Strategic Networking In Tech

What if the best networking strategy had nothing to do with “networking” at all? Back in 2014, I started a group called “Delhi Internet Mafia”. To learn from and share insights with founders based out of Delhi. I would cold email founders to show up for the catchup. Vijay Shekhar Sharma of Paytm showed up for one of them. I remember being blown away by his energy, his ambition and his clarity. We stayed in touch. A few years later, Paytm invested in my startup nearbuy. If it weren’t for that group, we may have never raised money from Paytm. 3 ways to build genuine relationships: 1/ Do not try to impress. Be impressed. People can see through your attempts to impress them. But what people can truly be attracted to is your interest in them. Genuine interest. 2/ Engage meaningfully. If engaging offline, ask questions out of pure curiosity. To truly understand. If engaging online, don’t just comment “Great post!” - add insight or ask smart questions. 3/ Give before you ask. That could be sharing feedback on their work, amplifying their content, or connecting them to someone useful. You can never fail with authenticity and trust.

I’ve changed my mind about trade shows. 6 months ago, I talked about how ineffective they were as a marketing tactic. - Booths cost £1000s - No one gets new business. - You get ignored by attendees. - Everyone is just pitching at you. - There are 100s of competitors there. - You get drowned out by other vendors. They’re a massive waste of time. Or at least that’s what I thought… Then I got sent the photos (below) from one of our clients’ booths at a recent trade show. That’s when I realised trade shows aren’t the issue. ↳ It’s how companies approach them that’s broken. The key: Create a campaign around your booth. Here’s the playbook for getting noticed at trade shows: 1/ Don’t Make Yourself The Attraction Our client hired Kaleb from Clarkson’s Farm to be at their booth. Crowds flocked for a chat, photo, or simply to see what all the fuss was about. They came for Kaleb. ↳ But then they’d chat to our client. —— 2/ Turning a Booth Into an Experience They ditched the usual trade show freebies and brought in a VR welding setup. Kaleb set a time. ↳ People tried to beat it. ↳ If they did they won a prize. This meant visitors weren’t just walking by—they were staying, engaging, and talking about it. —— 3/ Force Them To Remember You Here’s where it got clever: Our client offered a hefty reward for the person who won the VR welding game. But they wouldn’t find out if they won until the end of the day. That meant the last booth people went to was there. ↳ Keeping them top of mind on the way home. —— Don’t get me wrong, most trade shows are a waste of money. But if you go into them: - With a clear strategy. - An approach to get noticed. - A campaign around your booth. They can really make an impact. Definitely going to be doing more of this with clients. P.S. Follow me to learn how to get your company noticed Niall Ratcliffe 📚

Your tech solutions might be universal, but business cultures rarely are. For founders expanding globally, understanding cultural nuances can make a world of difference. I've seen so many brilliant construction tech solutions face unexpected challenges internationally not because of product issues, but because of cultural cues that were hiding in plain sight. What works smoothly in your home market frequently encounters unexpected barriers abroad. In our latest Practical Nerds episode, Shubhankar and I explored three cultural patterns we've observed that often create unexpected challenges for founders expanding internationally: 1/ Trust deficit can kill deals in Asia before you realize what happened. Asian markets require relationships BEFORE transactions. That mid-deal silence? It's not disinterest—it's a fundamental lack of trust. When things stall, don't send another "just checking in" email. Request a direct call: "Hey, can we get on a call? I'd just like to hear from you." 2/ Europeans want facts, not hype. Your high-energy American pitch style? It can be "overcompensating" to Europeans. They're engineering-minded—lead with observations, not judgments. And remember: Europeans minimize downside before maximizing upside. Frame your solution as risk mitigation first, opportunity second. 3/ Middle East surprisingly loves American tech but demands in-person presence. Virtual meetings barely register as "meetings" at all. And forget the org chart—decisions flow through specific gatekeepers who might not even appear in formal hierarchies. What seems to work well for many companies in global expansion? Maintaining consistent products and channels while building localized teams who can navigate the nuances of each market's business culture. 👇 Dive deeper into our full analysis of global construction tech expansion below. #ConstructionTech #GlobalExpansion #BusinessCulture

