I do think there is a lot of value in networking as well, so this might not be the best approach for everyone, but it certainly is something you ought to consider as an approach to getting funding.
Perhaps not surprisingly, networking is much harder to pin down and target as a goal, and yet - as you said - it is so important, and undoubtedly part of the value proposition for the PASS Summit.
I made a point of trying to engage with others during lunch and other social engagements. I found the 'Birds of a Feather' a really great idea, because you knew that you were going to sit down and share thoughts with people who had similar challenges and opportunities. I also found it interesting to chat with experts in fields that I had no exposure to - people working with Share Point, for example.