One way would be to enlist the help of Mike Merz :P Of course, that won't guarantee that you'll get anybody on board, seeing as much of it depends on the quality of your offer and how you start the dialogue.
There's also live events. I've never had the opportunity though, and I won't (because of school) until around this time next year probably. I hear they're great for networking, even with big players.
There are a few other ways of course, but do keep in mind that big players are usually very busy with their own stuff or fulfilling obligations to their JV buddies. So for a new person to get their attention, you'll need a great product and a great offer - irresistible even