Every year, thousands of startup founders flock to events like TechCrunch Disrupt, Web Summit, and SXSW, hoping for their “big break.” Investors will notice them. Journalists will write about them. Customers will flock to their product. But here’s the ugly truth: most of them leave with nothing except a lighter wallet. The Conference Bubble: Selling Hype, Not Success Tech conferences don’t exist to help startups; they exist to sustain themselves. They sell an illusion—if you attend, you’re “in the game.” But in reality, these events are expensive echo chambers where the same ideas get recycled, and the people who profit most aren’t startups, but event organizers, big sponsors, and overhyped speakers. Why Networking at Conferences Is a Lie One of the biggest selling points of tech conferences is networking. But let’s be real: Investors already have their favorites. If you’re not already on their radar, meeting them at a crowded booth won’t change that. ...