Every year, thousands of startup founders rush to tech conferences, believing they’ll unlock funding, media coverage, and customer growth. They pay for booths, fly their teams in, and spend days rehearsing their pitches. But let’s be real—most of them leave with nothing. Why? Because tech conferences aren’t about startups. They’re about selling hope. The Harsh Truth About Conferences Let’s cut through the noise. Tech conferences are not designed to help startups grow. They exist to: Make money for event organizers —who profit from ticket sales, sponsorships, and overpriced booths. Boost corporate sponsors —who use these events for brand awareness, not to help startups. Give investors and media VIP access —while most founders struggle to get noticed. Think about it: If tech conferences really helped startups succeed, why do 90% of startups still fail? Where Conferences Fail Startups 1. The Networking Illusion We’ve all heard it: “Con...