MeetMatch Networking Software and Event App [Review]

Disclaimer: Skift Meetings receives a fee to review this product. The content below is verified for accuracy and aims to provide an objective look at the product’s key features, potential uses, and pricing, among other factors.

MeetMatch is an event technology provider that combines an advanced AI-powered networking app for events with a native registration system and an event platform, complete with video chat and live streaming capabilities.

What Is It?

While MeetMatch offers a suite of core event technology solutions, its key differentiator lies in its business matchmaking software. This USP (unique selling proposition) boils down to the following key functions, which we will explain in greater detail in the “Main Features” section below:

• Internet-wide data collection to find publicly available information on attendees and their companies
• AI-based matchmaking that leverages this internet-wide data along with information that attendees provide directly (e.g. during registration)
• Real-time availability checking for top-rated matches (either onsite or logged in)
• A proprietary algorithm used to gauge business compatibility between potential matches

According to its own data, MeetMatch’s AI matchmaking leads to productive business connections — as measured by those who book follow-up meetings post-event — over 50 percent of the time. By comparison, MeetMatch’s own research suggests that the baseline success rate with random matching is 5 percent. Further, MeetMatch offers a number of add-on matchmaking services, such as follow-up data-gathering questions for its “open business communities” (multi-event clients). With these added services, MeetMatch’s self-reported success rate for productive connections exceeds 85 percent.

In addition to its innovative approach to AI-driven matchmaking, MeetMatch includes a number of tools and features that form the bedrock of event technology: an in-house registration system, a schedule/agenda, attendee profiles, chat and video chat functionality, Q&A tools, evaluation forms/surveys, interactive floor maps, live streaming, and gamification options.

It’s also worth noting that MeetMatch brands its event platform and app as an “OS” or operating system, as some other players in the industry have done. This term is used to indicate that the platform supports multiple devices and can be integrated with many other kinds of software, including third-party registration systems (when desired) and CRMs. Additionally, custom coding/scripting services are available along with real-time updates.

Main Feature Categories

Advanced Event Matchmaking

Internet-wide data collection:
MeetMatch’s software will scan the internet for information related to an attendee’s business profile. This data-scrubbing process is primarily focused on the attendees’ parent companies, but it will also look for key professional details that are available publicly. Examples of relevant information sources include company websites, patent database, Wikipedia, and social media.

Real-time availability monitoring:
The MeetMatch platform will check which matched contacts are available to meet, either because they have checked-in at an onsite event venue or logged-in through its virtual platform. In this way, the software combines pre-determined compatibility with spontaneous flexibility. With that said, the MeetMatch platform also supports pre-scheduled appointments for organizers who prefer this approach.

Proprietary business compatibility algorithm:
Rather than match attendees based on shared interests — which MeetMatch believes can risk pairing them with their direct competitors — the software determines each attendee’s core business and then finds a match with a closely-related area of focus. According to MeetMatch, the greatest potential for business synergy lies between individuals who are similar but not the same. In other words, their core businesses should be adjacent, but not overlapping. Additionally, MeetMatch’s AI is able to analyze over 5 million different business-related concepts and understand their relevance to one another. For example, someone from a fruit juice company might be matched with a microbiologist who specializes in food preservatives.

Grouping by complementary talents:
In addition to factoring in which attendees are most likely to be compatible as business partners, MeetMatch’s matchmaking software can also be used to group professionals together according to complementary talents for collaboration purposes. For example, a focus group of a marketing professional, a technical designer, and a salesperson could be useful for roundtable product innovation exercises.

