What makes a meetup worth going to?

Question

Looking for groups that are actually active and worth the time. Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, anywhere in Ohio. What makes a meetup worth going to?

Danielle Daly · Answer

Hey Mose! For me, a meetup is worth going to if it’s actually focused on building relationships and learning from people who are actively investing, not just people trying to sell something.

I’d look for groups that meet consistently, have a solid mix of newer and experienced investors, and create opportunities to actually network versus just sitting through a presentation. I’ve found some of the most valuable conversations come from talking to other investors about what they’re buying, what strategies are working, and what they’re seeing in the market.

Bonus points if they bring in speakers who are active investors themselves and keep the content educational rather than overly sales-focused. I’d probably try a few in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Dayton and see where you find the strongest community.

Most importantly, just get out there and start attending a few different ones - you'll know when you find the right fit. Good luck!!

Abel Curiel · Answer

Hello Mose,

Great question!

I've been pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised at meetups before.

What is your goal for you in these groups/meetups? Education, build your network, find a potential partner, raise/invest capital, etc?

Sometimes its hard to forecast the value of the event beforehand but I'd pay attention to:
- Who is hosting the event? Have they hosted previous events? What were those like? Are they active in the market(s) you're interested in? Eventbrite shares host history.
- Any guest speakers expected? This can give you insight to what kind of crowd to expect.
- Is it a paid event? Not a knock on free events but attendee intent varies from free to paid events. I'm going to BP con next week for the 2nd time. Last year I made some great connections and I believe the price tag was correlated to the quality of attendees.

- Will there be selling of products or services? If so, you can expect vendors/sponsors to pour $ into the event to drive up the audience count and thus sell more at the event. This is not a red flag as there are plenty of great sponsored events.

All the best!

Abel

What makes a meetup worth going to?

2 Replies