This year’s sold out Collision Conference runs from June 20 to 23, 2022 at the Enercare Centre in downtown Toronto. With over 35,000+ attendees, 1,500+ startups and representatives from 130 countries, one thing is for certain: Collision. Is. Big.
If you’re seeing all the buzz and thinking about attending next year, you’re in luck. Collision 2023 is back in Toronto. Not only that, tickets are already available. Early bird, something something, you know the drill.
It’s no surprise many great tech companies are out in full force at North America’s fastest growing tech conference. Confirmed attendees include many rapidly scaling startups from the FoundersBeta Top 100 Tech Companies to Watch in 2022 like Perch, SingleKey, Equivesto, Paqt, and many more.
From what to expect (it’s massive!) to how to network, here’s a roundup of 5 things to keep in mind at Collision.
1. Get to the registration desk early
Lanyard and badge pick up is mandatory in order to access the venue. Your best bet is to avoid driving, and grab a taxi or Uber or take public transit. While the lines look long, they do move relatively quickly. Make sure to check with an event volunteer to confirm you’re standing in the right line!
It’s always best to get there early so you can check out the booths while everyone is feeling fresh and energetic.
2. Proudly represent your company or organization
Whether you’re exhibiting or joining Collision as a general attendee, it helps if you’ve got some merch to represent your company. Especially if you’re planning to meet up with friends, colleagues and industry peers, it makes it that much easier to identify you in the crowd. We recommend t-shirts with a front and back logo, branded backpacks or ball caps.
3. Create a hit list
Remember how we said Collision is big? We weren’t kidding. Use the Collision app before and during the conference to search for attendees and companies you want to target. Draft some quick notes, and practice your elevator pitch.
4. Proactively reach out
Collision Conference is great for networking, especially if you’re a startup. Add new connections and send a brief note explaining who you are, what you do, and why you’re looking to meet. You would be surprised how many people are open to connecting with you – all you need to do is ask!
For those who are too busy to meet in-person, you can always ask if they’re willing to chat in the days or weeks after the event wraps up. This may be a good option for those who are only at the conference for one day, and have a full schedule already.
5. Don’t assume the app works perfectly
It happens, technology isn’t perfect (even if it’s during a technology conference). If you’re not getting a response from someone you tried to connect with through the app, try sending them an email or LinkedIn message instead. It’s okay to be persistent, just remember to be polite and professional too.
