Skip the ticket; show up anyway.

Tickets can be very expensive, and as a startup founder, I couldn’t justify spending thousands. So I decided to skip the ticket and just go to the same city where the trade show was happening. The best conversations often happen outside the event—in coffee shops, hotel lobbies, and nearby restaurants. Trust me, you don’t need to be inside the venue to make excellent connections.

Do the outreach beforehand.

Before I landed, I did my homework. I contacted people I knew would be attending, set up coffee meetings, and scheduled casual lunches. This took a bit of LinkedIn outreach and some emails, but it paid off. I had meaningful one-on-one conversations, all without the noisy, crowded exhibit floor.

Work the vicinity of the trade show

Most trade shows and conferences have an outside zone/seating for coffee and networking. I used that area to get work done, while keeping an eye out for people that I wanted to meet for a quick handshake. You never know who you’ll meet; those chance encounters can lead to big opportunities.

Focus on Relationships, Not Sales

Since I wasn’t under the pressure of having a booth or a big-ticket expense to justify, I focused on building real relationships. I wasn’t pushing for sales—I was simply meeting people, getting to know them, and finding ways to follow up later.

Ask Customers if You Can Represent Them

One creative way to attend trade shows without breaking the bank is by leveraging your existing customer relationships. It’s always worth asking your loyal customers or clients if you can tag along, represent them, or attend the event on their behalf. By doing this, you may gain free or discounted access to the event while still promoting your own brand. Customers attending the trade show might appreciate the additional representation, especially if they can’t send a full team themselves. This also gives you the chance to meet potential partners, prospects, or other companies in their network while staying within budget.

At the end of the trip, my total expenditure was a fraction of what it would’ve cost to attend the trade show officially. Flights, hotel stay, a few coffees, and a couple of lunches, but I still walked away with solid connections—and even potential deals. People want to see you in-person and showing up gives your brand credibility.

Ever feel like your business tools just don’t “talk” to each other? You’re not alone. Most enterprises run on a mix of SaaS apps, on-premise software, and legacy systems. While these tools are essential, getting them to share data is often a nightmare—resulting in silos, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities.

This is where integration platform as a service (iPaaS) comes in. Think of iPaaS as the glue that holds all your systems together. It simplifies integrations, connects your apps, and helps you make the most of your data—without needing complex custom coding.

Why do enterprises need iPaaS?

Picture this: your sales team is using Salesforce, your finance team is on QuickBooks, and your e-commerce runs on Shopify. Without proper integration, you’re stuck manually exporting and importing data, risking errors, and wasting valuable time.

iPaaS fixes this problem. It acts as a central hub that connects all these tools. With prebuilt connectors and automation, data flows seamlessly between systems in real time. No manual work. No complicated scripts. Just smooth, automated workflows that save your IT team hours of hassle.

Key benefits of iPaaS for enterprises

1. Save time by automating data transfers
Manual data entry is not only tedious—it’s error-prone. iPaaS automates these tasks, so your data moves between apps accurately and instantly.

2. Cut costs by simplifying integrations
Maintaining custom integrations or outdated middleware can be expensive. iPaaS provides a cloud-based, scalable solution that reduces costs and maintenance headaches.

3. Unlock better insights with unified data
When your data lives in silos, you don’t see the full picture. iPaaS consolidates your data so you can generate more accurate reports, gain deeper insights, and make smarter decisions.

4. Future-proof your tech stack
As your enterprise grows, so does your technology landscape. iPaaS adapts and scales with you, making it easy to add new tools or migrate to better platforms—without disrupting your workflows.

How LINK makes iPaaS even better

At LINK, we’ve taken iPaaS a step further. Our data migration and integration technology has already helped tens of thousands of businesses move to new platforms smoothly. Whether it’s integrations, migrations, or onboarding, our solutions are built to keep your systems connected, efficient, and ready for the future

The bottom line

Disjointed systems slow your business down. With iPaaS, you can connect your apps, automate your workflows, and finally make your data work for you. Enterprises that embrace iPaaS enjoy faster operations, lower costs, and smarter decision-making.

If your business is still stuck with disconnected systems, now’s the time to explore iPaaS solutions like LINK and build a tech stack that works together, seamlessly.

In 2020, I was chatting with LINK’s small crew about how we had just 1 female engineer on the team and how that needs to change. Fast forward to now, and it’s amazing that the collective hiring and culture effort has turned us around to being quite close to a women’s majority!

My resolution is to do everything possible at LINK to create a perfect woman’s workplace.

