Embodying "Relentlessly Resourceful"

Forcing our way into a conference

As expected, the past month and a half have been characterized by incredible highs and daunting lows. The constant drive to survive and make something people want has unlocked levels of creativity and determination I didn't know I had. These moments are when I have witnessed first-hand what PG means when he writes about being relentlessly resourceful (link to his essay).

On the toughest days, when everything seems to be unraveling, we strive to tackle challenges with a new outlook, convinced that we can turn the tide in our direction. This mindset led us to attend a supply chain conference in Las Vegas, although we didn't have an entry plan.

The conference was scheduled from Monday to Thursday in early February. Just days before, we discovered that several potential customers would be attending. Seizing the opportunity, we booked flights to Vegas, informing these prospects of our "attendance," eager to connect in person. However, the steep conference fees of approximately $2,000 per person meant we had to get creative since we hadn't actually registered.

Armed with our Y Combinator badges as a disguise, we first blended into a crowd to access the networking area without a problem. Knowing the trade show entry would pose a bigger challenge, we scooped up some abandoned conference-branded bags to further blend in.

We successful got into the opening night happy hour event with our YC badges and networked like our lives depended on it. We knew getting access to the trade show the next day wasn't guaranteed, so we took advantage of every moment. Our candidness about sneaking in made us memorable - prospects respected the startup hustle, knowing that if we were willing to fly to Vegas to find a way into a conference, we would be willing to do whatever it took to make their partnership with us a success. We were nicknamed the "party crashers," a label that turned out to be beneficial in our follow-up communications.

The next day, using our YC badges and "borrowed" conference bags, we confidently bypassed security into the networking area. Unable to use the main entrance due to badge checks, we luckily discovered an unlocked door to the trade room (thanks to door 214), allowing us to continue our adventure, much to the delight of the friends we'd made the night before.

Our audacity was so respected that an investment firm gifted us spare badges, allowing us to experience the conference without fear.

The ROI on this trip was beyond measure. It taught us a vital lesson - create your own luck and be relentlessly resourceful.