Networking events can be awkward. They don’t have to be.
You walk into a room full of founders, investors, engineers, operators, product people, and builders.
You grab a drink.
You look around.
And then comes the inevitable question:
“So… what do you do?” 😬
There’s nothing wrong with the question. But if you want to have a real conversation, one that could turn into a new connection, opportunity, collaboration, or even a friendship - you can do better.
At Startup+, we think networking should feel less like collecting business cards and more like meeting interesting people you actually want to talk to.
So at our next event, skip the awkward small talk and try these three questions instead.
01. “What are you building?”
This is one of our favorites.
Not:
“What do you do?”
But:
“What are you building?”
There’s a subtle difference.
“What do you do?” usually gets you a job title.
“What are you building?” gets you a story.
Maybe they’re launching a startup.
Maybe they’re working on a new product at a company.
Maybe they’re building something on the side.
Maybe they have an idea they haven’t launched yet.
Or maybe they’re simply trying to figure out their next move.
Whatever the answer is, you’ve immediately got something more interesting to talk about.
Try it at your next networking event.
You might be surprised how quickly a simple question turns into a 20-minute conversation.
02. “What brought you here?”
This one is simple and surprisingly effective.
Instead of immediately asking someone what they do, ask:
“What brought you here tonight?”
Maybe they just moved to NYC.
Maybe they’re looking to meet founders.
Maybe they’re hiring.
Maybe they’re looking for a co-founder.
Maybe they want to meet investors.
Maybe they saw Startup+ online and thought:
“Why not?”
Now you know why they’re in the room.
And that’s where networking gets interesting.
Because once you understand what someone is looking for, you can actually help each other.
“Oh, you’re looking for someone in fintech? You should meet Alex.”
“You’re hiring a product designer? I know someone.”
“You’re also working on AI? We should definitely talk.”
That’s how random introductions become meaningful connections.
03. “What are you looking for right now?”
This might be the most valuable question of the three.
Because everyone comes to a networking event looking for something.
A new opportunity.
A customer.
A co-founder.
An investor.
A job.
A talented person to hire.
Advice.
Feedback.
Or simply people who get what they’re building.
But most people won’t tell you unless you ask.
So ask.
“What are you looking for right now?”
And don’t be afraid to answer the question yourself.
You could say:
“I’m looking to meet more people building in AI.”
“I’m looking for my next product role.”
“We’re hiring engineers.”
“I’m trying to find early-stage founders working on healthcare.”
“Honestly, I’m just trying to meet more people in NYC tech.”
There’s no wrong answer.
Networking works best when people know how they can help each other.
The goal isn’t to meet everyone.
It’s to meet the right people.
You don’t need to walk into a room and talk to 50 people.
You don’t need 100 LinkedIn connections.
You don’t need to hand out a stack of business cards.
Have 3–5 genuinely good conversations.
Ask better questions.
Listen.
Find common ground.
And when you meet someone interesting, don’t let the conversation end with:
“Great meeting you!”
and then disappear forever.
Connect on LinkedIn. → Send a follow-up. → Grab coffee. → Make the introduction. → Keep the conversation going.
That’s networking.
Ready to meet some new people?
Our next Startup+ Networking Mixer is happening October 1st at Sour Mouse in NYC (110 Delancy Street, New York).
We’ll bring together founders, investors, operators, builders, tech professionals, and people simply looking to expand their network and meet what’s happening across NYC tech.
No awkward conference-room networking.
No sitting through hours of presentations.
Just good people, interesting conversations, and a room full of opportunities.
RSVP for the October 1 Startup+ Networking Mixer
Date: Oct 1st, Thursday
Doors Open: 5pm
Venue: Sour Mouse, NYC (110 Delancy Street, New York)
Come with these three questions ready:
What are you building?
What brought you here?
What are you looking for right now?
You never know where one conversation can lead.
See you soon,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club