Expanding into new markets is hard. Regulations, finding the right partners, and winning investors can feel overwhelming. But AI events are helping startups enter markets faster and more efficiently. Here’s what you need to know:

• Startups using AI events report 2.3× faster market entry, 35% higher win rates, and 25% lower customer acquisition costs.
• 76% of startups now include AI in their go-to-market strategies.
• Events like the RAISE Summit in Paris connect founders with key players, insights, and tools.

Here’s how to make the most of AI events:

1. Prepare before attending: Set clear goals, research attendees, and perfect your pitch.
2. Network smartly: Use event apps, join targeted sessions, and focus on meaningful conversations.
3. Gather market insights: Learn local regulations, attend regional panels, and talk directly with experts.
4. Build partnerships: Find compatible collaborators and assess fit carefully.
5. Act immediately after the event: Organize contacts, prioritize markets, and follow up with tailored plans.

With the right approach, AI events can become a powerful tool for startups to break into new markets.

LIVE: AI Innovators Exchange 2026 | Funding, Scaling & Cross-Border Startup Growth

How to Prepare Your Startup Before the Event

Walking into an AI event without a plan is like showing up to a race without knowing the course - it sets you up for missteps and missed opportunities. In fact, with 80% of market entries failing due to inadequate preparation and underestimating competition, having a solid plan is non-negotiable ^[5]. These steps will help you approach AI events with focus and purpose, ensuring your time there translates into meaningful progress.

Set Clear Market Entry Goals

Start by defining exactly what success looks like for your startup. Avoid vague goals like "expand to Europe." Instead, narrow it down: which countries, industries, or customer segments are you targeting? Dive into research on AI hubs and innovation ecosystems to identify where your solution fits best.

Focus on your Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM) - the specific slice of the market you can realistically capture. Chasing the broader Total Addressable Market may sound ambitious, but it often leads to wasted resources. A smaller, well-defined niche with room to grow is usually the smarter choice. Dig into what your target customers truly value: is it security, ease of use, or solving a specific pain point? This clarity will help you position your solution effectively right from the start.

"Stop wasting precious runway looking for Mr. or Ms. Right, and instead focus entirely on your Mr. or Ms. Right Now." - Max Menke, Founding Partner, GrowthX ^[2]

Also, think about who else stands to gain from your success. Beyond customers, these could be ethical influencers or potential partners who can support your entry into the new market.

Research Attendees and Speakers in Advance

With clear goals in place, the next step is to research the event's attendees and speakers. Use the event's networking tools to study attendee profiles and segment them into groups based on shared needs or interests your solution can address. Companies that use structured market entry strategies are 33% more likely to hit their revenue targets ^[5].

Create a scoring system to evaluate potential partners, investors, or customers based on factors like market size, compatibility with your solution, and strategic alignment. Review speaker topics to identify competitors and any gaps in the market that your product can fill. Reaching out to industry experts before the event for pre-interviews can also provide valuable insights into local market demands.

Pay attention to intent signals - what attendees are researching or discussing. This will help you prioritize which conversations to pursue for maximum impact.

Prepare Your Elevator Pitch

Once your goals and research are locked in, it's time to craft a pitch that gets straight to the point. Your pitch should be sharp enough to grab attention in a 30-second conversation. Skip the fluff and focus on the essentials: what problem you solve, for whom, and why it matters right now. Highlight why your chosen region is a fit and how your solution integrates into the local AI landscape. Including responsible AI principles can also demonstrate your startup's readiness for global partnerships.

"The biggest challenge I had during fundraising was explaining our value proposition. It was complicated." - Ernest Chan, PredictNow ^[3]

Frame your solution as more than just a tool - talk about how it delivers concrete results. Be clear about what customers are actually buying, whether that's efficiency, cost savings, or peace of mind.

Practice your pitch out loud. When speaking, founders tend to process ideas at 138 words per minute, compared to 65 wpm when typing, making verbal rehearsal a faster way to refine your message ^[3]. Keep it focused on your "Mr. or Ms. Right Now" - those who are ready to act - rather than pitching for long-term scalability.

How to Network Effectively at AI Events

Once you've laid the groundwork with pre-event preparation, it's time to focus on networking - arguably one of the most impactful aspects of attending AI events. Done right, networking can open doors to partnerships, funding opportunities, and valuable market insights. By using the event's tools and participating in structured sessions, you can make every interaction count toward expanding your market presence.

