Aaron Dobron, director of business development at Park City Aviators and a serial entrepreneur, is also a storied University of Utah alum. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in materials science and was a member of the first graduating cohort of the Master of Business Creation (MBC) program.
He brought his experiences to a Lassonde for Life workshop called “Networking for Entrepreneurs,” where he shared his best tips for building meaningful connections.
Define your network goals
“It’s a common myth that networking is just about collecting contacts,” Dobron said. “I’ve seen people say you just need 1,000, 3,000, 5,000 connections on LinkedIn, and then you have a community. That’s just not true.”
Instead, what matters is a thoughtful, strategic plan with meaningful connections.
“Think long-term when you send a calendar invite or request to connect or talk to someone at an event,” he said. “Consider where you’re currently at [in your venture], and where you want to be. That will give you direction and purpose for who you want and need to connect with.”
Even Dobron himself occasionally falls victim to letting networking take a back seat in his list of priorities.
“[I know planning] is often overlooked because I find myself not doing it,” he said. “But the truth is, if you’re willy-nilly connecting with people on LinkedIn with no real reasoning, it’s not going to get you very far.
Understand the power of your network
With a long-term plan in place — or at least a starting strategy — relationships become much more meaningful to the health and longevity of your startup.
“80% of [startup] opportunities arise from relationships,” Dobron said.
One of the biggest opportunities is, of course, access to more funding. However, strong relationships can offer a variety of meaningful benefits, including partnerships, talent recruitment, and even specialized knowledge.
“I saved one of the MBC founders I was working with nearly $30,000 just by connecting them to a professor in the university who’d already done the work they were trying to do,” Dobron said. “Not only are you growing your network, but you can save teams a ton of money by plugging into [existing knowledge].”
How to build (and maintain) a strong network
First, make meaningful first impressions.
“Always be on your toes — be prepared with your pitch, and also to be personable,” he said.
You can put yourself in situations to meet people also looking for entrepreneurial connections: across the globe, in person and online, there are groups sorted by industry and interests. Dobron also recommends using government resources, or targeted social media like Slack groups, Meetup, and Eventbrite.
Making connections doesn’t require an extroverted personality.
“Try content-driven networking,” Dobron said. “A good example of content-driven networking is influencers, who build content they care about, are interested in, and have experience with.”
Or, keep things one-on-one.
“If big events are overwhelming, reach out to individual contacts,” he said. “Utilize your peer circles and have more intimate connections, friends of friends. You can have a lot of really good, deep, meaningful conversations that aren’t at a huge mixer or dinner.”
As a University of Utah alum, you will also have access to many resources, including Lassonde for Life, various pitching events, and databases like Utah Founders.
Then, commit to nurturing your relationships. If done correctly, they can provide consistent and long-term value.
“These connections and interactions are not one-time transactions,” Dobron said. “Don’t treat them like a one-and-done.”
If you were provided a service, make an effort to be a resource to that individual or group.
“You shouldn’t say ‘Thank you for this referral’ and leave — stay in contact,” he said. “Check in on them. Try to be helpful when needed.”
Once you’ve built a network, use it.
“Leverage your contacts when the time is right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to ask for support, or to reach out to those who can help. Use what you’ve built.”