I’ve been having lots of conversations about LinkedIn for events from organisers wanting to drive visibility and engagement, to exhibitors heading to upcoming tradeshows, and everyone in between. Whether you’re hosting, exhibiting, or attending LinkedIn can help you get more out of every event: ✨ More visibility 🤝 More connections 📈 More business outcomes Yet LinkedIn is often underused in the event space. A one-and-done post. A quick thank you. A flurry of activity... then silence. But here’s the thing: the event isn’t the beginning and it shouldn’t be the end. To get the most value, LinkedIn should be part of your strategy before, during and after the event. Here’s how to make the most of it: 🌠 1. Be LinkedIn Event Ready Your profile and company page shape your first impression often before anyone meets you. They should tell a clear, credible story that aligns with your event involvement. Organiser Tip: Create a LinkedIn Brand Kit for your speakers, exhibitors, and team – banners, hashtags, talking points, and example posts. Exhibitor Tip: Use an event-themed banner to show your stand details or branding. 🌠 2. Build Relationships Before the Event The most valuable connections rarely start cold on event day. The lead-up to the event is prime time to increase visibility, build familiarity, and position yourself as someone worth connecting with or visiting at the stand. Organiser Tip: Spotlight speakers, exhibitors, and sessions early and use tags to amplify. Exhibitor Tip: Shortlist people you want to meet - clients, prospects, collaborators, media and start connecting early. 🌠 3. Maximise the Event Experience Use LinkedIn to take people behind the scenes, amplify moments as they happen, and make your presence visible to those who couldn’t attend. Organiser Tip: Have someone live post from the floor, tagging participants and sharing session soundbites. Exhibitor Tip: Make it easy for people to connect with you it creates immediate pathways to keep the conversation going. 🌠 4. Keep the Momentum Going This is the stage where most people go quiet, but this is when the real relationship-building begins. Use LinkedIn to keep the conversation going. Share your takeaways. Follow up with new connections. Repurpose content into future posts. Organiser Tip: Share a highlight post and set the stage for what’s next even a “Save the Date” works. Exhibitor Tip: Send a personalised follow-up message referencing your chat. 🌟 Key Takeaways LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools you have to extend your event beyond the room. It allows you to build relationships before the first handshake, stay visible throughout the event and strengthen credibility and connection long after the banners are packed away. And if you'd like support to develop your own LinkedIn event strategy that's more than one and done, I’d love to help. Because showing up is just the beginning. #linkedin #events #eventmarketing

Over the next 3 months, I’m hosting 4 major events in France, UK, USA and KSA. Beforehand, I want to share my top tips on how to get the best out of networking. 1. Set Clear Targets Action: Make a hit list of the top 10 companies or people you need to meet. Research what they care about—know their wins, pain points, & what they’re hunting for before you walk through the door. Outcome: These conversations won’t just happen by chance. By doing your homework, you’ll turn a five-minute chat into a deal-building moment. Schedule meetings in advance, & after the event, send a tailored follow-up email that shows you were listening. 2. Take the Stage (Literally) Action: Get on the agenda. Whether it’s a keynote, panel, or fireside chat, nothing says “I’m the one to watch” like holding the mic. Use this time to address the industry’s biggest challenges & position yourself—& your company—as the answer. Outcome: Speaking builds instant credibility. It’s not just exposure; it’s authority. Post-event, share the highlights on LinkedIn & invite attendees to continue the conversation, turning an audience into a lead pipeline. 3. Own the Floor Action: Don’t just lurk—work the room. Engage with key exhibitors, ask questions, & position yourself as a resource, not just another pitch. Be direct but curious: “What’s your biggest challenge this year?” and “How can I help?” are powerful openers. Outcome: You’ll stand out as someone who listens. Take notes during conversations, & follow up within 48 hours with a personalised message. Not a generic “great meeting you”—send actionable insights or specific ideas that move the ball forward. 4. Host the Inner Circle Action: People bond better in a more relaxed setting than over Wi-Fi. Organise an exclusive dinner, roundtable, or cocktail event for a curated group of heavy hitters. Keep it intimate—this is about building relationships, not just showing off. Go easy on the heavy sell. Outcome: People remember who brought them value & connections, not who handed out free pens. Post-event, share any key takeaways & book one-on-one follow-ups to solidify what you started over drinks. 5. Hack the Tech Action: Use every tool at your disposal—event apps, LinkedIn, QR codes. Pre-event, reach out to attendees & book meetings. At the event, swap contacts digitally to keep things seamless, & use a CRM to track every interaction. Outcome: You’ll leave the event with an organised roadmap of leads, not just a stack of business cards destined for a desk drawer. Follow up strategically with segmented, value-driven emails & keep the momentum alive. The Bottom Line: Trade fairs & exhibitions aren’t just networking. Preparation, presence, & follow-up separate those who close deals from those who just collect swag bags. Be human. Don’t think of this as just a branding exercise but an opportunity for long term partnerships. Be genuine - your new contacts will become close contacts, if not friends. Make it count! #revenuegrowth