Use Event Networking Apps and Tools

Most AI events offer dedicated apps packed with features to help you connect. These apps often allow you to schedule one-on-one meetings, explore attendee profiles, and even sign up for startup pitch competitions. The trick? Start early. As soon as the app goes live, dive in - set up meetings, tailor your schedule, and filter attendee profiles to find people who align with your goals. Whether you're looking for investors, technical collaborators, or strategic partners, these tools are invaluable. Don’t miss out on speed networking sessions either; they’re a great way to meet key industry players in a focused setting.

Join Organized Networking Sessions

Take advantage of curated networking opportunities like themed roundtables, industry mixers, or matchmaking events. These sessions are designed to connect you with individuals who share your interests and goals. For a chance to engage with senior leaders and decision-makers, consider opting for premium or exclusive networking sessions. These smaller, more targeted gatherings often result in deeper, more meaningful conversations.

Identify High-Value Conversations

Not all conversations are created equal. Prioritize those that offer actionable insights or the potential for strategic partnerships. For instance, look for sessions with curated attendee lists or moderated discussions on critical topics like go-to-market strategies or product-market fit. These are the kinds of conversations that tackle real-world challenges, especially since a significant majority (80–90%) of AI implementations encounter obstacles ^[3][9]. Engaging with technical teams at the event can also provide valuable input for co-developing future roadmaps. Avoid sessions that feel like surface-level pitches and instead focus on discussions that address implementation hurdles and long-term strategies.

How to Gather Market Intelligence at AI Events

AI events aren't just about expanding your network - they're also a treasure trove of market insights that can shape your entry strategy. By focusing on local regulations, attending region-specific sessions, and having direct conversations, you can turn event takeaways into actionable strategies that help you avoid common pitfalls.

Learn About Local Regulations and Business Practices

Talking with local experts at AI events can uncover compliance requirements that might not show up in online research. Using frameworks like PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental) can help you structure the insights you gather during sessions and networking opportunities ^[4]. For instance, about 30–40% of new market entries in key regions like the EU, China, and the US fail within two years, often due to unforeseen regulatory challenges ^[4]. Engaging with founders who’ve already navigated these hurdles can provide you with crucial market knowledge, especially if you're considering a joint venture to handle complex regulations ^[5][4]. Make sure to exchange contact information and ask pointed questions about topics like GDPR compliance, technological compatibility, and local AI adoption trends ^[7].

Attend Panels and Keynotes on Regional Markets

Panels and keynotes are perfect for narrowing the gap between what you know and what you need to know. These sessions often highlight competitor strategies and provide insights into what regional customers are looking for ^[11]. They’re also a great way to gauge a market’s position on the AI adoption curve, helping you refine your approach ^[12]. Prioritize speakers from local industries and attend sessions that touch on both market maturity and region-specific regulatory challenges ^[10][12]. By leveraging insights from these panels, you can adjust your strategy to align with favorable local regulations and position your startup for quicker action ^[4].

Gather Information Through Direct Conversations

While panels and sessions are valuable, direct conversations provide a different layer of insight. Expo zones and startup pavilions at events like RAISE Summit allow you to see live product demos and engage with competitors' teams ^[1][13]. Take the opportunity to ask technical questions and observe how they present their solutions - this can help you benchmark their capabilities and value propositions. Additionally, join themed roundtables or interactive sessions to share experiences with other leaders on topics like regional governance and market readiness ^[14][8]. Use the event’s mobile app early to schedule one-on-one meetings with regional experts before their calendars fill up ^[1][13]. These personal interactions can reveal local challenges and help you fine-tune your value proposition to address real market needs ^[12].

sbb-itb-e314c3b

How to Build Partnerships for Market Entry

Once you've gathered the necessary market insights, the next step is to establish partnerships that can streamline your market entry. AI-focused events offer an excellent opportunity to connect with local distributors, technology providers, and co-marketing allies who can help you navigate new markets effectively.

Find Compatible Partners and Solutions

Dedicated zones at events can make partnership discovery easier. For example, the Startup & Investor Village is a great place to identify partners with the technical expertise and regulatory know-how that align with your needs ^[15].

Look for partners active in cloud marketplaces like Microsoft Commercial Marketplace or AWS Bedrock. These platforms enable collaborative offers and open up access to a $100 billion B2B opportunity ^[16][17].

A notable example is the February 2026 announcement of a $200 million multi-year partnership between Snowflake and OpenAI. This collaboration integrates OpenAI’s GPT-5.2 models into Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud, allowing over 12,600 global customers - including Canva and WHOOP - to build secure, custom AI agents that work across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud ^[18].

