The Opener – Breaking the Ice

For casual intros:

"Hey, I’m [Your Name]. What brought you to this event?"

If they’re a speaker or panelist:

"I really liked your take on [specific insight]. What’s been the most surprising reaction you’ve gotten on that?"

If you’re approaching someone you admire:

"I’ve been following your work on [specific project]. What’s something you’re excited about right now?"

The Hook – Making the Conversation Meaningful

People love talking about themselves. Instead of immediately talking about your startup, ask:

• "What’s the most interesting project you’re working on right now?"

• "What’s been the biggest challenge in your space lately?"

• "If you could wave a magic wand and fix one thing in [industry], what would it be?"

Listen. Let them talk. That’s where you find the real opportunities to add value.

The Transition – Bringing Up Your Startup Naturally

Once the conversation flows, bring in your startup in a way that relates to what they just said.

• "That’s actually something we’ve been thinking about at [Startup Name]. We’re working on [short, natural description of what you do]."

• "Funny you mention that—we’re building something to make that process easier for [target users]."

• "That’s a big reason we started [Startup Name]. We saw [problem] and realized [insight that led to your product]."

Make it relevant to them. Avoid generic pitches.

The Close – Ending with a Next Step

Networking isn’t just about meeting people—it’s about continuing the relationship.

• "I’d love to stay in touch. Want to grab coffee next week and chat more?"

• "This has been great—mind if I shoot you an email to keep the conversation going?"

• "You should meet [person in your network]. I think you’d have a lot to talk about."

Always follow up. If you don’t, you wasted your time at the event.