How to Get Invited: The Montgomery Summit Conference

The Montgomery Summit Conference is an exclusive event set for March 4th and 5th in Santa Monica, California. This is an annual conference designed for entrepreneurs, investors, and high-level executives to gather and discuss best practices for success in business and technology. The two-day event includes networking opportunities with over 1,000 influencers and decision-makers, 140 private company presentations, world-class speakers, networking receptions, and one-on-one meetings. In the past, this prestigious conference has featured keynote speakers such as Deepak Chopra, Dan Shulman, and Evan Spiegel.

So just how exactly can someone get access to this event? Here are a few things you can do to score entry to the Montgomery Summit Conference.

The Straightforward Approach: Register For The Conference

The simplest way to get in is to register for attendance at the Montgomery Summit Conference. As with most events, there are early, regular, and late registration fees. Registering early is the most cost-effective option, with the registration fee priced at $1,795 before January 10. After January 10, the price increases to $2,295 and then $2,595 after February 16. These rates are for anyone who registers as an entrepreneur, investor, or corporate development professional. Anyone who attends the event as a service provider will have higher registration fees of $2,495, $2,995, and $3,295 respectively.

Before registering, note that all fees are non-refundable and your registration includes admission to the Welcome Reception and conference as well as breakfast, lunch, snacks, and other foods and beverages at The Bungalow.

Attend on a VIPs' Guest Pass

If registering for the event is outside of your budget, your other option is to attend on a guest pass. The catch? It has to be a VIP’s guest pass, which means you need to know someone who is registering for the conference as a VIP. The VIP access comes with a heftier price tag (a $6,995 registration fee, to be exact). Of course, VIP status comes with special perks like opportunities for 1-1 meetings, private meeting space, accommodations for three nights, reserved seats for lunch and the keynotes, an expedited check-in at arrival, and two guest passes. With that said, those guest passes do not include access to one-on-one meetings or the option to sit in on private company presentations. If you do happen to know someone who is attending the Montgomery Summit Conference on a VIP ticket and you feel you have a close working relationship with that person, it wouldn’t hurt to ask them if they would consider allowing you to attend on a guest pass. You could also offer to help foot the bill so that they aren’t stuck paying the full $6,995, yet you don’t have to pay the full price for regular registration either.

Attend as a Company Presenter

This method of getting an invitation to the Montgomery Summit Conference is far more time consuming than the other methods. However, it’s worth using this approach if you actually have a bonafide private company you think may be worth showcasing at the event. With over 140 private company presentations taking place at the Montgomery Summit Conference every year, there is ample opportunity to get on that list. To be considered, your company will need to be nominated. Nominations are accepted right on the conference’s official website. To nominate a company—even your own!—you will need to include pertinent details about its services and offerings. To get a sense of whether or not your company is the right fit for a presenter nomination, take a look at some of the private companies that have presented at the conference in the past. The Montgomery Summit Conference breaks it down into four categories: First Look, Emerging, Growth, and Market Leader. Should your company be chosen as a presenter, you will need to prepare for a 30-minute time slot that includes a Q&A at the end.

Go as a Reporter

Another angle to try—but it will only work if you work in media—is to attend the event as a media correspondent. Reporters from CNN, the Los Angeles Times, and Forbes are routinely invited to attend the conference and provide coverage. If you work for a major media outlet, consider contacting the conference organizers and offer to provide coverage of the event. You can apply for a media pass on the Montgomery Summit Conference website. Navigate to the Media & Press page under the About tab and click the Media Inquiry link, which will allow you to directly email the organizers.

If you attend the event, especially as a presenting company, consider packing some corporate gifts and promotional products with your company logo on the items. If you are attending on a guest pass, think about providing the VIP who invited you with a thank-you gift like an embroidered business bag or another meaningful gift.

Attending this conference is particularly beneficial for anyone in business and technology looking to further their connections with other professionals in the industry. If you plan to attend, make sure to register as early as possible and allow yourself plenty of time to prepare for the conference. The more prepared you are to network and establish new relationships, the greater success you will have at the Montgomery Summit Conference.