Should I bring materials, business cards, etc?

We don’t suggest that. Just bring yourself and great energy.

What about the media’s contact info? Will I get that after the event?

Yes, we will send the media’s emails to attendees after the event. There is no need to try to get their emails when you sit down with them for 10 minutes.

How do I make a good impression with a reporter?

Be a human is the first suggestion. Your 10 minutes with each shouldn’t be a monologue about how great your company is. Make it a dialogue and be interested in the reporter's work. Secondly, ask how you can be of help and have some ideas! Do you have data, reports, amazing board members, fellow peers, etc that pertain to the reporter’s beat? Share that.

How many rounds of “speed dating” will occur?

There will be 8 rounds between 9:30 and 11:30 am PT.

Can I bring my team, my PR person, my dog, etc?

No. Because of space restrictions, we can only have one person per company represented.

Feel free to wear a mask and participate where you feel comfortable.

What is BAM’s code of conduct for this event? So glad you asked. It is:

(1) Expect Magic: Sit with a reporter or meet a founder who you may think you have nothing in common with. Who knows where it will lead. (2) Greet with Grace: Everyone here is busy, brilliant, and probably Type A. Thank anyone you connect with for their time and attention, and give the same. (3) Relationships, not Transactions: No one wants to get sold to so don’t hawk your company to anyone, including fellow founders. MMD is about making relationships, and relationships take time.

Media Matching Day (MMD)

Thursday, June 22, 2023

8 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT

Please only nominate VC-backed startups that are Series A or beyond, or that have Series A funding anticipated within the next 6 months at the latest. The reason: the caliber of media attending are looking to meet with companies at this stage. BAM hand selects a number of its seed-stage clients to attend.

What:

Media Matchmaking Day (MMD) is a half-day event BAM puts on to help our media friends meet great founders and startups. We match founders and heads of Marketing with top-tier media and allow for serendipitous interactions where founders and heads of Marketing get to approach their favorite media in a 10-minute “speed dating” style format. This time, we will be making some of the matches ourselves.

This is our 4th MMD, and we’ve brought more than 140 media and 240 venture-backed startups together!

Why:

1. Our media friends are looking for potential stories and need an efficient way to source them (and not just from PR people like us).

2. Founders and heads of Marketing, beyond those we represent at BAM, like to tell their stories for potential coverage down the road.

3. We (BAM) love community building and believe MMD is a good way to foster relationships between our media, VC comms/marketing group, and startup community overall.

Where:

Susa Ventures

660 York St. Suite 201, San Francisco, CA 94110

May 9, 2023:

Nominations open

May 19, 2023:

Nominations close

May 22, 2023:

Attendees get notified of acceptance

June 20, 2023:

Media list of attending media sent to startups attending

June 22, 2023:

MMD live!

Schedule on June 22, 2023:

8 - 8:45 a.m. PT:
Coffee bar and breakfast to get the day started

8:45 - 9:15 a.m. PT:
Debut of "what media wants" report + do's and don’ts for the day

9:30 - 11:30 a.m. PT:
Media Matchmaking rounds begin (8 in total)

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. PT:
Grab and go lunch with all media + founders + heads of Marketing + VC comms/marketing community who nominated our great group

100+ top-tier media who have previously attended MMD:

FAQs

Should I bring materials, business cards, etc?: We don’t suggest that. Just bring yourself and great energy.
What about the media’s contact info? Will I get that after the event?: Yes, we will send the media’s emails to attendees after the event. There is no need to try to get their emails when you sit down with them for 10 minutes.
How do I make a good impression with a reporter?: Be a human is the first suggestion. Your 10 minutes with each shouldn’t be a monologue about how great your company is. Make it a dialogue and be interested in the reporter's work. Secondly, ask how you can be of help and have some ideas! Do you have data, reports, amazing board members, fellow peers, etc that pertain to the reporter’s beat? Share that.
What should I wear?: Business casual is encouraged.
How many rounds of “speed dating” will occur?: There will be 8 rounds between 9:30 and 11:30 am PT.
Can I bring my team, my PR person, my dog, etc?: No. Because of space restrictions, we can only have one person per company represented.
What about COVID?: Feel free to wear a mask and participate where you feel comfortable.
What is BAM’s code of conduct for this event? So glad you asked. It is:: (1) Expect Magic: Sit with a reporter or meet a founder who you may think you have nothing in common with. Who knows where it will lead.

(2) Greet with Grace: Everyone here is busy, brilliant, and probably Type A. Thank anyone you connect with for their time and attention, and give the same.

(3) Relationships, not Transactions: No one wants to get sold to so don’t hawk your company to anyone, including fellow founders. MMD is about making relationships, and relationships take time.