Building business connections through Believe & Achieve
The Believe & Achieve business plan competition was designed to bring ambitious participants, mentors, business leaders, and conference delegates together in Mongolia. Its value extends beyond presenting an idea or competing for an award: each phase creates a reason to exchange knowledge and form relationships across the Asia-Pacific business community.
The key networking opportunities at the Believe & Achieve Competition come from the combination of preparation, live presentations, conference sessions, and informal gatherings. Participants can meet people who offer different perspectives on entrepreneurship, investment, management, and regional markets.
A thoughtful networking approach helps turn a short conference visit into a lasting professional network. The strongest connections usually begin with genuine curiosity, a clear explanation of your business idea, and a willingness to support other participants.
Meet people through the competition phases
Each phase of the competition gives participants a different setting for relationship building. Early planning and submission stages encourage conversations with teammates, advisers, and local chapter members. These discussions can reveal useful contacts, sharpen a business model, and identify expertise that may be missing from a proposal.
As finalists move closer to the conference, practice presentations create another opportunity to connect. Sharing a draft pitch with other competitors can lead to constructive feedback and mutual encouragement. Participants should treat fellow contestants as potential partners and future colleagues rather than viewing every interaction only through the lens of competition.
The final presentation stage brings ideas before a wider audience of judges, business professionals, and conference attendees. A concise pitch makes it easier for people to understand what you do and continue the conversation afterward.
Connect with speakers and business leaders
Conference speakers provide access to experience that may be difficult to find through ordinary online research. Their insights can introduce participants to new approaches in leadership, entrepreneurship, finance, and regional business development. Reviewing the featured speakers before the event helps attendees identify conversations that are especially relevant to their goals.
A strong approach is to ask specific questions connected to a speaker’s subject. Instead of requesting general advice, explain a practical issue your venture faces and ask how the speaker has handled a similar situation. This demonstrates preparation and creates a more memorable exchange.
Networking with speakers does not require a long conversation. A respectful introduction, one thoughtful question, and a brief follow-up message can establish a valuable professional connection. If a speaker is unavailable, attending the session and speaking with other delegates who share the same interests can be equally productive.
Turn breakout sessions into working relationships
Breakout sessions are often more interactive than keynote presentations, making them useful for finding people with shared challenges. Participants can compare experiences, discuss business plans, and discover possible collaborations in a smaller group. These settings are particularly helpful for delegates who may feel uncomfortable approaching a large crowd.
Before each session, identify one idea you want to explore and one experience you can contribute. During the discussion, listen for people working in related industries or entering similar markets. A short exchange about supply chains, customer acquisition, or operations can become the foundation for a later conversation.
| Networking setting | Best opportunity | Useful follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Competition preparation | Meet teammates, mentors, and other entrepreneurs | Share feedback or resources |
| Final presentations | Introduce your venture to judges and delegates | Send a concise business summary |
| Speaker sessions | Learn from experienced professionals | Reference a specific insight |
| Breakout discussions | Find peers with common interests | Continue the topic over coffee |
| Social and conference events | Build informal rapport | Connect through a professional network |
Use shared interests as an opening
The conference’s regional focus gives attendees an immediate point of connection. Conversations about business in Mongolia, Asia-Pacific markets, or the role of local BYU Management Society chapters can move naturally into personal experience and professional goals. Shared geography and community involvement often make introductions feel less forced.
Accommodation, travel, and conference gathering areas also create informal networking moments. A conversation during breakfast, between sessions, or while traveling to an event may be less structured than a formal meeting, but it can reveal common interests quickly. Be considerate of people’s schedules and avoid turning every interaction into a sales pitch.
Prepare a simple explanation of your project that takes less than a minute. Include the customer problem, your proposed solution, and the kind of connection or knowledge you are seeking. This gives others enough context to decide how they might help.
Prepare for meaningful follow-up
A contact becomes useful when the relationship continues after the conference. Record a person’s name, organization, interests, and the point you discussed. These details make a follow-up message personal and help prevent the connection from becoming an indistinct collection of business cards.
Follow up soon after meeting someone while the conversation is still fresh. Mention the session or topic you shared, offer a relevant resource, or suggest a specific next step such as a short call. Keep the message focused and respectful; a clear reason for reconnecting is more effective than a generic request.
Practical ways to strengthen connections
- Prepare a brief personal introduction and a separate explanation of your business idea.
- Research speakers, judges, participating chapters, and likely delegates before arriving.
- Ask open, specific questions that invite people to share experience.
- Exchange contact details only after establishing a relevant reason to stay connected.
- Send personalized follow-up messages within a few days of the conference.
Build a network that lasts beyond Mongolia
The most valuable outcome of the competition may be the network formed around the experience. Fellow participants can become collaborators, mentors can become long-term advisers, and conversations with regional professionals can open doors to markets or resources that were previously unfamiliar.
The Asia-Pacific conference setting makes continued contact especially important. A participant may meet someone from another city or country whose perspective becomes useful months later. Keeping in touch through occasional updates, congratulations, or relevant industry information helps maintain a professional relationship without demanding constant attention.
Bring your business plan, your curiosity, and a deliberate follow-up habit to the Believe & Achieve experience. Attend the sessions, start conversations, and make time for the people whose ideas can broaden your view of entrepreneurship across the region.