When you are just starting out as an entrepreneur, finding and connecting with your local startup community can be quite challenging. It can be even more difficult when you’re new to a community - especially without a previous professional connection or familial ties. So, how does an ambitious entrepreneur start building meaningful, long-lasting connections in an unknown environment? How do you begin networking in your startup ecosystem when you’ve just moved to a new area and haven’t yet made friends or connections?

 

On today’s episode, I spoke with Jeffrey Kaplan, the Director of Venture Asheville; Josh Gershon, the Founder of Startup Island; and Chris Buehler, a Mentor, Advisor, and Board Member of the Hatch AVL Foundation and Meet-the-Geeks. Jeffrey shares a simple yet powerful strategy for breaking the ice at networking events and his process for following up with people after the event has ended. Josh explains the importance of having realistic expectations when attending events and how being authentic, honest, and vulnerable can help entrepreneurs build deeper connections in their startup ecosystem. Chris shares how volunteerism, adding value to the connections and relationships you build, and making a conscious effort to regularly engage with the people in your network and community can lead to powerful, longer-term, and meaningful results in your personal and professional life.

  

“You can’t go to a networking event expecting to walk away with a business deal. You’re setting yourself up for disappointment.” - Josh Gershon

 

This week on the Supportedly Podcast:

 

• How he began building his network and connections in a new environment.
• How asking icebreaker questions can make networking at events easier and less intimidating.
• How he selects individuals to invite to in-person follow up meetings.
• The importance of follow up emails after meeting new people at a networking event.
• How to learn what you should - and should not -wear to business and networking events.
• Jeffrey’s advice for entrepreneurs seeking to get involved in their local startup ecosystem.
• What is Startup Island and how it helps entrepreneurs through personal and professional development.
• The value Josh Buehler found in connecting with the local startup ecosystem.
• The importance of considering not only what you can getfrom a startup ecosystem - but also what you can give.
• Why Josh believes many people feel disappointed after attending a networking event.
• The difference between networking events in larger cities versus smaller communities and what it takes to feel connected in a larger ecosystem.
• Lessons Josh has learned and mistakes he has made while connecting with larger startup communities.
• How being authentic, honest, and vulnerable helps entrepreneurs build deeper connections and meaningful relationships within their local startup ecosystem.
• Josh’s advice on building an ecosystem in your area.
• How Chris Buehler began building his network in a new environment.
• Why finding ways to bring value to the relationships you build is essential for forging long-term, meaningful relationships.
• The importance of setting realistic expectations.
• The importance of making conscious efforts to maintain and regularly engage with your network.
• The benefits associated with volunteering.
• Strategies entrepreneurs can use to connect with their local startup ecosystem after moving to a new community.

 

“You always follow up with an email. You meet when you have something worth talking about.” - Jeffrey Kaplan

 

How to Quickly & Effectively Engage with Your Local Startup Ecosystem:

 

1. Reach out early: Engage with startup ecosystem leaders early. Let them know you’re interested in getting involved even before you’re in town or quite ready to start connecting early.
2. Engage with intention: Understand why you want to engage with the ecosystem and maintain that self-awareness as you engage.
3. Be authentic with a “give first” mentality: Be more prepared to listen, hear stories, and engage with those stories than you are to tell yours, first.
4. Volunteer with support providers and ecosystem organizations: Not only does this allow you to give to the ecosystem, it’s a great way to know a lot of people early on
5. Be consistent: Show up when you are able and engage on a regular basis.
6. No ecosystem, no problem: Create a means for the individuals and organizations in your area to engage. Whether through a Meetup group, starting a 1 Million Cups chapter or other networking group, help lead the charge to creating an active and vibrant startup ecosystem in your area.

 

Resources Mentioned:

 

• Episode 008: Connecting Entrepreneurs with Mentors and Investors with Venture Asheville’s Director Jeff Kaplan

 

 

Connect with Jeffrey Kaplan:

 

• Venture Asheville
• Email: [email protected]

 

 

Connect with Josh Gershon:

 

• Startup Island

 

 

Connect with Chris Buehler:

 

• Hatch AVL Foundation
• Meet-the-Geeks

 

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