Sponsorship Opportunities for Tech Events

Sharing HSR Founders Club revenue publicly for the first time. A couple hours ago, on our co-founders WhatsApp group, I said: "What if we shared our #revenue numbers publicly? Help other community builders?" The response? "Let's do it. The ecosystem needs this transparency." So here it goes: ₹20+ lakhs. No membership fees. 1000+ members. This may not be a big number for the cynics but for a group of people that run this part-time, I'm pretty proud of how far we have come. I'll break the numbers down further but before that here's why we think transparency matters: → 90% of communities fail in year 1 (no business model) → 5% survive but barely (founder burnout) → 5% figure out sustainable monetization If our story helps other builders avoid that, it's worth sharing. Back to the revenue streams. We primarily have 3 revenue streams 💸 1. Strategic Partnerships – 60% Not logo dumps. Just co-created value. Example: Microsoft for Startups doesn't just sponsor our events. They provide Azure credits, technical workshops, and direct access to their startup program team. Our founders get real value, Microsoft gets qualified leads. Same for Mixpanel, SOCLY.io, RevRag.AI, Payoneer and many more. 👉 Learning: The best partnerships don't feel like "sponsorships" - they feel like collaborations. 2. Premium Events – 25% Brand enabled mixers build the tribe. Flagship conferences (₹3–5K tickets, 1:1 mentor sessions) fund the engine. Our 2 flagship conferences #GTMWEEK and #PRODUCTWEEK (100+ attendees each) Structure: - Workshops with industry experts - 1:1 mentor sessions during conferences - Startup pitch competitions with cash prizes - Entry fees + sponsor contributions 👉 Key learning: Founders will invest in experiences that directly impact their business growth. 3. Business Development – 15% Introductions that led to funding, deals, and partnerships. We just made it easier → and charged a fair fee. Revenue model: - Success fees for introductions that lead to partnerships - Small facilitation fees for deal-making support - Revenue sharing on collaborative projects between members 👉 Important note: We're very careful about this. Community trust matters more than any single transaction. What did we do with this revenue? - 60% reinvested into community - 40% operational sustainability We are a true story of slow and steady because we think urgency is a scam. Routinely, one of us gets caught in the urgency scam but because our dynamic is about transparency and patience - building sustainably - we will continue to do this slowly, part-time, and with honesty. A huge shoutout to my co-founders *Rejoe, Akshay, Sandeep (and Nikhil)* for being as passionate about transparency as I am. Having said that, there's scope for much to be done and we will do it. Some solid stuff coming up from #HSRFC - stay tuned!

Imagine paying $50K for your logo on a lanyard and realizing not one person can tell you if it drove a single lead. That’s the sponsorship problem we need to fix. Event sponsorships have always had a special place in my heart. → They offset expenses so the event can be affordable (or free) to attendees → They create and drive a marketplace for buyers to find solutions → They allow for additional moments of connection and activation → They let companies align with the values and reach of the organization hosting the event But now they are at a crossroads. Budgets are flat, costs are rising, and exhibitors are asking tougher questions about ROI. In fact 70% say they are cutting back on sponsorship spend next year. Attendees don’t care about logos on banners; they care about experiences that make their journey better. The old model of selling inventory (logo on a lanyard, coffee cart, banner) is no longer impactful for sponsors. The future belongs to sponsorships that deliver outcomes: → Measurable ROI for sponsors → Predictable revenue for organizers → Meaningful experiences for attendees I love a good research study, and according to new research from Joe Federbush at EVOLIO Marketing, there are three shifts you can make to get there: 1. Too many sponsorships are one-off transactions. Shift: Move to multi-year partnerships. How to do it: → Offer multi-year deals with first-right-of-refusal for stability → Take a consultative approach: ask sponsors what success looks like & co-create packages → Deliver continuous value with quarterly activations like content, campaigns, curated dinners 2. Logos alone don’t influence behavior. 44% of attendees say logos on signs do not affect their choices. Shift: Sponsorships must live both on and beyond the floor. How to do it: → Pair live activations with digital amplification (lounges, highlight reels, sessions, podcasts) → Offer year-round engagement through webinars or co-branded guides → Integrate touchpoints across the journey: pre-event emails, in-event activations, post-event retargeting → Sell campaigns, not placements. Let sponsors “own” a track across multiple events 3. 78% of sponsors say ROI is their top challenge. Shift: Transparency and measurement must be the standard. How to do it: → Share attendee data for smarter targeting → Provide measurable outcomes via dashboards (leads, session traffic, meetings) → Create attendee impact with connection hubs, lounges, or matchmaking → Build trust with outcome-driven design: swap “visibility” for “X leads + Y meetings” Sponsorship MUST evolve beyond selling space for logos if we want to keep selling them. Organizers need to focus on strategic partnerships where everyone wins: → Organizers see stability → Sponsors see pipeline → Attendees see value This is the Sponsorship Evolution. See the full report and get more sponsorship insights inside Club Ichi. #weareichi #sponsorshipevolution Nicole Osibodu, XOXO Sophie Ahmed Nancy Flora

