Every fest committee knows the feeling: the budget is short, the fest is eight weeks away, and the sponsorship team has a list of brands that have not replied. The fix is rarely more emails. It is a better pitch.
Know what the brand wants
A food brand wants sampling and footfall. A tech company wants to meet developers. A sportswear label wants to be seen on the field. Match each brand to the events where its audience already is, and lead with that.
Build a one-page deck
- Last year’s footfall and registrations, with the source
- The audience: colleges, cities and the share of each category
- Three packages with clear deliverables and prices
- Photos from past editions that show real crowds
Price the packages honestly
Offer a title, an associate and an in-kind tier. In-kind deals, such as drinks for the volunteers or prizes for a hackathon, are often the easiest yes for a brand that has no cash budget left.
Follow up and deliver
- Follow up once after a week, with one new detail rather than a reminder
- Put the deliverables in writing before the fest
- Send a short report with photos and numbers afterwards, so they come back next year
The sponsors who return are the ones who received a report they could forward to their manager.