I just interviewed Martin Mignot, partner of Index Ventures about how to win in the US. This is what you must know 👇 Only 27% of European unicorns have meaningful U.S. revenue—yet the U.S. still accounts for over 50% of global enterprise tech spend. Cracking the U.S. is no longer optional—it’s the gateway to building a truly global company. Index Ventures, backers of Revolut, Doordash, Personio and Wiz, have built the definitive playbook on how to do it. After analyzing 500+ startups and advising 50+ European scale-ups, here’s their step-by-step guide to winning in the U.S.: 1. Choose Your Expansion Archetype Pick the right U.S. strategy based on your TAM and product motion. You’re likely one of these: Magnet: Pivot early, founder relocates (e.g., Collibra) Anchor: Europe-first with targeted U.S. presence (e.g., Adyen) Pendulum: Balanced dual hubs (e.g., Spotify) Telescope: Self-serve product, remote-first (e.g., King) 2. Time Your U.S. Launch Wisely Don’t go too early—but don’t wait for perfection. You’ll never feel “ready.” Go after PMF with urgency, then commit hard. 3. Fundraise With U.S. in Mind Raising from top U.S. VCs unlocks credibility and talent. 64% of European startups now expand to the U.S. by seed or pre-seed. Aim for big rounds to afford top hires and fast execution. 4. Hire Like You Mean It Your first U.S. hires will make or break you. Avoid mis-hires with strong local guidance. Founders who move early have higher odds of success—but some win without relocating, if they travel often and build hybrid cultures. 5. Pick the Right Hub The Bay Area is resurging, especially for AI. But New York, Boston, and even LA are rising for proximity to customers, better time zones, and commercial talent. Avoid cheap cities unless you're post-scale. 6. Build a Global Culture Operate as one company with one P&L. Blend U.S. customer obsession with European product depth. Train managers in cultural awareness and hold regular global offsites. 7. Don’t Default to a U.S. IPO You can list in Amsterdam or London and still attract U.S. investors (like Adyen did). The best founders chart their own path—based on what aligns with long-term goals. 🙌🙌🙌 Shoutout to Rubén Domínguez Ibar , Lewis Maconachy and Vojtech Horna for making this happen! Check out the full breakdown in my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/d4nvCuaf

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

Want to know how networking got me leads worth ₹3,00,000? Here’s the thing: Networking is not about collecting connections like Pokémon cards. It’s about the follow-up. At TechSparks, I didn’t just shake hands and walk away. I followed up strategically, and here’s what made all the difference: 1. Personalized follow-up: A generic “nice to meet you” email? Nope. Each follow-up was tailored, referencing our conversation, shared interests, or how we could potentially collaborate. That made it personal and valuable for them, not just me. 2. Timing is key: Don’t wait for days or weeks. I reached out within 24 hours of meeting them. It showed I was serious about keeping the conversation going—and that I valued their time. 3. Be clear on the value you offer: I didn’t just follow up for the sake of it. I made it clear why continuing the conversation would benefit them, whether it was insights I could share or ways we could collaborate. 4. Stay consistent: One follow-up is great, but I didn’t stop there. I stayed in touch, continued the conversation, and nurtured those relationships over time. The result? 7 quality calls and leads worth ₹3,00,000—all because I didn’t let those connections go cold. Here’s the truth: Not every contact you make is going to convert into cash overnight. But the ones you nurture with genuine intent will strengthen your network and, eventually, your opportunities. Every email, every DM, every touchpoint is an investment in your future success. Pro tip: Follow up like you’re building a relationship, not closing a sale. That’s how you create value for both sides. 💡 If you want to know how I consistently turn networking into real business growth, let’s connect and talk about how I can help you do the same.