I raised $25K+ in event sponsorships in 2024. Here's how: CURATION is king. ACCESS is queen. BRANDING is the jack. CURATION > the tighter your attendee list matches a businesses' ideal customer profile, the more leverage you have. ACCESS > allowing spots on the guest list for vendor reps is a big sell. Especially speaking live at the event. BRANDING > signage / content made from the event drives brand awareness. That's usually the biggest goal for sponsors. Be very clear in how you'll bring their brand (not just their logo!) into the mix. Some other things to keep in mind... ➡️ The BIGGER the sponsor, the better. They care more about top of funnel awareness, not poaching your guests for immediate sales. ➡️ Form long term relationships: throw events consistently and have the same crew sponsor. ➡️ Never have >1 sponsor per vendor category ➡️ Work with other businesses that cater to your customers but in different categories. Events can help kickstart any b2c/b2b business, or build a personal network. Paying for the event shouldn't be the thing stopping you: you just need a great guest list. Hope this is helpful. Let me know what other event tips you guys have ⬇️

Last month, a tech CMO explained to me how sponsorships are evaluated differently now, and it’s not all about brand awareness. While hospitality and logos on cars are important, they’re no longer deciding factors. CMOs in tech, especially, are looking for something more substantial. Here’s what I learnt from the convo: 1. Business ROI is key. CMOs need to justify the sponsorship to their CEOs, which means providing data demonstrating real value. Exposure is great, but it’s not enough without clear business outcomes. 2. Hospitality is helpful if the CEO cares about motorsport. It’s a perk that can work, but it's not universal. If the CEO or executive team isn’t personally invested in motorsport, hospitality doesn’t hold the same weight. 3. The real gold? Access to the inner circle. What catches the eye of tech CMOs? Networking. They want to meet and collaborate with other influential sponsors in the same space; those handshakes can open more doors than just a logo on a car. If you’re looking to attract sponsorships from tech companies, you’ve got to move past the traditional perks. Start building your business case, and use data to show how partnering with your team isn’t just a branding opportunity but a strategic business decision. CMOs have limited time, and everything in the tech world runs on data. How can you present your sponsorship in a way that shows its value? Image by Getty Images

Here’s how to get sponsors to spend at your event even if it’s not a major event. I’ve seen my fair share of event sponsorship decks. Many of them will always receive a NO from sponsors because it Gives general demographics Does not outline activation ideas Focuses solely on the event host and their needs Does not identify what makes their event worth sponsoring If I am considering sponsoring an event, I need the following: How can I interact with attendees? Are there volunteer or speaking opportunities for me? The level of publicity from this event with my name on it. An understanding of how likely this audience will buy what I have. The reason why sponsors are seen at big events, is because those events are offering more than a step and repeat or logo placement. If you want big sponsors, offer them a chance to meet attendees face-to-face and turn them into instant promoters to their audience. We created this beauty bar concept to allow attendees to have a shopping experience from a new brand. No pitching. Just go in, learn about the products, and take what you want. From there follow the conversations that happen on social media about the brand. Gage the hot spots at the event and see if this activation is red hot. When you create such experiences at your event, people will continue to return. What is one of your favorite sponsor interactions?