I dropped $500 on a networking event that was just a sales pitch

I saw an ad for this 'exclusive entrepreneur mixer' in Chicago last month, promising real connections with investors and founders. The ticket was $500, which felt steep but I thought it might be worth it. Got there and it was just a giant room with a guy on stage trying to sell us his $5,000 mastermind program. The 'networking' part was 15 minutes where everyone was just handing out business cards to people who were also trying to sell something. I didn't meet a single person I could actually collaborate with, just a bunch of other frustrated people who got tricked. Felt like a total scam dressed up as a professional event. I should have looked up the organizer's past events online first. How do you guys vet these things before spending money?

3 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

3 Comments

sageallen6mo ago

Ugh that's the worst, I got burned like that once too. Now I only go to events where I can find videos of past talks online, so I can see the real vibe. I also check if the speaker list has actual founders, not just 'thought leaders' selling courses.

2

the_kelly6mo ago

Check their LinkedIn for real work history, not just titles.

6

kelly.dylan6mo ago

Feel your pain... I once paid for a "business lunch" that was just a guy trying to sell me printer toner. Now I just look for free meetups at actual bars.

2