Fund India

"Most Startup Events Are the New MLM Here's the Ugly Truth"

"The Great Startup Event Circus: Stop Wasting Your Time and Money"

"Most Startup Events Are Broken: Here’s What No One Wants to Admit"

I’ve been on panels, judged pitches, & walked the red carpet at startup mixers. I’ve also turned down plenty. Let me explain why.

🚨 90% of These Events Are FAKE.

Not fake as in imaginary they physically happen. But fake in intent, outcome, & value.

They are glorified networking carnivals that prey on the naivety, desperation of early-stage founders.

These events often:

✅ Sell tickets to founders with vague promises of "investor connects"

✅ Display logos of top VCs who never confirmed attendance

✅ Bring in "serial entrepreneurs" who’ve never exited a startup (unless you count quitting)

✅ Hype panels that reek of recycled motivational jargon

✅ Award trophies for “Most Promising Startup” based on who bought the sponsorship booth

🤯 Who Benefits From These Events?

Spoiler alert: Not the founders.

💸 Organisers cash in on ticket sales, sponsor booths, & PR upsells.

 👔 “Investors”are often consultants chasing clients, not carrying cheque books.

 🎤 Speakers show up for ego boosts, photo ops, & LinkedIn likes.

👉 Meanwhile, you the founder lose time, money, & sanity chasing false hope.

So, Who Should Attend?

Honestly? Only in very specific cases:

✅ First-time founder? Good place to practice pitching.

✅ Need early visibility? Use it for media, panels, and reels.

✅ Already funded? Attend for brand, hiring, or deal flow.

✅ Speaking? Great way to give back or scout talent.

How I Choose What to Attend & What to Decline:

Forget the flyer hype, I check who’s actually confirmed. If it’s full of junior analysts, freelancers, or self-made “mentors,” I’m out. I show up for real decision-makers, not LinkedIn celebrities.

Who’s funding it?

If it’s backed by real players VCs, accelerators, embassies it usually has substance. If it runs on PR money & ticket sales, that’s a red flag.

What’s the real value for me or someone I can help?

Sometimes I show up to support younger founders or mentor someone promising, but never for vanity.

🎯 Real Talk for Founders:

You don’t need 30 coffee chats just 3 people who can truly guide or back you.

Forget the panel selfie focus on cash flow, customers & clarity.

Don’t let LinkedIn FOMO trick you into spending ₹5K on "exposure” that gets you nothing.

🚫 Red Flags to Watch Out For:

❌ Pay-to-pitch schemes

❌ No clear agenda or follow-ups

❌ Awards that can be bought or on sale

❌ “Investor speed dating” with no vetting

❌ Hype terms like “Top VCs” or “Unicorn founders” with zero proof

Instead,Invest in:

✅ Real accelerators

✅ Peer groups of actual builders

✅ Industry-specific meetups

✅ Closed-door investor-founder sessions

✅ Mentorship from someone who has actually built something

💬 Have you attended a fake startup event? Tag them. Share your story. Let’s make the startup world honest again.

DM me your Views and Experience