If you watch Silicon Valley, one of the most well-known TV shows about the tech world, then you have an idea of what TechCrunch Disrupt is. You’ve most likely seen that episode where the lead characters showcased their brand-new app, stole the show, and basically became a unicorn in venture capital. But to those who haven’t seen this show, this is what TechCrunch Disrupt is.
TechCrunch Disrupt is basically the best place to launch tech startups. It’s easily one of the most anticipated conferences in the tech world every year. It goes on for over five days and it’s hosted by Techcrunch, the leading publisher of news and other stories about tech and startups. The Disrupt conference features a wide array of events such as hackathons, lectures, and meetings with investors. But the most important events are the Startup Alley and the Startup Battlefield.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2020 was held online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But there’s no doubt it will go back to its former glory once the pandemic is over. In the meantime, these are the best practices that we should always remember when we attend the TechCrunch Disrupt in order to gain the attention of investors.
Build the Hype Before the Conference
The most difficult thing about TechCrunch Disrupt is that the competition is very high. Around ten thousand people attend the conference each year. These attendees are fellow startup founders, investors, developers, and other high-level people in the business and tech world. Seventy-four percent of the attendees are director level and above.
Even if we would have many options for investors and business partners, we would have to fight for their attention. The most crucial part of this is the Startup Alley. Every year, about one thousand tech startups showcase their technologies during this exhibit.
To gain more attention to our booth during the Startup Alley, we would have to build the hype on our work even before the conference is held. The best way to do this is through digital and social media marketing. We can even enlist the help of a public relations (PR) agency for tech startups. This way, not only are we gaining the attention of the public, but we’re also building the interest of investors.
Always Seek Networking and Promotional Opportunities
Yes, we’re already doing so much for our tech startup just by attending the TechCrunch Disrupt and setting up a booth at the Startup Alley. But we can do so much more. Attending this conference doesn’t come cheap. In fact, it can cost us a few hundred dollars for each attendee. But there are many ways to make the most of this conference. And that is by taking the opportunity to rub elbows with the right people.
Set up meetings with investors during the conference. This is so that we could have a few minutes of their full attention to pitch our startup and gain their financial support. We can do this by using CrunchMatch. It’s TechCrunch’s official matching service for founders and investors. We should also make sure to talk to everyone who even walks nearby our booth. They may be potential users of our technology. And don’t be afraid to explore other booths. It’s our chance to observe what the latest trends are. It’s how we will also see what our competitors are up to.
Join the Startup Battlefield
The Startup Battlefield is the competition where the best of the best would go against each other to gain the attention of investors and the public. But the competition is so much more than that. It also comes with prize money. The winners at the Startup Battlefield Global will receive $100 thousand. Dropbox, Vurb, and Mint are some of the startups that won this competition before. As of January 2020, 902 companies have participated in this competition. And their work has led to $9 billion raised funds.
Joining this competition can be nerve-wracking. It would pressure us into making sure that our technology would stand a chance and not be laughed at. But it would also lead to many rewards. If we win, not only do we get the prize money. But investors would have to fight for us, instead of us fighting for them. And if we don’t win, the presentation would still be a promotional opportunity in front of thousands of conference attendees.
Being able to attend the TechCrunch Disrupt is already a feat in itself. But we could achieve more by making the most of the conference. It’s the best opportunity to showcase and launch our tech startups. So when we get there, we have to be sure that we know exactly what we’re doing.