How to Build Meaningful Networks as an Entrepreneur

Most founders think networking is about pitching to everyone they meet. Wrong approach. After connecting hundreds of entrepreneurs through the Bombay Founders Club, I've seen what actually works: → Listen before you speak The fintech founder who landed a major partnership? He spent his first conversation asking about the other person's challenges. Not selling his solution. → Tell stories, not features Your vision becomes memorable when you paint the picture of the problem you're solving and the impact you're creating. → Follow up with value Skip the generic "nice meeting you" message. Share something useful based on your conversation. → Build relationships before you need them The strongest connections happen when there's no immediate ask. → Show up consistently Whether it's events or online communities—consistency builds trust and familiarity. The most successful entrepreneurs in our community understand this: Meaningful connections come from creating collaborative ecosystems where everyone wins. Your network becomes your net worth when you focus on empowering others first. What's been your most effective networking strategy as a founder? #founder #startups #networking

Everyone tells you to “build relationships” on LinkedIn to be successful. But in practice, what does that actually look like? {your LinkedIn content goes nowhere w/out meaningful connections engaging w/ it btw} So here’s my best tips as someone who’s made close to a million dollars leveraging my own personal network on & off LinkedIn ⬇ 1. Physically show up for your business Live events, retreats, conferences — showing up in person works wonders. Even if you’re in a more remote location or your schedule doesn’t allow, virtual events work too. Plan ahead even if it’s just quarterly to keep expanding & nurturing existing relationships at events. 2. Bring community activity from other platforms onto LinkedIn If you’re an entrepreneur, you’re likely active in some online space (Slack, Circle, WhatsApp, etc.). These community platforms can only go so far though. Move those connections onto LinkedIn to nurture & deepen them — engage thoughtfully on member's content, tag them in relevant posts or opportunities you see pop up, or even DM them to check in. 3. Collaborate in content (LinkedIn posts, blogs, podcast episodes) or plan a joint program / offering Want to provide value while tapping into your network's expertise? Create joint content w/ experts in your network who can answer questions you may not be most qualified to answer. It’s a great way to deepen a relationship w/ someone you admire in your network & give value to your audience. 4. Send something in the mail Old fashioned approach but absolutely not out of style. I met Ben Cooper, MBA and Brittany Joy Cooper of Amplify at a conference in September (s/o Catherine Brown & Katie Lantukh for bringing us together). We realized we have overlap in who we both help. Recognizing an opportunity to spread the word about each other’s work, Ben & Brittany mailed me the most thoughtful referral partner package (pictured). Effort like this goes such a long way in deepening professional relationships & I’m looking forward to getting to rep their swag! 5. Keep track, set reminders, stay in touch I use Notion to keep track of my industry / professional relationships. I try weekly to do a giant sweep on everyone’s content & to write down milestones on my calendar (anniversaries, birthdays, launches, interviews) to check in & show I care. Being thoughtful & putting the effort goes a long way. TLDR: - Take yourself to live events or tune in virtually to consistently be expanding your circle & nurturing existing connections - Leverage the communities you’re in on other platforms & use LinkedIn to strengthen those relationships - Reflect, who you could expose your audience to by collaborating? - Send personalized snail mail - Create a tracking system to stay touch Any combination of these w/ some consistency will support yours & others business & audience growth on LinkedIn. What did I leave out? What actions have you found impactful for strengthening your relationships on or offline?  

I used to think networking meant asking people for jobs. I hated it. It felt transactional. Then I realized—networking isn’t about job searching. It’s about relationship-building. Here’s how I built the network that led me to Meta & Netflix—without feeling fake. 1. I Stopped Thinking of Networking as a One-Time Event I started: ▫️ Engaging with thought leaders more on LinkedIn ▫️ Reaching out to peers in my field to exchange insights—not just ask for favors ▫️Being genuinely curious about other people’s career paths 2. I Focused on Providing Value First Instead of asking, “Can you refer me?” I asked, “How can I be helpful to this person?” This led to deeper relationships—so when I needed a referral, it was natural. 3. I Treated Every Conversation Like a Long-Term Investment ▫️I reached out just to learn about their work and share ideas. ▫️I made a point to stay in touch—not just disappear after one conversation. ▫️ I followed up with updates, good news, or simple “congrats” messages to keep relationships warm. So when an opportunity opened up, guess who they thought of first? Me. Here's my point. Networking isn’t about asking for a job—it’s about building meaningful relationships. In today's market - relationships are the currency for opportunity. The more you have, the more opportunities open up.

