7 typical conference goers you need to look out for

Conferences are part and parcel of every industry, and the tech scene is no exception. If you’ve been around long enough, you’ll find yourself attending one at some point. For most people, the main draw comes in the form of inspiring stage content, valuable networking sessions and after-parties, but it’s the connections we forge at conferences that make the experiences truly memorable.

Tech in Asia hosts tech conferences annually in Singapore, Tokyo, Jakarta, and Bangalore (our newest addition this year!), so we’ve met our fair share of attendees. Here’s our take on the types of conference goers you’re likely to meet:

1. The bootstrapper

Conferences can be heavy on the wallet, especially for cash-strapped startups who need to stretch their resources. I recently met one such person at Tech in Asia Jakarta. He was guarding his startup booth with no additional help around. Who mans the booth when he takes his food and toilet breaks, I wondered? “I don’t need them,” he tells me whilst passing me a flyer, “there’s just five more hours to go.”

2. The part-time attendee

We all know someone like that. Perpetually preoccupied, interrupting discussions by taking calls or tapping away at an email while seated at a stage session – you’re never sure if they heard what you just said, or are nodding as they mentally check another item off their to-do list.

3. The network hunter

You can spot her a mile away with a name card in her hand and fire in her eyes. She approaches you confidently, delivers a well-rehearsed elevator pitch on her startup and follows up with a LinkedIn invitation half an hour later. Whether or not you’ve expressed interest is irrelevant – she’s on a mission to expand her network, and nothing will stand in her way.

4. The lone ranger

Contrary to the network hunter, this is an attendee who seems content soaking up the vibes and content from a conference – whether aloof, shy, or in his own world, he is often spotted alone. This doesn’t necessarily mean he’s unfriendly; from past experiences, I’ve found most people to be more than happy to engage in conversation when approached.

5. The industry superstar

Even if you don’t know who they are, it’s hard to miss their aura (and sometimes their entourage). These heavyweights and industry superstars are often speakers invited to share nuggets of wisdom with the rest of us.
At our Tech in Asia conferences in 2015, we were thrilled to host the likes of Ben Horowitz, Tomoko Namba, and Nadiem Makarim among other industry leaders, to an incredible reception. It’s easy to see why. Their candid sharing about past experiences drew many aspiring entrepreneurs, and definitely left them feeling inspired to strive for greater successes.

6. The connector

Everybody wants to be friends with this person who magically seems to know the whole world, and is always more than happy to link people up. The main motivation for this type of conference goer is usually to meet with others – catching up with old connections and making new ones.

7. The party animal

Worker by day, party animal by night: this one knows how to bust a move or two, and is most comfortable with a drink in hand. If you’ve been meaning to break the ice and connect on a more personal level, the after-party can be the opportune time to hit them up. Who says all business talk has to be done over a PowerPoint deck?

Keep an open mind

If you’re out to make full use of your time and finances invested in attending a conference, an excellent way to do so would be to keep an open mind when meeting people.

Talk to anyone and everyone. There are valuable insights to be gained beyond mere business contacts.

After all, conferences are about gathering like-minded people to learn from and inspire each other. You never know what doors might open after chatting with the person at the coffee machine, or how your willingness to share could spark a crucial insight for a startup founder.

Tech in Asia Singapore 2016, happening on April 12-13, will be a perfect place for you to meet with all sorts of tech enthusiasts. Poised to be our biggest conference yet, here’s where you’ll get to rub shoulders and exchange notes with 5,000 international attendees at the six content stages to be unveiled in Singapore for the first time.

Passes are going at 20 percent off now until January 28 so grab them while you still can (code: tiasg20)!