We’ve talked a lot about how to stand out from the crowd when you’re raising outside capital.

We’ve covered things like insights from customer discovery, finding a unique wedge into the market, and even using neuroscience to change your pitch.

But there’s another strategy that we’ve used at Hustle Fund… and it’s wildly effective.

Our secret weapon is events.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking: "Aren't you supposed to be writing checks, not throwing parties?"

Well, turns out hosting over 50 events in 2025 (including our flagship investor event, Camp Hustle) has been one of the smartest things we've done for our business.

Let’s dig in.

The Problem: Everything Feels the Same

Let's be real for a minute. The startup world has a serious sameness problem.

Go browse any VC firm's website right now. We'll wait. Notice how they all say basically the same things? "We back exceptional founders." "We're value-add investors." "We believe in the power of innovation."

Yawn.

And it's not just VCs. Even startups struggle to differentiate themselves. When everyone's using the same playbook, how do you make people remember you?

The Solution: Build Real Community

Here's what we figured out: In a world where everything feels commoditized, the companies that win are the ones with real communities behind them.

Sure, you can build community online through Discord servers, Reddit forums, or TikTok. Lots of companies do this really well.

But for us? We're all about that in-person magic.

There's something special that happens when you get talented people in the same room. Real conversations. Actual connections. The kind of relationships you can't build through a screen.

How We Do Events… We Not Fancy

Our events aren't complicated. We're not renting out stadiums or hiring celebrity speakers. Most of the time, it's pretty simple:

• A fireside chat with someone interesting
• Casual mixer where founders and investors can actually talk
• Friendly, authentic vibes and zero tolerance for transactional networking

But here's the secret sauce: We encourage people to be vulnerable and real.

No elevator pitches. No business card speed dating. Just humans connecting with other humans.

And you know what? People love it.

What Events Do for Our Business

Okay, let's talk results. Because at the end of the day, this isn't just about making friends (though that's nice, too).

Events have been huge for us in three key ways:

1. Brand Extension

We're now known as the VC firm that throws great events. People associate us with bringing awesome communities together. That reputation spreads way beyond the people who actually attend.

2. Direct Business Impact

Our events have directly led to:

• Investment into new startups
• More subscribers to our newsletter
• New investors in our funds
• Sponsors who fund even more community activities

3. Showing Our True Colors

This might be the most important one.

Our team is fun, weird, and genuinely kind. That's hard to convey through a website or even a video call. But when you come to one of our events? You feel it. You understand what it would be like to work with us.

Our events are basically a preview of our personality. And for founders thinking about taking our money, that preview is incredibly valuable.

Events Might Not Be Your Thing

Look, events work for us, but they might not be your thing. And that's fine.

The real lesson here isn't "go throw a bunch of parties." It's this: Find a way to build genuine community around what you're doing.

Maybe that's:

• Starting a newsletter that people actually want to read
• Creating helpful content on TikTok or LinkedIn
• Building a Discord where your customers hang out
• Hosting virtual meetups for your industry
• Writing a blog that becomes a must-read resource

The medium doesn't matter. What matters is creating something that brings people together and shows who you really are.

Here's What Really Matters

In a world full of sameness, community can be a huge competitive advantage. It's how people get to know the real you. It's how you build loyalty that goes beyond a single transaction.

For us, that community happens at events. For you, it might happen somewhere completely different.

The key is finding your version of bringing people together and then doing it consistently, authentically, and really, really well.