How to Get Anyone to Remember You at an Event – Even Billionaire Investors! 😉

💡 Master the Art of Standing Out at Networking Events and Practical Strategies to Make Investors and Industry Leaders Remember You!

The Brutal Reality of Networking Events (AKA How I Screwed Up and Learned My Lesson)

Alright, story time. A few months ago, I walked into this crazy networking event hosted by me and my friend Aneesh at Startup+. The room was 🔥 with founders pitching their hearts out, investors scanning for their next unicorn, and industry big shots catching up like they owned the place (which, let’s be real, some of them probably did).

My goal? Make at least a couple of meaningful connections that would actually go somewhere.

But here’s the thing about these events - 99% of the people you meet will forget you within 24 hours. Harsh? Yup. True? Also yup. And guess what? I used to be one of those forgettable people. 😓

I did all the typical things, practiced my pitch like it was a TED talk, nervously over-explained what I did, and even had a moment where I straight-up blanked out in front of an investor. Embarrassing. 😵‍💫

But through a lot of trial and error (and some epic fails), I figured out how to stand out. 😎

If you’re tired of being another business card in someone’s pocket they’ll never look at again, here’s what actually works.

Ditch the Boring Introductions : Lead with a Hook

So, picture this. I walk up to an investor, shake hands, and say, “Hey, I’m Jaynish. I run a startup focused on AI in healthcare.” And guess what? I could see his attention already drifting. Another generic intro. Another person blending into the crowd.

So, I switched it up. The next time, I tried this: “You know how hospitals are drowning in admin work instead of saving lives? I’m fixing that.” Boom. His eyes locked in. He leaned forward. We had a real conversation.

Why does this work?

• It triggers curiosity.

• It makes them ask questions.

• It shifts the focus from you to a problem they care about.

Lesson learned: People don’t care about what you do. They care about why it matters.

Make People Talk (And Actually Listen)

Most people at these events are just waiting for their turn to talk. Be different. Be the one who listens.

Instead of asking the dreaded “So, what do you do?” (which leads to predictable answers), try these:

• “What’s the coolest thing you’ve worked on this year?”

• “What’s a startup problem no one talks about?”

• “What’s one thing you wish more founders understood?”

At a networking event, I approached an investor who had heard countless pitches. Instead of diving into mine, I asked about what truly matters to him in a startup. His response? A 20-minute conversation full of valuable insights. By simply listening, I built a real connection.

Lesson learned: People love talking about themselves. Give them a stage, and they’ll remember you for it.

Do Something That Makes You Unforgettable (fun trick - always works 😉)

Okay, here’s a fun trick that worked like magic. Instead of just handing out my business card, I wrote a note on the back before giving it away.

Something personal, like:

• “Your take on AI regulation was 🔥—let’s debate this more.”

• “That story about your first startup flop? Loved it. Let’s catch up soon.”

Why it works:

• It makes your business card stand out from the pile.

• It reminds them exactly what you talked about.

• It gives them a reason to reach out.

I tested, and guess what? Every single person I did this with followed up. Game-changer.

Lesson learned: Networking isn’t just about meeting people, it’s about making them want to talk to you again.

The Follow-Up That Gets Replies (Hint: Be Useful)

Here’s where most people screw up. They send follow-ups like this:

❌ “Hey, great meeting you. Let’s stay in touch.”

Cool, but…why? No one has time for that. Instead, I started sending messages like this within 24 hours:

✅ “Hey [Name], loved our chat about [specific topic]. You mentioned struggling with [problem] and guess what I found this article that might help. Would love to keep the convo going!”

Why it works:

• It reminds them of exactly who you are.

• It shows you were actually paying attention.

• It gives them value before asking for anything.

I sent these follow-ups to 5 investors: 4 replied. One set up a call. 😎 That’s a win. 🎯

Lesson learned: People don’t forget those who help them.

Final Thoughts: Let’s Make This Real

I’ve made all the networking mistakes you can think of. 😅 But once I figured out how to actually stand out, everything changed.

So, if you’re tired of blending in and want to make real connections, start testing these strategies.

And if you want to see them in action or just chat about networking fails - hit me up on LinkedIn or www.jaynish.me

Let’s make sure no one forgets you at your next event. 😉