Epic Events Podcast with
Martin Fretwell

How B2B Companies Can Leverage Intentional Experiences to Accelerate Growth

  • Martin Fretwell

    Martin Fretwell is a seasoned event strategist and the co-founder of Event Driven Growth. His job is simple: Helping venture-backed startups to turn events into high-ROI growth channels. With over 16 years in the industry, Martin knows exactly what works and what doesn’t when it comes to making events drive real business results.

About the Episode

Are your B2B events fueling business growth or just burning through your budget?

Let’s be honest: Most VC-backed startups throw money at events without a real strategy. They book a venue, send some invites, and hope for the best. But here’s the thing: Events have insane potential when done right. More reach. Stronger networks. Real impact.

In this episode of Epic Events Podcast, Muhammad Younas sits with Martin Fretwell to break down event-driven growth. From executive dinners that spark real conversations to B2B events that keep attendees hooked, Martin shares battle-tested strategies to make your events work smarter, not harder.

Key Takeaways

  • Stop treating events as expenses. Set clear goals, align with business objectives, and track how each event drives customer acquisition, retention, and brand growth.
  • Make networking intentional. Use structured seating, curated guest lists, and guided conversations to spark real business relationships.
  • Bring energy to B2B events. Take inspiration from B2C. Use storytelling, interactivity, and emotional moments to create events people remember and talk about.
  • Measure event impact long-term. Track how events drive business growth on a year-on-year basis throughout the marketing funnel. This is how it would look:
    • Discovery: How many new people find your brand?
    • Engagement: How well do events nurture relationships?
    • Growth: How many attendees become customers or advocates?
  • Keep the initial registration simple. Capture only essential details upfront and gather deeper insights through post-registration steps.
  • Keep engagement high before the event. Send pre-event emails, personalized invites, or interactive content (like polls or discussion prompts) to build anticipation and connection.