How to Best Prepare for a Networking Conference: Maximize Your Opportunities with Technology

Networking conferences have become indispensable for professionals across industries, especially in fields as dynamic as MedTech, where new technologies and innovations happen in the blink of an eye. Whether you’re an industry veteran or a first-time attendee, the way you prepare for a networking conference directly affects your experience and outcomes. Conferences provide invaluable opportunities to expand your professional network, share ideas, and discover the latest trends. However, making the best out of these events effectively requires thoughtful preparation and the right tools.

Why Preparation Matters

At large conferences, such as MedTech Malta, you’ll be one among thousands of attendees. The sheer volume of sessions, speakers, and networking opportunities can make it easy to get lost in the crowd or miss out on meaningful interactions. A well-thought-out plan helps you focus on your goals, making it easier to identify key people to meet, sessions to attend, and topics to discuss.

The importance of preparation goes beyond scheduling. It’s about creating meaningful connections that last beyond the event. Approaching networking with an intent to build relationships, rather than simply collecting business cards, is crucial. We all know how important it is to come to a job interview well researched and prepared. Meetings at conferences take the same level of effort except it’s 15-20 times more preparation. To do the research needed manually to secure meetings would take weeks. This is where platforms like Zapyrus come in, enhancing the way attendees prepare for, and capitalize on, conference opportunities.

Research Speakers and Attendees in Advance

Most conferences provide a list of speakers and registered attendees ahead of time. It’s essential to review this information so that you can prioritize who you want to meet. For example, you can find the list of distinguished speakers at MedTech Malta 2024 here. All you need to do is to focus on the speakers whose expertise aligns with your field, and pinpoint attendees from companies or industries of interest.

Using platforms like Zapyrus can simplify and even speed up this process, reducing time spent preparing from weeks to hours. While the conferences provide you with speakers and attendees, Zapyrus profiles the signals and talks tracks you need to capture your audience interest and make the conversation about them and their story.

Zapyrus provides real-time actionable insights about the MedTech company your prospective client works at, giving you the ability to make meaningful and engaging connections with your audience.

For example, you can take generic awkward conversations like “Your company looks interesting, tell me about what you do” to “I read about your upcoming pivotal study, it seems like your neuromodulation device is trying to make some huge strikes in the area of addition, tell more about how research progress is going..”

Kevin, Founder of Zapyrus, shares how a client generated more qualified meetings at a conference with more fruitful business outcomes with Zapyrus.

“Sean Blackall is a business professional that spent his career selling in MedTech and here’s what he had to say about Zapyrus.

Thanks to Zapyrus I had one of the most fruitful conversations in the entirety of my time at this conference.

I was able to identify a startup that was based near me and actively wrapping up first in human trials. I was able to not only reference the trials and structures, but I was also able to find a letter from their CEO on the direction they were looking to go in the market.

His exact words to me were “How the hell did you find all of this, you do your research, huh.”

The thing that blew my mind was the only tool I used to find this information was Zapyrus, and it was only a quick 10 minute dive before I approached his booth.

I know I’ve stated how powerful Zapyrus was before but this is the icing on the cake.“

Set Clear Networking Goals

Before you attend the conference, set clear, achievable goals. Are you aiming to meet potential business partners, secure investment opportunities, or simply grow your professional network? Defining your objectives allows you to tailor your approach and ensure you leave the conference with tangible outcomes.

Once your goals are clear, make use of tools that can help track your progress. Zapyrus offers personalized recommendations based on your goals, ensuring that you’re connecting with the right companies and people. The platform’s AI-driven insights not only introduce you to relevant companies and people but also provide insights into how best to approach them.

Yulia Yurevich, Head of Clients Relations and Partnerships at MedTech World, comments:

“Networking conferences go far beyond attending sessions—they’re about fostering meaningful, long-term relationships. Tools like Zapyrus empower attendees to make informed decisions about who they meet, ensuring that each interaction is more purposeful and productive. At the end of the day, as we sit on the plane flying back home, it’s not the quality of the panels, the beauty of the venue, or the food served that truly matters—it’s the connections made and the potential new partnerships established that leave a lasting impact.”

Use Technology to Streamline Your Schedule

Conferences can be overwhelming, with multiple sessions happening simultaneously. Prioritizing which sessions to attend and whom to meet is a critical part of maximizing your time. Zapyrus helps attendees by offering smart scheduling features that can help you keep track of important insights without missing key opportunities.

For example, Zapyrus allows you to create personalized talk tracks for companies and people that fit your interests. It also provides real-time updates and reminders, ensuring you stay on top of your agenda and can adjust plans when unexpected opportunities arise.

Prepare Your Elevator Pitch

When you meet new people at a networking conference, having a clear, concise elevator pitch is essential. This should summarize who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking to achieve. A well-crafted elevator pitch makes it easier to build connections and leaves a memorable impression.

Zapyrus takes this a step further by offering insights into what kind of messaging resonates with different attendees. By analyzing company profiles and recent activity, Zapyrus helps you tailor your elevator pitch to appeal to specific individuals, making your interactions more relevant and impactful.

Conferences today are not just about in-person interactions. Most have an active online component, and staying engaged on social media platforms like LinkedIn and X can help amplify your presence. Many conferences have dedicated hashtags, making it easy to join the broader conversation, share key takeaways, and connect with other attendees virtually.

Curating relevant conversations and hashtags that align with your interests is important. Engaging online helps you build a presence that complements your in-person networking efforts.

Follow Up After the Conference

The days following a networking conference are just as important as the event itself. Meaningful connections aren’t built overnight; they require nurturing. Following up with the people you meet, sending a personalized email, or connecting on LinkedIn are essential steps to keeping the conversation going. With Zapyrus, your meeting talk tracks and notes are kept and Zapyrus continues to provide you with relevant talk tracks to follow up with your prospect.

Final Thoughts

Attending a networking conference can open many doors, but it requires careful preparation and strategic use of resources. With platforms like Zapyrus, you can streamline your efforts, ensuring that you meet the right people, attend the most relevant sessions, and make the most of your time at the event by reaching your sales targets. The right technology doesn’t just enhance your conference experience—it amplifies your networking opportunities, making your participation far more impactful and closing deals.

Medtech Malta Awaits!

Join us in Valletta from November 6th to 8th for MedTech Malta, where the future of MedTech and HealthTech will be in the spotlight. This is your opportunity to connect with industry leaders, discover cutting-edge innovations, and elevate your business.