Startups can greatly benefit from participating in industry events like RE+ 2024, North America’s largest clean energy event, as long as the opportunities are fully leveraged. This premier event, which is dedicated to solar, energy storage, and smart energy technologies, offers startups a chance to showcase their innovations, network with industry leaders, and gain valuable insights about the energy transition.
One of the more highly anticipated events is the Startup Program and Live Pitch Competition, which is sponsored by Mercom Communications (a division of Mercom Capital Group). Ten finalists will pitch their cutting-edge technologies live to a panel of cleantech investment judges, giving participants exceptional visibility among potential investors, partners and customers. Even if you don’t participate in the competition, startup company leaders can learn a great deal from the finalist’s presentations and from walking among the Innovation Zone exhibitors. This year, the pitch competition takes place Wednesday, September 11, at 4:30 p.m. at the Innovation Stage (located within the Innovation Zone in the Marquis Ballroom at the Marriott Hotel adjacent to the Anaheim Convention Center).
Even if you aren’t part of the startup pitch competition, companies still have a chance to take center stage at RE+ through a variety of speaking opportunities. Mercom regularly helps clients drive important discussions at industry conferences by determining compelling topics, recommending panel participants, and developing speaker abstracts for engaging panel discussions. We also work with startup clients to leverage their memberships with associations that are spotlighting members through product displays, demonstrations or floor presentations.
One of the easiest and most cost-efficient way to amplify your presence at RE+ is to share your event plans on social media. In today’s digital age, social media platforms are powerful tools for amplification. Startups that actively engage with RE+’s official social media channels and post live updates before, during, and after the event experience a noticeable increase in booth traffic and online engagement.
Many Mercom clients find the greatest value of RE+ is having in-person business meetings with potential investors, customers, vendors and prospects. Scheduling business meetings in advance of the conference generally results in a higher rate of successful partnerships and customer acquisitions for Mercom clients who prepared diligently. Meetings can be taken in booth space, or RE+ has rooms available to rent for onsite private meetings, but rooms need to be booked early.
In addition to scheduling business meetings, RE+ is a good place to make media contacts since it is one of the few times you can connect with multiple trade media in person. Mercom works with clients to develop and execute media outreach campaigns that generate significant earned media coverage before and during the event. Then, we build on this buzz by arranging media introductions and informal source meetings during the event. Many of these discussions result in post-event coverage. However, timing is critical when planning your media outreach campaigns.
The final thing to remember about RE+ is that your work does not end when the event shuts down. Personalized follow-up that reiterates the discussion points you made during the conference to explore potential collaborations can turn event meetings and conversations into valuable business relationships.
Mercom Communications has worked with many startups to achieve successful outcomes at large industry events like RE+. Our services enable startups to secure speaking roles, and attract customers, investors, and media attention, allowing them to stand out in the competitive clean energy market and drive their business forward. Visit our website to learn more.