Have some initial questions about Silicon Alley Sports or any of our events? Many other people do too. Here are some common Q&A:
Q. How do I participate?
A. If you are a founder, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, angel investor, digital media executive, or ecosystem supporter (i.e., advertising agency executive, entrepreneurial lawyer, M&A guru, etc.), please reach out to us under the "Get Involved" link in the nav bar. If you are unsure if you should attend, read this page. From there, we will be in touch. Note, due to size constraints, we cannot allow everyone who contacts us to participate. Golf, pickleball and tennis do not scale. We give preference to entrepreneurs/founders and digital media executives and hand-pick each attendee. Please note that all our events are open to anyone of any gender, race, or ethnicity.
Q. How does the day of the Silicon Alley Golf Invitational and Pickleball Invitational unfold?
Q. Who participates in the events?
A. We have a page dedicated to this question here. In short, members of the digital and technology community in New York and the surrounding tri-state area.
Q. Does it cost money to participate?
A. Yes, we charge a per-event fee. Our supporters partially subsidize the fee, and any remaining dollars get donated to charity. On average, the fee is around $400 +/- to participate. If you are not playing but still coming for networking and the luncheon, you still pay a nominal fee to cover food costs + donations. If you cannot afford to attend but believe you should be there, please reach out, and we can discuss it.
Q. What if I don't play golf or play tennis? Can I still come to the event?
A. Yes, we named this The Schmoozer (historically known as The Steinberg). You can learn more about why on the history page. You would generally attend our networking bbq luncheon, keynote, awards, and enjoy some time with the participants and supporters.
Q. I might want my company to sponsor the event; how do we get in touch?
A. We'd be delighted to talk to your company, but note we try and pick companies who are relevant to the attendees. You can get in touch with us here and learn about previous sponsors on this page. Note, we call our sponsors “supporters” and they generally have category exclusivity.
Q. What is the format of the events?
A. The events change from year to year. Typically, The Silicon Alley Golf Invitational follows the format of: 7:15 am breakfast, 18 holes of golf, large luncheon, keynote, awards ceremony, and wrap-up. We typically like to get people on the road to their families around 4-5pm. It's a super long day. Pickleball follows similar timing as they occur on the same day at the same place. For The Silicon Alley Tennis Invitational, it’s usually an afternoon start, early dinner, and head home just after dark.
Q. I read above that there are keynote speeches - who has spoken in the past?
A. For the past few years, we've been experimenting with keynotes. We've had Hugh Mcleod (Laughing Squid), Andy Dunn (Bonobos), and Doc Searls (Cluetrain Manifesto, The Intention Economy), Patrick McEnroe (former Tennis Pro, ESPN Analyst), Sydney Finkelstein (author of Superbosses, Prof. Tuck School of Business) give some inspiring talks. If you have a speaker recommendation or would like to speak, get in contact with us.
Q. How good is the golf competition? Will I be able to compete?
A. Some golfers shoot in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, but most tend to shoot in the 90s and low 100s. Why? They are busy building companies and prioritizing this over their golf game. If you have any questions about your game and how you’ll fit in with the crowd, never hesitate to ask.
Q. How are foursomes created?
A. Our founder, Darren Herman, single-handedly creates every foursome, similar to how you did your wedding or bar mitzvah tables. It's a pain in the ass, but since he generally knows every player, he can mix both personalities and athletic performance. Each foursome should have a shot at winning - we mix the good, the bad, and the ugly. No, you cannot buy a foursome. This is similar for tennis and pickleball. All pairings are done similarly.
Q. What is the format for tennis and pickleball?
A. We will play a round-robin doubles format based on skill and ability. All genders are encouraged to join, and we will release the doubles partners at the event. For each match, we switch up partners so you can meet and play with more people. You count the games you win and report your individual game score. The top game winners compete in the finals.
Q. What if I cannot play on the date selected?
A. We try to select a date for our events that least conflict with industry events. If you cannot attend on the date, then you'll miss the event - simple. If you'd still like to stay involved and attend the supporting events (cocktail parties, etc), you'll have that ability. Just contact us.
Q. I noticed I'm in a picture on this website and would like to be removed. How can I do that?
A. Send us a note and we will pull it down.