My advice to start-ups: network your way to success

Rangle.io
Rangle.io
Sep 5, 2018 · 4 min read

By Nick Van Weerdenburg

Many entrepreneurs, myself included, know that Canada is a fantastic place to launch a technology start-up. With world-class universities, incubators, ample venture capital and a skilled, diverse workforce, we have many resources at our disposal.

But there’s another advantage that tends to operate under the radar: our powerful network of software developers.

If tech start-ups are an engine for jobs and economic growth, then software developers are the fuel, and Southern Ontario produces them in numbers that rival similar developer clusters and hubs in the U.S. and Europe.

Developers have traditionally stayed connected through self-organized community “meet-ups”, attended by anywhere from a handful to hundreds of people. Although there’s a strong social element to them, they also act like mini-incubators, bringing together people with similar skills so they can stay current and learn from one another. On occasion, these get-togethers also generate long-term business success stories.

I know this because as CEO and founder of Rangle, I’m one of them. In 2013 I saw an opportunity. Mobile and web app development was booming, and the demand for people with this skill set was about to explode. But instead of devoting time and energy to meeting investors and cold-calling potential client companies, I threw myself into the world of Toronto software developer meet-ups. My goal was to build my personal brand as a thought leader in the mobile and web development community, and perhaps land a client in the process.

The strategy paid off. In just six months I organized several meet-ups, secured my first clients, and hired our first employees.

Today the Canadian meet-up culture is stronger than ever, and there are lessons from my experience that are as relevant to tech start-ups as they are to anyone looking to turn their specialized skill set into a thriving business.

Hustle, but do it efficiently.

The great thing about developer meet-ups is that everyone can dispense with the small talk. The questions I was asked right away by people who showed an interest in working with me were: what specific problem can you solve for me, and how do I know you’re the person to do it? I made it my mission to answer those questions in advance, by making myself an undisputed thought leader in the programming framework on which I was building my business. By going to every meet-up I was establishing my credibility and expertise.

For those outside the tech industry, the lesson is clear: focus hard on raising your profile with people who inherently understand exactly what you do, even if they’re not the chief decision maker. They have the power to connect you with people who are.

Put yourself out there.

Although I hadn’t attended a meet-up in years when I started my business, I knew I had to do more than just show up. I had to put my name out there by speaking and tapping into my marketing background. One night, an expert speaker canceled his planned talk, and I was asked to fill in last minute. Was I nervous? Yes. But I seized the opportunity. Weeks later, someone who was in the audience that night ended up becoming a client. I was soon invited to speak at other meet-ups and even began hosting my own.

Remember, getting out there and making connections is one thing. But also, seek ways to share your knowledge and volunteer your time where you can. You’ll make a bigger name for yourself, faster.

Don’t leave networking behind.

Today my company is 260-people strong, but that doesn’t mean we’ve walked away from our meet-up roots. Quite the opposite. Today, we sponsor and host them at our office, and we recently invited a U.S. innovator who has quickly gained global prominence after launching his own developer framework, to speak and share his knowledge with us and the rest of the Toronto developer community. This keeps us connected and ensures we’re always learning.

It’s easy to get obsessed with the day-to-day. But any business owner, regardless of their industry, would do well to make the time to network and encourage their people do the same.

If I were to start over, meet-ups would remain front and centre in my growth strategy. People with the passion and skills to help you are out there. Don’t miss out by going at it alone.

Nick Van Weerdenburg is founder and CEO of Rangle.

Rangle.io

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