Here’s my list of takeaways and “Must Do’s”:

• Gender diversity is not accidental, which means it needs a thoughtful and persistent effort. Generally, 9 out of 10 applications that we get for engineering roles are from male applicants. To change that, I believe every aspect of the company—from the branding, job postings, to the language we use in all our communication—needs to be welcoming to women. In our recruiting efforts, we keep the search going until we have a big enough pool of female applicants. Women who are already working at LINK are encouraged to bring referrals of female candidates from their network.
• That said, branding, recruiting, and language will not suddenly bring in female employees if the culture/environment are not truly supportive of a woman’s needs. For example, I asked an Air India employee in Stockholm (mother to a 2-year old who was instrumental in making our work trip happen) about how she managed to pull this off with a toddler. She said it was because of the trust and flexibility that her manager consistently placed in her that motivated her to go the extra mile, including how her maternity leave was handled.
  We (and I am sure many other startups) offer a similar level of flexibility, but we have to go deeper and consider if each employee in the organization, without fail, represents those values and is supportive towards female employees on his/her team.

•  It is critical to sensitize the workforce on sexual harassment, acceptable protocols, and etiquette. In India, the POSH law requires companies of all sizes to ensure their employees have undergone the necessary training.  The training is important but not enough – HR together with leadership needs to proactively enforce timely interventions and ensure that every employee knows that their concerns will get heard and addressed.
  There is sufficient evidence that a diverse workforce results in higher productivity and profits. So I am hopeful that the startup founders reading this article will also take steps to make their respective companies more diverse and inclusive.

Sriram Subramanian

In the fast-moving world of restaurants, the right point-of-sale (POS) system can be the difference between smooth service and chaos. A good POS doesn’t just handle payments, it helps you run operations more efficiently, turn tables faster, and deliver a better customer experience.

Here are the top features to look out for:

1. Intuitive user interface
Your POS should be easy to use so your staff can process orders quickly, split checks without hassle, and manage tables efficiently. A clean, intuitive interface also means less training time for new hires and fewer mistakes during busy hours.

2. Customizable menu management
Menus change, whether it’s seasonal specials, new promotions, or price adjustments. Your POS should let you easily update items, descriptions, and pricing on the go. This flexibility keeps your menu fresh and your customers engaged.

3. Integration capabilities
A powerful POS connects seamlessly with your other tools, such as inventory management, accounting software, and online ordering platforms. This saves time, prevents manual errors, and gives you real-time insight into your restaurant’s performance.

4. Tableside ordering and payment
Equip your servers with handheld devices so they can take orders and process payments right at the table. This speeds up service, reduces wait times, and improves overall customer satisfaction.

5. Comprehensive reporting and analytics
A great POS isn’t just about transactions, it’s about understanding your business better. Advanced reporting can help you track sales trends, monitor inventory, control labor costs, and analyze customer behavior. This data is invaluable for making smarter menu and pricing decisions.

Final thoughts

By prioritizing these features, restaurants can improve efficiency, delight guests, and grow profits, all while making life easier for staff.

Here at LINK!, we know firsthand the happiness and support that pets provide. This is why we have a policy that allows employees to bring their pets to work.

We hope that our pet policy will help make our workplace more animal-friendly for our employees and their families. The inclusion of pets in the office has the potential to increase happiness, decrease stress, and strengthen bonds among team members, in our opinion. Who among us doesn’t adore a playful puppy wagging its tail or a furry cat snuggled up in a corner, purring away?

How Office Pets Can Relieve Stress

An individual’s general health and output can be significantly improved with the company of a furry pet while working. Pets make people happier, less anxious, and better able to concentrate, which in turn makes for a more pleasant and productive work environment.

Petting an animal, such as a dog or cat, can have a calming effect on your anxiety and stress levels. These mild-mannered friends bring comfort and camaraderie, allowing you to centre yourself and enjoy the here and now. Their ability to love without conditions might provide a welcome break from the stresses of daily life.

Pets as Cultural Ambassadors and Conversation Starters

Pets in the workplace have the potential to greatly enhance teamwork and communication. These furry friends have a knack for making people feel more at ease and bringing everyone together.

Pets in the Workplace: A Unique Employee Perk

For many employees, their furry companions are an integral part of their lives, and the ability to bring them to work can be a significant factor in their job satisfaction and overall well-being. By embracing a pet-friendly culture, companies demonstrate a commitment to their employees’ happiness and work-life balance.

By providing companionship, promoting physical activity, and offering a sense of purpose, pets can significantly contribute to improving mental health and overall quality of life.