Connect with Mentors & Investors at Phocuswright’s New Startup Program

Are you a startup company? Learn how you can connect with investors, mentors and other entrepreneurs at the Phocuswright Conference in LA (November 13 – 15).

We asked Pete Comeau – Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Phocuswright and member of our Colorado chapter – about the ins and outs of Phocuswright’s new Startup Program.

Pete has been with Phocuswright since 2007 and plays a key role in product development and business development strategy for Phocuswright research and events globally.

Apply to Phocuswright’s Startup Program for a chance to gain access to the private Startup Program and The 2018 Phocuswright Conference

What is the Phocuswright Startup Program? Why did you start it?

Innovation is hugely important to Phocuswright. We cover innovation – and therefore start- and scale-ups – in our research and news service PhocusWire (phocuswire.com), and we have been pioneers in providing startups a stage to present their innovations for more than a decade. Because of this, 10% of The Phocuswright Conference attendees are from the finance world.

Venture capital and private equity firms crave to learn about (and invest in) promising travel tech startups.

But pitching isn’t everything, nor it is the only thing. Thanks to Phocuswright’s stellar reputation in the travel industry, we can bring the highest-profile content and people to the table. We created the Startup Program to leverage this power, as well as to provide unique benefits to startups, investors and potential business partners alike and build a community around it.

Why should startups join?

With the Startup Program, eligible and accepted companies gain access not only to the most important industry event – The Phocuswright Conference – but also to exclusive content, specific research products, networking opportunities and other benefits that would normally be beyond the reach of a startup. And in turn, investors and mentors gain direct access to a pool of the freshest startups and ideas in travel.

In the afternoon before The Phocuswright Conference, the selected startups get to take part in private roundtable discussions, one-on-one meetings and networking opportunities.

What kind of topics are covered at the roundtable discussions?

The industry roundtables will cover topics from VC funding to industry verticals – such as private accommodations and tours and activities – to startup pitfalls and pivots, to navigating legacy industry technology.

We will cater the discussions to the topics that are most important to the startups.

These are earlier stage companies who are looking to connect with seasoned industry executives who can help guide them in areas of product development, fundraising, customer acquisition, content acquisition and much more.

The conversations will not be scripted, and the idea is for the mentors to lead focused roundtable conversations on topics that are most useful to the startups.

Tell us about the support startups receive?

We have structured the second half of the startup program to offer structured one-on-one meetings with mentors, content from entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses, and unstructured networking to allow startups and mentors to connect.

Based on our focus group research, we understand that startups have a wide variety of needs and have designed of the second portion of the startup program to address some of those needs in various ways.

Startups can choose what is most interesting and relevant for them, whether it be learning from successful startup founders, meeting one-on-one with industry leaders, or meeting other startups to enhance their personal networks for the purpose of business development, partnerships or learning and growing from like-minded industry colleagues.

Who can apply for the Startup Program?

The Startup Program is a private event and participation is by acceptance only. Any travel-related startup that is less than 48 months old and with less than $10m in funding can apply.

If accepted, they will gain access to all three days of The Phocuswright Conference PLUS the private Startup Program for only $1,999 – a significant savings off the regular ticket price of $4,199.

Older startup companies, mentors, investors or anyone interested in participating in this exclusive program must be registered to attend The Phocuswright Conference and may contact us to request an invitation.

 Apply now for Phocuswright’s Startup Program and be part of the action this November 12-15 in Los Angeles, California

Connect with Phocuswright to follow their news and community updates and get in touch with Pete on Twitter and LinkedIn.