I would not fly to StrictlyVC Los Angeles hunting defense tech checks without a story beyond "AI for national security." Events surface investors and operators. They do not replace traction, compliance, and a buyer on contract.
Dress well. Still sell.
What these rooms are good for
Meeting funds that actually invest in your category, hearing how peers talk about procurement and dual-use timelines, and testing whether your one-liner confuses smart people before you burn a month on the wrong investor list.
What they are bad for
Replacing warm intros.
Skipping customer development.