Your title is the quietest voice in your network. As small business owners, our network rises with our character when no one is buying. I watched a President's Club winner go from champagne to severance in one email. Big logo. Loud title. Thin network. Two months later, the only thing that was calling back was the echo. I also watched a mid-level rep with no fancy title change companies and fill her calendar in two weeks. She hosted a small roundtable every month. She shared honest field notes. She introduced smart people to each other with consent. Her reputation traveled faster than her business card. Here is the unpopular truth. A network built on job titles collapses the moment the title changes. A network built on value survives every reorg. Your network is more than your role. It is proof of work outside your payroll. It is the room that remembers you after your badge changes color. It is an insurance policy for your pipeline and your identity. If you want to grow your event business and your relationships require a calendar invite to exist, you are one action away from irrelevance. The market rewards connectors who create value without a pitch. Practical ways to build that kind of network today: Be known for a problem, not a position. Teach the market how to think about that problem. Publish your field notes weekly. What you tried, what you learned, what failed. Make it useful and specific. Create one valuable introduction each week with clear context and mutual permission. Track outcomes and follow up. Keep a give list. Three people you can help right now with a brief teardown, a reference story, or a resource. Ask for advice before you ask for access. Then report back with results. Close the loop. Own a recurring ritual. Office hours, study group, book club, and customer panel. Show up even when attendance is small. Send gratitude with receipts. Name the specific moment that helped you and how you applied it. Stop collecting titles you would not invite to coffee if you lost your quota tomorrow. Start building friendships that still return your call when there is nothing to buy. If your network knows your craft, your generosity, and your follow-through, you have leverage no downturn can erase.

I’ve spent the last 15 years building businesses, and if there’s one overlooked thing that matters more than strategy and funding, it’s the people you surround yourself with. Imagine building a network of people who get you, share your enthusiasm, and open doors you didn’t even know existed. The good news? It’s entirely possible, and you can do it with a few simple steps. ➡️ 1. Approach with authenticity. People connect with people who do things just like them. Share your journey, whether it's the wins, losses, or simply lessons. Vulnerability builds trust faster than polished highlights and celebratory reels. ➡️ 2. Stop being transactional. Great networks aren’t built on favors. They’re built on shared energy. Find spaces (online or offline) where people discuss and share about the same things you do. Build up on each others’ enthusiasm. ➡️3. What you give comes back. Offer value, share insights, connect others, or simply listen. Reciprocity is the glue of every strong network. Shake everybody’s hand and expect nothing in return. ➡️4. Be consistent & curious. Anyone can show up once. But when you keep engaging with genuine interest, people start to feel seen and that’s what transforms a contact into a connection. Curiosity isn’t just polite, it’s also a bridge. ➡️5. Don’t take things personally. Not everyone replies right away. Not everyone becomes your “people.” Give grace. Great connections often take time. At the end of the day, success isn’t a solo sport. The people around you, one way or another, will influence how far you go. After 15 years, one thing is clear to me; businesses come and go but relationships endure. Build with intention, give more than you take, and watch what happens.

Last week I pulled a first-time founder aside at a networking event and gave him direct feedback. He'd been working the room like a coin-operated game. Insert person, deliver pitch. Repeat. Pitched three people before asking their names. Collected 30 business cards without a single real conversation. The guy was so focused on his pitch, he didn't even remember faces. Classic first-time founder mistake. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸: Stop leading with what you need. Start with what you can give. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: Nobody cares about your startup until they care about you. I told him about my portfolio founder who raised $20M last quarter. Never pitched at events. Instead, spent six months helping other founders debug their pitch decks. No agenda. Just genuine help. When she needed to raise? Those founders made warm intros to their investors. The VCs already knew her reputation before the first meeting. 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺: 1. Ask about their biggest challenge first   Not your elevator pitch. Their actual problem. Then listen. Do less talking. 2. Follow up with value, not asks   Send them something useful within 48 hours. An article. An intro. A solution. Zero mention of your needs. 3. Build relationships, not contact lists   Five real connections beat 500 business cards. Every time. I watched him try it. Started asking questions instead of pitching. Actually listened to answers. By the end of the night, he had three meaningful conversations instead of 30 forgotten ones. Your network isn't measured by who you know. It's measured by who answers when you call. Build accordingly. P.S. Jason Novak and I ended the night the right way - outside, away from the pitches, just two old friends and the San Francisco skyline. #Networking #StartupAdvice #Founders #VentureCapital #FirstTimeFounders #startups