Keep an eye on ecosystem multipliers. Large enterprises often work with 20–25 partners to achieve their goals, while mid-sized organizations typically collaborate with around seven ^[16]. Instead of cold-calling, focus on connecting with "trusted advisors" who already have strong relationships with your target audience’s decision-makers, such as C-suite executives or business leaders.

Once you’ve identified potential partners, move beyond surface-level discussions to more strategic, advisory-level conversations.

Start Partnership Conversations

Rather than pitching products, focus on understanding the unique challenges your potential partners face. Modern buyers are more likely to engage with partners who demonstrate a clear understanding of their business needs ^[16].

"It is the customer buying behavior or the shift in customer expectation that has created a need for all of us to rethink our models." - Rodney Clark, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at Cisco ^[16]

Arrange executive briefings to deliver tailored presentations addressing specific challenges and solutions. Hosting or sponsoring networking mixers can also create an informal setting to build rapport ^[15].

In March 2026, NVIDIA and Coherent Corp. announced a multiyear strategic agreement. NVIDIA committed $2 billion to Coherent, focusing on advancing optics technology and silicon photonics for next-gen AI data centers. This deal, driven by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and Coherent CEO Jim Anderson, also includes a multibillion-dollar purchase agreement for advanced laser and optical networking products ^[19].

During these conversations, address critical topics like data quality and security early on, as these are essential for any successful AI partnership ^[16]. You might also explore multi-party collaborations where multiple Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) combine their expertise to create complementary solutions.

Assess Partnership Fit and Feasibility

Once initial discussions are underway, a thorough evaluation process is essential to ensure a strong, long-term fit. Use a weighted framework to assess potential partners, focusing on:

• Technical capability (25%)
• Security & compliance (20%)
• Integration (15%)
• Vendor viability (15%)
• Support & partnership (15%)
• Commercial terms (10%)

Validate their performance through references and a Proof of Concept using real data ^[21].

"The best vendor is contextual." - Michael Lansdowne Hauge, Founder & Managing Partner at Pertama Partners ^[21]

AI-driven tools can help assess compatibility by analyzing factors like Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) overlap, solution complementarity, territory alignment, and tech stack synergy. These tools can cut manual research time by up to 90% ^[20][23].

Be cautious of red flags, such as partners who avoid discussing security, make exaggerated claims, or use high-pressure sales tactics during events ^[21]. A proper evaluation process for AI partnerships typically takes 2–4 months. Rushing this step increases the likelihood of implementation failures ^[21].

How to Convert Event Insights Into Action Plans

After attending an event, it’s crucial to act quickly. The connections and insights you’ve gained can lose value fast if you don’t follow up promptly. Turning these insights into a clear market entry strategy is essential to keep the momentum going.

Record Contacts and Key Information

Start by organizing the contacts and data you’ve gathered. AI tools can make this process efficient by categorizing leads and summarizing engagement metrics within hours. These tools can also update your CRM automatically, ensuring you avoid manual errors or data silos. Interestingly, while 91% of business events professionals now use AI in some capacity, only 23% leverage it for post-event data analysis ^{[6][25][26][27]}.

Export attendee lists and use AI to group contacts based on factors like job role, seniority, and their motivations. This segmentation allows you to craft targeted follow-ups instead of sending out generic emails. For context, multi-day conferences often generate over 800 minutes of engagement per attendee, offering plenty of data to work with ^[24][25].

"AI's most promising near-term use case is automating post-event follow-up and content distribution, filling the gap traditionally left by limited sales resources to extend event ROI." – Brian Gates, SVP of Industry Strategy, RainFocus ^[26]

AI can also help analyze unstructured feedback from the event, categorizing it into actionable insights. For example, it can highlight which regional markets show the strongest demand signals. With this, you can build a dynamic Total Addressable Market (TAM) map, ranking micro-segments based on factors like buying potential, value, and intent signals gathered during the event ^[6][24].

Once your data is organized, you’ll be better positioned to prioritize market opportunities based on objective metrics.

Rank Market Entry Opportunities

To decide where to focus your efforts, combine intent signals, market potential, and value into a single prioritization score for each opportunity. This approach ensures your decisions are supported by data, not just intuition.

"AI pinpoints and prioritises hidden demand by unifying firmographic, technographic, and intent signals to map total addressable market micro-segments and rank them by propensity, value, and timing." – Christopher Good, EverWorker AI ^[6]

Focus your efforts on 2–3 industries where the data shows the highest engagement and minimal regulatory challenges. Evaluate these markets by considering three key risks: regulatory requirements (like GDPR compliance in France), technological compatibility (such as local infrastructure), and differences in how technology is adopted ^[7]. A structured checklist can help you categorize these insights, avoiding reliance on anecdotal evidence.

