In this episode of The Big Mike Fund podcast, Mike Zlotnik welcomes back Harrison Hall, Founder and CEO of Elevate Events. Harrison breaks down his approach to business development, shifting the focus from standard high-noise networking events to curated, high-value connections where “revenue through relationships” takes center stage.
They discuss the role of AI tools (like custom graphic design and conversational planning) in scaling event collateral and business strategy, the dynamic balance between 90% business and 10% fun at curated gatherings, and actionable strategies for pre-event matchmaking and post-event follow-ups to ensure high-ROI introductions for CEOs, investors, and operators.
Key Highlights:
Revenue Through Relationships: Harrison emphasizes that events shouldn’t be about immediate ticket-sales profit, but about curating invite-only environments that yield long-term business partnerships and millions in shared deal flow.
AI as the Ultimate Wingman: How Harrison leverages AI (which he affectionately calls “Cat”) for rapid graphic design, custom event flyers, website creation, and late-night business strategy development.
90% Business, 10% Fun: Lessons learned from past events led Harrison to shift away from distracting, high-noise entertainment to structured, phone-free networking environments focused on real deal-making.
Data-Driven Matchmaking: Mike Zlotnik and Harrison discuss how pre-profiling attendees on their capital, deal types, and service needs prevents wasted conversations and ensures actionable post-event introductions.
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Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome back Harrison Hall: Meeting in person & the Elevate vision
01:45 – Redefining Elevate: It’s not just events, it’s Business Development
04:05 – Why in-person human connections matter more in the age of AI
04:50 – Using AI (“Cat”) as the ultimate wingman for graphic design & business plans
07:15 – The upcoming 80s-themed Business Development event at Gallery Defy
09:20 – Rebalancing the ratio: Shifting to 90% business, 10% fun 11:40 – Phone-free networking & bringing back authentic 1-on-1 conversations
14:50 – Monetizing the connector role: Value creation through post-event deal-making
17:40 – Mike’s feedback on event size, noise levels, and quality vs. quantity
19:50 – Pre-event matchmaking: Gamifying attendee profiles & deal alignment
22:00 – Overcoming networking fatigue: Cutting through the noise to find real partners
25:00 – Combining data-driven preparation with human connection
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