Here’s the best networking advice I’ve ever heard: Don’t wait until you need something to reach out. Networking shouldn’t feel like a business transaction. It’s about showing up for people —consistently and authentically. Relationships thrive on genuine, consistent effort. And I’ve seen these 7 strategies open doors I didn’t even know existed: 1️⃣ Be Real ↳ Show genuine curiosity. Approach with sincerity and a desire to help. People can sense authenticity a mile away, and it’s the key to meaningful connections. 2️⃣ Celebrate Their Wins ↳ Recognize their milestones: promotions, new ventures, even personal achievements. A simple "Congrats!" goes a long way and keeps you on their radar in a positive way. 3️⃣ Engage on Social Media ↳ Drop a comment or DM your contacts when you see their posts. Even better—send them posts or articles you think they'd appreciate. It's about showing you care. 4️⃣ Catch-Up Chats ↳ Every so often, suggest a casual coffee (virtual or in-person). No agenda needed. Just connect and strengthen that relationship over time. 5️⃣ Quick Notes ↳ Send a short, friendly check-in message. Mention a recent achievement they posted or something relevant you came across. Takes three minutes, tops. 6️⃣ Share Relevant Content ↳ Found something that could help or inspire them? Share it! (For example, “Hey, this AI tool reminded me of your project...”) 7️⃣ Track and Follow Up ↳ Use a system—spreadsheet, CRM, anything, to stay organized. Life gets busy, but connections matter. Overwhelmed? I get it. I felt that way too. So I started small, three quick interactions a week. It’s manageable and works wonders over time. The truth is, networking is not a "when you need it" thing. It's about being human and building trust. Try it and watch opportunities start showing up. P.S. What’s one way you’ve built meaningful connections in your professional life? Photo Credit: Colby Kultgen — If this resonates, give it a share. ♻ And follow Sandra Pellumbi for more. 🦉

10 simple ways to start networking. Build connections before you're desperate for them. The best professional relationships? They're built when you don't need anything. Here's how I transformed my contact list into a network That landed me opportunities (including my current role): 1. 𝗠𝗮𝗽 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸: List current contacts by industry, role, and relationship strength. Know who you already have in your corner. 2. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: Commit to meaningful contact with 2-3 people weekly. Consistency beats intensity every time. 3. 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵: Track interactions in a simple system (even a basic spreadsheet works). Schedule follow-ups to stay organized. 4. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸-𝗶𝗻𝘀: Drop a 2-3 sentences referencing their recent win or something interesting from their profile. Simple but powerful. 5. 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Comment meaningfully on their posts or share content that aligns with their interests. Shows you're paying attention. 6. 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: Forward resources that match their goals - "This project management framework reminded me of your team challenges..." 7. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Propose brief coffee chats or calls without an agenda. Building rapport takes time and consistency. 8. 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁: Lead with curiosity about their work and challenges. Authentic relationships create mutual value. 9. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: A quick note celebrating their promotion, new certification, or company milestone goes far. 10. 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: When appropriate, ask mutual connections to introduce you to people in your target companies or roles. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. I started small - committing to meaningful contact with just 1-2 people weekly. The results? More referrals, insider knowledge about openings, and stronger professional relationships. Great networking happens between job searches. (not during them) PS: What's your biggest networking challenge? 🧡 Follow me for PM leadership & career insights. ♻️ Repost to empower your network.

Your obsession with “networking” is killing your genuine connections. Many professionals miss out on real opportunities because they focus solely on expanding their network. Here’s the truth from my experiences: numbers aren’t everything. But that doesn’t mean you can’t succeed. Neither does it mean you should attend every event or join every group. It means you: → Cultivate meaningful relationships → Add value to every interaction → Engage authentically If you're overwhelmed by networking, try this instead: 1. Identify key connections in your industry 2. Set clear networking goals 3. Focus on quality over quantity 4. Join targeted communities 5. Build relationships by sharing: ↳ Your expertise ↳ Your stories ↳ Your support You’ll quickly see which connections matter most for your growth. Nurture those, and let go of the rest. The objective isn't broad reach - it's deep, impactful connections. Quality connections compound - but only if you start. Ready to transform your networking approach? Start building meaningful connections today and watch your business thrive.

It’s astounding to me how so many talk about growth hacks but forget the real catalyst behind a company’s growth. When we started Quilytics, the hardest part was not building the system. It was getting in front of the right clients.  Not just ‘more clients.’ The right ones, and there’s no shortcut for that. My cofounder, Shawreen Shah, and I learned early that cold outreach alone won’t give us the result we’re looking for, and spray-and-pray ads don’t give you any guarantee.  What worked was building the right network, being present in the right rooms, and having conversations with the right people, one at a time.   Yes, it’s slow. Yes, it’s manual. But it’s also where the relevance is.  Every introduction, every referral, every follow-up, that’s how we’ve found clients who are serious about growth, and who work with us long-term.     That’s why, even today, I look at networking as a strategy, not a side activity.  If you’re an early-stage founder, stop chasing volume. Start building meaningful networks. The compounding effect is truly incremental. #StartupGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessNetworking #FoundersJourney #MeaningfulConnections