Every year, thousands of eager startup founders flock to tech conferences, hoping to pitch investors, gain media attention, and secure partnerships. But here’s the brutal truth: most of them leave with nothing . Are conferences like TechCrunch Disrupt actually worth the hype, or are they just elaborate money pits designed to profit off desperate entrepreneurs? The Harsh Reality of Startup Conferences Let’s be honest— if tech conferences were truly launching startups into unicorn status, we’d see more success stories . But for every startup that gets funding, hundreds more fade into obscurity. Here’s what founders don’t realize: Investors aren’t looking for you. They come to these events to network with other investors, not to throw money at random booths. Media exposure is overrated. A few blog mentions won’t make up for a lack of product-market fit. Booth placement matters more than your pitch. If you’re stuck in a dead corner of the exhibition hal...