Many early-stage tech founders struggle with the same problem: Building credibility fast enough to land enterprise deals, VC conversations, or strategic partnerships. You've got the expertise. You've got the product. But you're still the best-kept secret in your industry. Here's what that actually costs you: → Enterprise prospects choosing competitors with better market presence → VCs passing because "we haven't heard of you" → Strategic partnerships going to founders with stronger visibility The problem isn't your product. It's your positioning. That's where The Authority Engine framework comes in. This is the system I use to help founders go from unknown to recognized industry player in 90 days or less. No BS and no vanity metrics. Just strategic positioning that opens doors. Here's how it works: 1. Strategic Positioning and Narrative Building → Own a unique perspective in your space. Stop being another SaaS founder and become THE voice on your category's biggest challenges. We craft your differentiated POV and build messaging that positions you as the go-to expert. 2. Content Engine Development → Deploy a multi-channel content system across LinkedIn, blogs, podcasts, and speaking engagements. This creates omnipresence without burnout. Your insights show up where your ICP is already looking for answers. 3. Media and PR Strategy → Leverage guest posts, industry interviews, and conference talks to amplify your reach. We position you in publications and on stages that your ideal clients already trust. 4. Community Building → Build a loyal audience through Slack groups, exclusive webinars, and ambassador programs. This creates a network effect where your community becomes your distribution channel. 5. Co-Marketing and Partnerships → Collaborate with complementary brands to multiply your credibility and reach. Strategic partnerships give you access to established audiences while positioning you as a peer to other industry leaders. Why this works differently than random LinkedIn posting or generic PR: Most founders treat thought leadership like a side hustle. Post when they remember. Chase speaking gigs reactively. Hope someone notices. The Authority Engine is a system. Every piece of content, every partnership, every speaking opportunity builds on the last. It's engineered to compound your credibility over time. The result? Founders who implement this framework see: → Inbound partnership requests from tier-1 brands → Speaking invitations without pitching → Investor conversations that start with "We've been following your work" → Enterprise prospects who already trust you before the first call If this resonates: You have a strong product but weak market presence. You're losing deals to competitors with better positioning, not better solutions. You need systematic authority building, not random content posting. Let's talk about building your Authority Engine. 📩 Email me at lillian@data-mania.com now.

🦘🗽 Building Global AI Teams: Lessons from Working Across UK, US, and Australia 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇦🇺 Come August, I'll have been in tech recruitment for 20 years! 👴 Seeing as I've had wee bit of experience in building AI teams across three continents, here's what I've learned about successful global team building... 🌏 Here’s the challenge… Just yesterday, I was speaking with a client who needs to build an AI team across multiple time zones. They asked me, "Chris, how do we make this work?" Here are my key learnings from placing AI talent globally the past few years: 👉 Compensation Isn't One-Size-Fits-All 💰 🇬🇧 UK market: Base salaries typically £80-120k for senior ML engineers 🇺🇸 US market: Seeing $150-220k bases for similar roles 🇦🇺 Australian market: AU$150-180k base becoming standard in Sydney & Melbourne 👉 Remote roles are creating interesting dynamics in each market Time Zone Strategy Matters 🕒 and I learned this the hard way: Having your ML engineers spread across a 12-hour time difference rarely works. Instead: 👍 Build pods within 2-3 time zones 👍 Create overlapping working hours 👍 Establish clear async communication protocols 👉 Cultural Nuances in Tech Interviews 🤝 🇬🇧 UK candidates often undersell their achievements 🇺🇸 US candidates typically more direct about accomplishments 🇦🇺 Australian candidates value work-life balance discussions Understanding these differences is crucial for effective assessment! 👉 Market-Specific Technical Preferences 💻 🇬🇧 UK: Strong focus on PyTorch and AWS 🇺🇸 US: TensorFlow still dominates many teams 🇦🇺 Australia: Growing emphasis on cloud-native ML solutions Real Example: Digitalent - AI & Machine Learning Recruitment recently helped a UK-based AI company build a distributed global team: ✅ Core ML team in London ✅ Data Engineering hub in New York ✅ MLOps team in Sydney Result: 24/7 deployment capability with manageable overlaps 👌 Some key things to get right to give yourself the best chance of success are... Clear documentation standards, regular face-to-face meetups, strong emphasis on team culture and local team leads in each major hub. Common pitfalls to try and avoid... Don't try to force identical working patterns across regions. What works in London won't necessarily work in Sydney. Another thing that seems to work well is a shift towards "hub and spoke" models: 👉 Central AI research teams 👉 Distributed implementation teams 👉 Regional ML specialists Having lived and recruited in Newcastle, Manchester, Sydney, and now working with clients globally, I've seen firsthand how these dynamics play out in real life. What's your experience with global AI teams? What challenges have you faced or overcome? Thanks for everything and see you at work! ❤️ Chris