A 5-step playbook for meeting founders, engineers and researchers in a new city: post your dates, find events, ask for intros and follow up.
- The city and the exact dates
- Your field, in one line
- Who you want to meet, in three to five specific groups (for example "battery engineers", not "tech people")
The short answer
Quick answer: post your travel dates and exactly who you want to meet one to two weeks before you arrive. Then look for events that fall during your stay on Luma and Meetup, and ask each contact for one warm introduction. Meet in public places such as coworking spaces, labs or cafés, and follow up within 24 hours. A specific request gets far more replies than a general "anyone around?"
Why this works
Travelling founders keep posting the same kind of message: "I'm in [city] from [date] to [date], and I'd like to meet people working on [field]." One example: a robotics founder visiting Shenzhen in late October 2026 listed robotics people, hardware engineers, researchers, data people and factories. Posts like this work because they make saying yes easy. The reader knows when you're around, what you care about, and whether they fit.
Step 1: Before you go, post your dates and what you're looking for
Write it one to two weeks ahead and pin it if you can. Include:
Template: "Visiting Berlin 12–18 March. I build [X]. I'd love to meet people working on [A], [B] and [C], or anyone running a hackerspace. Up for coffee or a short visit. DMs open."
- The city and the exact dates
- Your field, in one line
- Who you want to meet, in three to five specific groups (for example "battery engineers", not "tech people")
- One concrete ask: coffee, a lab visit, a factory tour, a demo
- How to reach you
Step 2: Find events during your stay
Step 2: Find events during your stay:
- Luma and Meetup: search the city along with your field, and filter by your dates.
- University labs and open days: many publish public seminars.
- Hackerspaces and makerspaces: they often have an open night each week.
- Coworking spaces: day passes often include community events.
- Conferences: side events are often free, even when the main conference isn't.
Step 3: Ask for intros, not favours
Ask each person you meet one question: "Who's the one person I should meet here?" One warm introduction beats ten cold messages. Make forwarding easy by sending a two-line blurb about yourself that they can paste.
Step 4: Meet safely and in public
Choose busy public places in daytime, such as cafés, coworking lounges or event venues. Tell someone where you'll be, check the person's profile or mutual contacts, and use your own transport. A visit to someone's lab or factory is best arranged through their organisation.
Step 5: Follow up within 24 hours
Send a short thank-you that recalls something specific from the conversation, plus the next step you agreed on. This is where a one-off coffee turns into a lasting contact.
A city starter checklist
For any tech hub you visit:
- Two or three events booked before you arrive
- One coworking day pass
- One hackerspace open night
- Three warm introductions requested
- A follow-up message drafted for each person you meet
On whoin
Add "in town until …" to your whoin profile and tag your field, for example "tech / founders". People in that district can then find you. See who's in town and coworking buddies, and read how to make friends in a new city if you're staying longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I meet startup founders in a new city?
Post your travel dates and exactly who you want to meet one to two weeks ahead. Then check Luma and Meetup for events during your stay, ask for warm introductions, meet in public places and follow up within 24 hours.
What should I write when asking to meet people while travelling?
Your dates, the city, your field, the specific kinds of people you want to meet and one concrete ask, such as coffee or a lab visit.
Is it safe to meet strangers from the internet while travelling?
Meet in busy public places in daytime, tell someone your plans, check profiles or mutual contacts and use your own transport. Event venues and coworking spaces are safer first meetings than private homes.