Your Token 2049 Planning Guide

Your Token 2049 Planning Guide

Token2049 is one of the largest Web3 conferences in the world. What you get out of it is almost entirely determined by how well you prepare. Whether you’re there to build partnerships, exhibit your brand, find a job, or speak on stage, this guide will help you show up ready.

For companies and networkers

Building new connections, partnerships, clients, and investors

Start your outreach 4-6 weeks before the event.

a) Personalised outreach is everything. Generic messages get ignored. Take the time to research who you’re reaching out to, why there’s genuine value for both parties, and make that clear from the first message. Authenticity cuts through the noise.

b) Book calls before the event. Aim to connect with key people over a video or phone call before event week. A warm relationship before you meet in person makes the IRL meeting far more valuable for both sides.

c) Respect people’s time. Everyone at this event is busy. Be clear about what you’re offering and why it’s relevant to them. Lead with value. Don’t just pitch, give something useful first.

d) Read the room. If someone isn’t interested, thank them for their time and move on. Pushing past a polite no wastes everyone’s energy and leaves a bad impression in a small industry.

e) Use the official event app. Most major conferences have an app with a networking or matchmaking feature. Use it. It’s an underrated tool for making targeted connections before and during the event.

f) Content is still king. Post about why you’re attending, what people can expect from you, and what you’re excited about. Focus on your personal pages first, company pages second. LinkedIn is a strong starting point, but if you’ve already built an audience on another platform, lean into that. Authenticity over reach.

g) Side events are where the real magic happens. Most of the best conversations, deals, and connections don’t happen on the main conference floor. They happen at the side events.

• Research the official side events list early. Events are posted weeks, sometimes over a month, before the conference.
• Research the events, their sponsors, and likely attendees. Apply for the ones that are genuinely relevant to you.
• Most events become oversubscribed quickly. If you’re not on the guest list, you’re not getting in.
• Many events overlap. Same time, different sides of the city. Build your schedule carefully and factor in travel time.

For exhibitors and sponsors

You’ve made a significant investment to be on the floor. Here’s how to make it count.

a) Promote early and promote well. Use social media, email, the official event app, paid ads where relevant, and your existing community channels. Don’t wait until event week to start talking about your presence.

b) Your booth is competing with everyone else’s. Think hard about your design, backdrop, banners, and display. What will make someone walking past stop? Stand out or blend in, there’s no middle ground.

c) Merchandise and giveaways attract traffic. Yes, it’s a cost. No, it doesn’t always attract the right people. But foot traffic creates social proof, and social proof attracts more foot traffic. It’s human nature. Factor this in as part of your strategy, not just a nice-to-have.

d) Give people a reason to stay. Traffic is great, engaged traffic is better. Live product demos, workshops, competitions, games, or genuinely engaging team members will keep people at your booth longer and create more meaningful interactions than a free tote bag alone.

e) Consider KOLs and cross-promotion partners. Could an influential voice in the space help drive people to your booth or amplify your presence? Identify these partnerships early and brief them properly.

f) Build a lead capture system before you arrive. How will you collect contacts? Digital is better than business cards. More importantly, have a way to qualify and tag leads in real time so you know who your hot prospects are and can follow up with them first.

g) Capture content constantly. Photos, videos, booth moments, panel clips, team content. Your marketing team will need this material for weeks after the event. Make it someone’s dedicated job for the duration. Content may become part of your booth strategy – to capture engaging content with booth visitors. Make sure you have their permission and media approval forms signed, where necessary.

h) The event ending is not the finish line. The follow-up is where most of the ROI lives, and where most companies drop the ball. Follow up with hot leads within 48 hours. Publish recap content across social media, email, and your community channels. Being present at one of the largest Web3 events in the world is a credibility signal. Use it.

For job seekers

Token 2049 could be one of the best places in the world to find your next role in Web3. The people hiring are actually there, in the room, and approachable. But how you show up matters enormously.

a) Tread lightly. Companies receive job applications daily, especially in bearish market conditions. Be upfront and honest about your intentions, but not pushy. Those who are genuinely interested will respond. Those who aren’t, will not, and that’s fine. Move on gracefully.

b) Start early. Your prep begins weeks before you land in Singapore. Identify the companies you’re genuinely interested in. Research them properly: what they’re building, their recent announcements, their team culture. When you reach out, make it specific. “I’ve been following what you’re doing with X” lands very differently than a generic cold message.

c) Get your profile right before you message anyone. LinkedIn is essential: professional photo, clear headline, solid work history. In Web3, your Twitter/X presence, GitHub, or on-chain history can matter just as much. Employers will look you up before they reply.

d) Post relevant content. Don’t just exist online, show up. Share content that demonstrates your thinking, your experience, and your understanding of the space. A few genuine, thoughtful posts before the event establishes credibility and gives people something to find when they search your name.

e) Know your pitch. Have a clear, practiced answer ready for “so what are you looking for?” Who you are, what you do, what kind of role or company you’re targeting, and why. Keep it to 30-60 seconds. It should sound natural, not rehearsed.

f) Prioritise side events. The main conference floor is busy and transactional. Side events are smaller, more relaxed, and far better for genuine conversation. Prioritise events hosted by or attended by companies you’re interested in. This is where people actually get hired.

g) Lead with curiosity, not desperation. Ask about what they’re building. Show genuine interest. You don’t need to announce you’re job hunting in the first 30 seconds. Let the conversation develop. If someone asks what you’re working on, be honest: “I’m actively looking for my next opportunity in [X], that’s partly why I’m here.”

h) Follow up within 24 hours. Connect on LinkedIn or via the event app while they still remember your face. Reference something specific from your conversation, express genuine interest, and leave the door open. Don’t send your CV in the first message. Build the connection first.

i) Document and share the experience. Post about what you learned, who you met, what inspired you. It shows you’re active and serious about the space, and keeps you visible to the people you’ve just met.

For speakers

Speaking at a major Web3 conference is a significant opportunity. How you prepare and how you show up around your talk will determine how much value you actually get from it.

a) Know your audience. Token 2049 attendees are Web3-native, sophisticated, and sceptical of hype. Tailor your content accordingly. Real insight, honest takes, and specific examples will land. Generic pitches will not.

b) Promote your session well in advance. Share it across your personal and company channels, not just once. Give your audience time to plan around it.

c) Treat the talk as a content asset. Clip it, repurpose it, post about it before and after. A single talk can fuel weeks of content if you approach it with that mindset.

d) Work the green room. The other speakers are often the highest-value people in the building. Introduce yourself. Be curious. Some of the best collaborations and partnerships start backstage.

e) End with a clear, low-friction CTA. Not “buy our product.” Something like: “Connect with me,” “follow our research,” “join our community.” Give people a simple next step that isn’t transactional.

To make your life easier, we’ve created this simple Token2049 Preparation Checklist to follow to ensure you’re prepared.

And most importantly, have fun. Token 2049 is a busy week, but a fun celebration of our industry too.

If you need help to promote your company, or yourself, get in touch with us.