Hosting a Business Event for a Start-Up

Ambitious start-ups get ahead by networking. Even if you make a great product, your company will need business friends to manufacture and sell the product in a competitive market. So, you will be required to occasionally host events for meets and greets, product launches, and other special events. Here are several tips for hosting such an event if you are a start-up:

Pick a either a Simple or a Unique Venue

When it comes to selecting a venue for the event, you either have to be very simple, or really unique. If you are strapped for cash, it’s okay to book a cheap hotel conference room for the occasion. Otherwise, you will have to choose a venue that the guests will remember. Don’t be ostentatious or pretentious. Simplicity and elegance are the best ways to go.

Make it Semi-Formal

If you host an informal event, you run the risk of important people mistaking you for a businessperson who is not serious. Also, if the media gets hold of pictures from your party where your employees are partying drunk, that is certainly going to be a PR disaster. On the other hand, if the event is too formal, it could deplete your budget and make you seem uppity and pretentious. So, keep things semi-formal. Create an atmosphere where everyone can be comfortable and discuss business while sipping champagne. Also, if you are inviting, say, an important investor, you will need to treat them formally.

Serve Good Food

Food plays an important role in making any event good. Therefore, be ready to spend some money on the catering service. You will have to serve comfort food, like chocolate chip cookies, alongside more expensive options like canapés as canapes hors d’oeuvres. Carefully choose the catering service. Read online reviews about the business, and ask people who have hired the same caterers before whether they managed to deliver. It’s best if you can choose a caterer that you are familiar with. Never pick a caterer last minute. Do your research in advance before making the final decision.

Offer Entertainment

If you host your event in the evening, some entertainment will not be a waste of money. Instead of blasting speakers, hire a local indie band for a live event. Your guests will certainly remember the event because of that. Remember that the purpose of your event is business, not entertainment, so the music should be largely in the background.

Give a Gift Basket

If possible, arrange a gift basket for all attendees. If that’s too expensive, give a gift basket to the most important guests and everyone else can get a branded item, like a pen with your company’s logo. The gift basket should have samples of your product. If you sell a digital product, offer gift cards or pen drives with free trials for software. You can throw in something fun, like gourmet chocolate, unrelated to your main products.

It can be intimidating at first for a start-up to host a business event. Instruct all the employees to act graciously during the event, and to be patient, as sometimes these things can be a bit overwhelming. Once the event is done, give your employees a break for the day. It’s essential to gain their loyalty and trust as well.