industry experts who know the tech landscape inside and out. 🚀 Why your business will benefit: ✔ All key events in one place – save time by skipping the search. ✔ Expert recommendations – get insights into why each event matters for your business. ✔ Easy to navigate – quickly filter events based on your preferences. ✔ Completely free – use this guide to shape your event strategy and make informed decisions. 🔗 Ready to grow? Explore the top tech events of Fall 2024 here: https://lnkd.in/d9ZaKtMX #ITEvents #TechEvents #Innovation #Timspark

Sunday scaries, first cup of coffee edition. I spent the last week with startup founders and #aec innovation executives. Here are a few takeaways. 1. You can be great at storytelling, but you need to make sure that you actually have a compelling story to tell. 2. Build a Venn Diagram to understand what you true differentiator is.. start with yourself, then with your company. 3. Spend more time outside of industry events..I have been glowing this week from the NVIDIA Developer conference content. What was your key takeaways? 4. Miami is a fun city..not sure if I could live there. 5. Public Startup Pitches are tough. 6. “Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity. To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment. Would you capture it or just let it slip?” - who said this? 7. Focus, Forwardness and Follow Up from events. Focus on a few strong relationship, be forward with your "ask" and aggressively follow up from events. 8. How aggressive? When my kids played competitive soccer they got $50 for every yellow card and -$100 for every red card. Strive for yellow cards. 9. Shoutout to J. Jordan Wilson for being such a great resource to the #aec and startup community. 10. If you haven't watched the movie AIR, I highly recommend it. If you are a GenX person like me, the soundtrack is great an nostaligic. 11. What was the first concert that you went to? Mine was Rush.

Should you create meaningful connections? Absolutely. In the startup world, meaningful connections are the foundation for long-term success. Building strong relationships isn't just about networking—it's about creating opportunities that drive sales, innovation, and growth. Our mission is to help your startup thrive by fostering interactions that lead to tangible results. By leveraging our unparalleled network and participating in our intensive event-based program, you gain access to industry leaders, potential partners, and invaluable insights that can accelerate your business journey. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be part of a community that’s committed to driving growth in real estate technology. Apply to join the program today: https://lnkd.in/g24tZA-2 🌐 #RealEstateTech #StartupGrowth #ReachNewHeights #ReachForTheStars