The One Line That Works at Any NYC Tech Event - Every. Single. Time.
After hosting and attending dozens of Startup+ events, I finally found the one line that works every time. Here’s why - and how you can use it tonight.
Here’s the truth no one admits:
Walking into an NYC tech event feels like stepping into a live-action LinkedIn feed with questionable lighting. 💡😅
Someone is loudly pitching.
Someone is “stealth but raising” (translation: pre-product, pre-revenue, but full confidence).
Someone is balancing a cold brew, a tote bag, and an existential crisis.
Someone’s wearing an AI hoodie even though they don’t work in AI.
And somehow everyone looks like they’re in the middle of a deep conversation… even when they’re definitely not.
And then there’s me, standing at the entrance, doing that half-smile half-nod thing like I’m trying to join WiFi manually. 📶🤝
I used to overthink every opening line.
I’d rehearse intros, practice my “short pitch,” and even once tried starting with a joke (never again)..
But all of that changed the day I found a simple 10-second trick. ✨
The One Line I Use Every Time
It’s this:
“Hey -- what brought you here tonight?”
This line has saved me at Soho rooftops, midtown coworking spaces, Brooklyn warehouses, random meetups in basements (I still don’t know if that one was legal 😂), and of course, Startup+ events where the energy is somewhere between chaos, creativity, and caffeine.
And what I love about this question is that it works with absolutely everyone:
Founders
Engineers
PMs who haven’t slept in days
Designers who are “not really here to network”
VCs (who always respond with “Deal flow… but also vibes”)
This line is undefeated.
Why This Line Works (Especially in NYC 🗽)
NYC networking has its own rhythm.
People are hustling, moving fast, running late, context-switching, multitasking… and pretending they’re not stressed.
The last thing anyone wants is a forced, formal conversation with a stranger reciting their job title like an airport announcement.
This line cuts through all that.
✔ It creates instant context
People tell you why they’re actually there:
“I’m new to NYC.”
“I’m validating an idea.”
“My co-founder forced me.”
“I heard there were snacks.”
(Yes, this is a real answer I’ve gotten.)
✔ It skips the résumé dump
People don’t lead with their job title; they lead with their motivation.
✔ It makes people comfortable
It sounds like you’re genuinely curious, not trying to sell, pitch, or subtly interrogate them.
A Personal Story - The Night This Line Saved Me
A few months ago at a Startup+ event, I walked in late, classic PM issue 😅, and instantly felt that familiar wave of “Where do I stand without looking lost?” 😬
Everyone was already grouped up.
Everyone looked mid-conversation.
Everyone looked busy.
Basically: introvert nightmare mode activated. 😵💫
I felt that old panic rising… but then I used the line.
I tapped someone and said:
“Hey, what brought you here tonight?” 👋
He turned and said:
“I’m building a tool for AI healthcare and looking for product people to bounce ideas with.” 🤖🩺
Twenty-five minutes later, we’re knee-deep in a conversation about onboarding flows, user pain points, how to reduce friction in the first session … and whether PMs actually sleep. 😴🤔
(We still don’t have consensus on that.)
A week later, we were collaborating on a feature experiment.
One question changed the entire night, and opened a door I didn’t even know existed.
What I Stopped Doing (Thankfully)
I wasn’t always good at this.
In fact, I used to be terrible.
Painfully terrible.
Everything I used to do is listed in that very accurate piece on why most networking advice is useless, and if you’ve ever stood awkwardly at an event pretending to type on your phone, you’ll relate.
Here’s what I stopped:
Giving people my entire career story upfront
Saying “I’m looking for a job” (there’s a smarter way)
Trying to impress instead of engage
Pitching anyone who didn’t ask
Treating networking like a task
Once I dropped all that, conversations became easier and more meaningful.
Follow-Up Lines That Never Fail
After your opener, try:
“What are you building right now?”
“What’s the most interesting conversation you’ve had tonight?”
“What’s a challenge you’re trying to solve?”
“Is this your first Startup+ event?”
“What’s something you wish people asked you about more?”
These questions shift the conversation from surface-level to real value quickly.
NYC Networking Is About Being Real
Here’s what I’ve learned:
Networking in NYC isn’t about being impressive.
It’s not about the perfect pitch.
It’s not about sounding like a TechCrunch headline.
It’s about being:
Curious
Approachable
Genuine
Slightly less awkward than the average person (low bar)
People don’t remember your job title.
They remember how they felt talking to you.
And if you ever walk into a room and freeze, or overthink, or question every life decision that led you here…
Just use the line:
“Hey — what brought you here tonight?”
It’s the closest thing NYC has to a universal networking cheat code.
And I promise, it works. Every. Single. Time.
If this helped you even a little, or made you feel seen in the chaos that is NYC tech networking, I’d love to stay connected.
I share more stories, lessons, and painfully honest PM moments on LinkedIn.
👉 Follow me on LinkedIn for more real-world NYC tech + PM insights
(yes, the type you won’t find in corporate playbooks)
And if you want more newsletter drops like this, actionable tips, networking cheat codes, behind-the-scenes Startup+ stories, and things I learn from hosting events with 25,000+ builders, then:
🔥 Subscribe now so you never miss the next one.
Your future self (and your networking game) will thank you.
See you at the next event -
And if we meet in person, you already know what line I’m opening with. 😉👋
See you very soon,
Jaynish Shah
LinkedIn | www.jaynish.me