With the conclusion of Virtual 2020 SQL Saturday in Los Angeles event organized by Data Driven Technologies Inc (“DDT”), a local 501.c.3 non-profit, we realized that we had one unanticipated sponsor that signed up last-minute – Google Cloud Platform (“GCP”) with $100. You can of course rightfully say, don’t look at a gift horse in the mouth – you have a sponsor and money, be thankful.
While we are thankful for every sponsor dollar spent, it’s hard to see why $100 would buy a sponsorship at our event since our tiers are starting at $250. Additionally, it would be hard to explain to our lower tier event sponsors (the insurance agency and car dealership) how Google can spend only $100 while receiving the same benefits. Somehow Google sponsoring with just $100 doesn’t click for me. I’m sure Google can afford more than that for a technical event, especially since we had a session on Google Big Query ML. Ironically, this is not about Google, but rather the ill-fated PASS new sponsorship tier – Global SQLSaturday Supporting Sponsor starting at $22K (read more here).
We at the DDT decided to step up and provide sponsors with options, lower-cost alternative to PASS. While PASS is charging about 50% for it’s overhead, we will do it at cost, i.e. 5% (we just need you to cover any PayPal/credit card fees).
What is there for you as a sponsor? You get the same job done cheaper and we are confident that we will do a better job.
What is there for us you would ask? We truly think that community events such SQL Saturday should have more sponsors and virtually every dollar from sponsor needs to reach the organizers.
What do I need to do as a sponsor? You as a sponsor decide how many and which SQL Saturday events you would like to sponsor (we can provide you with a list), send us the money, and we will take care of everything else. We can provide you with the same Branding Benefits that PASS has to offer (excluding SQLSaturday website that we have no control of) and more.
DDT offerings for SQL Saturday sponsors:
- Provide you with data, so you target specific events (historical event attendee numbers, titles, locations, employers)
- Money disbursement (we will sign up on your behalf and pay the invoice)
- Logistics (we will contact the organizers and provide them with your marketing) materials
- Brand presence (we will try to source local speakers for your sponsor session and ask organizers to man the table)
- Provide you with post-event numbers
Questions, feedback, comments? Please feel free to reach us out – info@datadriventechnologies.org