Follow Up and Execute Your Strategy

Once you’ve ranked your opportunities, the next step is to follow up effectively. Personalization is key here. Use GenAI tools to craft tailored messages based on attendee behavior during the event. For instance, instead of a generic "nice to meet you" email, mention specific sessions they attended or questions they asked ^[6][25].

Plan your actions over a 90-day period:

• Define your initial target market.
• Personalize your outreach efforts.
• Use AI to qualify leads.
• By weeks 10–13, shift your budget to strategies that are already proving effective ^[6].

Gather feedback from new market users in real time and adjust your strategy based on measurable results rather than initial assumptions ^[7]. Offering valuable insights or research findings during follow-ups can also strengthen professional relationships ^[22]. Additionally, scheduling validation calls within two weeks of the event can help test your assumptions before making significant investments.

"AI accelerates market penetration in 2026 by mapping hidden demand, personalising engagement at scale... and closing the measurement loop for rapid iteration." – Christopher Good, EverWorker AI ^[6]

Use a closed-loop measurement system to identify underperforming strategies and redirect resources to those that are delivering results. For example, shifting 15%–25% of your budget into proven approaches each week can help you optimize outcomes based on early performance data ^[6].

Conclusie

Breaking into new markets requires careful planning, strategic networking, and quick action. Events like the RAISE Summit offer startup founders a unique platform where over 80% of attendees are C-level executives and founders, creating an ideal environment for high-stakes deal-making and collaboration ^[28]. Instead of spending months conducting traditional market research, founders can leverage the fast-paced nature of such events to gather insights and validate their strategies in real time.

The next step after thorough pre-event preparation and intentional networking is decisive action. Treat these events as pivotal moments in your market entry journey. By setting clear goals beforehand, engaging in meaningful conversations during the event, and promptly following up, founders can significantly speed up their market penetration efforts.

"RAISE is the room to be in where direction is set and long-term advantage and relationships are formed." – RAISE Summit ^[28]

The RAISE Summit 2026, happening on 8–9 July at Le Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, is expected to host over 9,000 attendees and 350 speakers ^[28]. With specialized tracks like "Friction", which focuses on regional compliance and policy challenges, participants gain access to essential insights for navigating new markets. The €5 million prize pool for the Startup Competition and the €200,000 hackathon further highlight the event's focus on turning connections into tangible results ^[29]. These features provide a strong foundation for impactful post-event actions.

At RAISE Summit, every interaction is designed to propel your market entry strategy forward. The real success lies in what happens after the event - organize your contacts, prioritize opportunities using data, and launch pilot programs within weeks. Founders who treat AI events as springboards for immediate action often secure enduring competitive advantages.

Veelgestelde vragen

Which 1–2 markets should I target first after an AI event?

After participating in an AI event like the RAISE Summit, it’s smart to target markets that show high enterprise adoption potential and active investment activity. Focus on opportunities within corporate and enterprise sectors, especially by connecting with Fortune 1000 companies. Additionally, consider working with early-stage AI startups in Europe that are actively seeking funding. These areas align well with the event's networking benefits, partnership opportunities, and investor access, creating strategic pathways for growth and new ideas.

What should I ask local experts about compliance (e.g., GDPR) on-site?

When setting up operations, it’s crucial to consult local experts about compliance requirements like GDPR, regional data privacy laws, and other legal considerations tied to AI deployment and data handling. These regulations can significantly shape how your startup operates, especially when dealing with sensitive user data or automated decision-making systems.

For instance, in France and across the EU, GDPR governs how personal data is collected, stored, and processed. Non-compliance can lead to hefty fines, so understanding its nuances is not optional - it’s essential. Beyond GDPR, there may be additional regional laws or sector-specific rules that you’ll need to follow, depending on your industry.

By engaging with legal advisors or consultants familiar with local legislation, you’ll gain clarity on any regulatory hurdles. This proactive approach ensures that your startup can align with local standards from the outset, minimizing risks and fostering trust with your users.

How quickly should I follow up after the event to convert leads?

Following up within a few days after an event is key to keeping the energy alive and ensuring strong engagement. Quick communication helps solidify the relationships you built during the event, making it easier to turn those connections into actionable leads.

Gerelateerde blogberichten

• De 5 belangrijkste voordelen van het bijwonen van AI-evenementen
• AI, Web3, klimaattechnologie: welke trends zijn het belangrijkst voor jonge oprichters in 2026?
• Onmisbare AI-evenementen voor oprichters van start-ups in Europa
• AI Events for Partnership and Ecosystem Building