Have events been part of your early-stage marketing plan?
by•
Curious how other founders have approached events in the early days. I know for some, hackathons, expos, and pitch competitions are game-changers: early validation, first users, even investors. But for others, they end up being more of a distraction than a getting-early-traction opportunity.
So, I'm curious to know:
Did you include events in your early marketing/growth strategy?
What’s the most rewarding event you’ve ever participated in with your startup?
Any lessons learned (good or bad) you’d pass on?
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Replies
My take: events come later. I'm still at the MVP stage, so I’m investing all attention there. Once we have a working product and a meaningful audience, I'll explore events.
Cal ID
A few thoughts here:
Events can be a double-edged sword early on. We dipped our toes in a couple of community meetups, mostly for vibe checks and early feedback. The ROI from big expos often works best with high-ticket products.
Unexpectedly, the conversations after, not during, these led to our first few power users and shaped the product.
If I’d do it again, I’d pick one hyper-relevant event for real feedback, skip the rest, and focus on building in public online instead. Sometimes, the best traction happens without leaving your desk.
Keep it lean, and don’t feel pressured to say yes to every invite.