Topic – “Power of Networking: Navigate Every Chance You Get”
Keynote speaker – Gonzalo Martinez, Co-founder of LAN
Summary –
As the saying goes, “Your network is your net worth.” For entrepreneurs, networking provides access to critical resources, capital, best practices, and a strong support system.
Entrepreneurs often focus on product-market fit, venture capital, and engineering. However, Gonzalo Martinez, engineer, investor, and co-founder of LAN, Paraguay’s first startup accelerator and early-stage VC fund, emphasizes that networking is more important for success than any pitch deck. He has built a global network of investors, corporations, and founders, especially across Latin America.
Entrepreneurs often focus on product-market fit, venture capital, and engineering. However, Gonzalo Martinez, engineer, investor, and co-founder of LAN, Paraguay’s first startup accelerator and early-stage VC fund, emphasizes that networking is more important for success than any pitch deck. He has built a global network of investors, corporations, and founders, especially across Latin America.
During our virtual meeting, Gonzalo shared insights on the power of networking with ACE2EU. Networking proved essential during the pandemic, when he worked with student organizations, university officials, student governments, and the Catholic Church to secure entry into the UK. His team was the only one from a “red-listed” country to receive an exemption from the entry ban, reflecting years of trust and relationship-building. Guided by the belief that “Being likable opens a door, but being excellent makes people open it for you,” Gonzalo has continued to access new opportunities. He notes that investors value both strong collaboration skills and a high-performance culture.
Key takeaways from the talk:
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- You don’t always have to build a network from scratch; you can partner into one.
- Reach out to 10 people in your immediate network (family, friends, colleagues) to validate your idea.
- Don’t attend an event just to “be there.” Decide exactly who you want to meet or what outcome you want.
- Post your progress on social media. You never know who is watching from the sidelines, waiting for the right moment to reach out.
- Have a clear “one-liner” about who you are and what you do. When you walk into a room, don’t wait for an introduction. Say hi, present your value, and start compounding.
His insights on networking and his success story on how collaborating with new people and maintaining his network have played an important role in his journey are key takeaways for young entrepreneurs.
Networking is often described as the “lifeblood” of entrepreneurship. While having a great product is essential, who you know and who knows you frequently determines how fast and how far your business can grow. With such amazing success stories, students, entrepreneurs, and researchers can learn how to build their networks and how to build new products for society.
Part 2 – Network workshop
The Entrepreneurship Network Workshop will be held in Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) in Germany, which brings together a collaboration of 40 students ranging from Bachelor’s candidates to Doctoral researchers. This intensive workshop is designed around four essential pillars to equip the next generation of founders:
- Creating knowledge and awareness towards entrepreneurship
- Networking and collaboration
- How to convert your business idea into an opportunity.
- Developing an innovators mindset and culture.
The Three-Day Roadmap
Day 1: Information and knowledge sharing
The first day focuses on the “how-to” of funding. Attendees will dive into sessions detailing European funding opportunities, Erasmus+ ecosystem, and discovering specialized grants designed to fund student-led startups.
Day 2: Mentorship and Best Practices
Knowledge meets experience on Day 2. Sessions on best practices, Learn, exchange ideas and one-on-one mentorship sessions. Through sessions on industry best practices and exclusive one-on-one mentorship, students will receive direct feedback on their ideas, learning from those who have successfully navigated the entrepreneurial channels
Day 3: Specialized Insights and the Path Forward
The final day offers targeted inspiration through two parallel speaker tracks:
- Women in Entrepreneurship: Addressing unique perspectives, challenges, and success stories in the female founder community.
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Sustainability and Impact: Exploring how to build businesses that prioritize environmental and social responsibility.
The afternoon concludes with a dedicated networking block, where participants will finalize collaborations and outline the next steps for their ventures.