How To Show Up At Expo West & Get Real ROI
Danielle Calabrese, Founder of It’s All Happening Agency on Expo West 2026
In this solo episode with Danielle, we break down how to actually get a return on your investment at Expo West — and it’s not just about buyer meetings or badge scans. Using our Expo West itinerary as a guide, we talk through how to approach everything from the Innovation Summit and Pitch Slam to CPG Sisterhood, Ladies Lounge, Anti-Expo, and the after-hours house parties with real strategy and intention. The biggest takeaway? ROI at Expo is built through proximity and community. The founders who win aren’t standing on the sidelines — they’re putting themselves in the middle of conversations, building relationships before they “need” them, making introductions, and becoming part of the ecosystem. This episode will help you shift from short-term transactional thinking to long-term momentum building, so you leave Expo with more than leads — you leave with positioning, visibility, and real community equity that compounds long after the show floor closes.
What we cover:
How to redefine ROI at Expo West — shifting from short-term buyer meetings and badge scans to long-term positioning, visibility, and relationship equity.
A strategic breakdown of the Expo West itinerary — from Innovation Summit and Pitch Slam to CPG Sisterhood, Ladies Lounge, Anti-Expo, and after-hours events — and how to show up with intention in every room.
Why community is your greatest growth lever — how putting yourself in the middle of conversations, building founder relationships, and contributing to the ecosystem creates momentum that compounds long after Expo ends.
Links to events mentioned in this episode:
Expo West new Hope Innovation Summit
Naturally Network HERE
Snaxshot & Misfits Party HERE
CPG Sisterhood Social HERE
America's Next Top Snack HERE
Startup CPG Ally Rally HERE
Ladies Lounge HERE
Anti Expo HERE
cpg house party HERE