Four networking activity formats:
MeetMatch’s networking activity options are divided into four main categories, each of which can be mixed and matched at the event organizer’s discretion. Additionally, both group matching and one-to-one matching are available, and all formats can be applied either online or in an in-person setting. The main formats are as follows:

• Pre-Planned: Attendees are given access to other profiles in advance, with access to a complete list of profiles sorted by matching score, or to a curated list of those recommended by the AI software. Attendees are then responsible for scheduling their own appointments by messaging contacts of interest.
• Auto-Planned: The attendee list is sorted by matching score, with attendees notifying the event organizer about who they would like to meet. The organizer then uses the software’s booking system to auto-coordinate all the meetings.
• Speed Networking: Designed to function well as a speed networking app, the MeetMatch platform does a real-time scan of who is available to meet, and then matches attendees with the highest-rated (new) contact at any given time.
• Auto-Generated Attendee Lists: This format is designed for MeetMatch’s “community” clients who run multiple events a year. When a community manager develops a new event idea, the AI system will automatically generate a list of the community members/past attendees who are most likely to benefit from the chosen topic.

Unique User Interface Features

Themeable and zero-click interfaces:
The MeetMatch platform offers three different interface themes — casual (most suited to entertainment-related events), business (ideal for data-focused business events), and immersive (optimal for engagement). The difference between the “casual” and “business” interfaces is primarily a matter of styling, with the former using rounded edges on widgets instead of square. The “immersive” option, in turn, places emphasis on video content (pre-recorded video, video chat, streaming) by making it almost full screen, with (very minimal) menus positioned on top. All three themes can provide attendees with a “zero-click experience,” meaning that once they log in, all of the event content will automatically play, and any video chat meetings they have will automatically start on the homepage screen. Because of its emphasis on video content, the immersive theme is best adapted to the zero-click approach.

Search filters:
Multiple pages within the MeetMatch platform can be searched according to business-related criteria. For example, the “companies” page is typically divided into four tabs: “All,” which allow attendees to browse all exhibitor profiles at once; “Filter,” with a search field to sort them under customizable categories; “Interests,” showing all the companies the attendee has “starred”; and “Recommended,” highlighting a curated list of those recommended by the platform’s AI software.

Review

MeetMatch offers a highly advanced approach to networking that sets it apart from competitors. In fact, MeetMatch boldly states that its AI matchmaking provides 40 times more ROI than standard event tech.

Skift Meetings has been given access to the analysis backing this assertion, and it is based on a combination of MeetMatch’s own data along with estimates of industry benchmarks. MeetMatch has developed elaborate comparisons of its own system against several other methods, including human-powered matchmaking and AI-powered pairing based on self-reported interests. It faults the former for being inefficient and lacking scalability, and the latter for imprecise matching. According to MeetMatch, the imprecision of interest-based matching can lead to contacts meeting competitors or those with similar personal (rather than business-related) interests.

The core of its argument, however, extrapolates from a ballpark estimate that random matchmaking leads to successful business contacts roughly 5 percent of the time. By comparison, MeetMatch’s self-reported success rate is over 50 percent. This statistic is based on MeetMatch’s continual effort to follow up with matches, who are directly asked if their connections have resulted in a post-event business meeting. (As mentioned earlier, this self-reported success rate increases to over 85 percent with various add-on solutions that MeetMatch offers, such as personalized follow-up questions for attendees after they have completed the initial registration process.)

While 50 percent is only 10 times higher than 5 percent, MeetMatch contends that the impact is multiplied by another factor of four because its speed networking software is able to detect who is available to meet at any given time (which helps to avoid the commonplace pitfalls of no-shows and meetings that go over time).

Although it is difficult for Skift Meetings to verify these precise statistics independently of MeetMatch’s own analysis and self-reported platform data, we can confirm that their product offers several innovative and advanced matchmaking solutions that are not available through other event tech providers. Further, it’s worth noting that a GDS Group event powered by MeetMatch technology won the 2022 Digital Event Awards “Best In-event Networking Model” prize.

In terms of its other event app features, MeetMatch’s “zero-click” interface and searchable directories (complete with AI compatibility scoring) stand out as unique differentiators.

Who’s it for?

MeetMatch clients include GDS, Informa, DHL, and MONDIALE. While the company has thus far focused primarily on bespoke solutions for enterprise clients, it is looking to scale up its model to reach a wider client base — with both white-glove and out-of-the-box solutions on offer. Top use cases include buyer-seller events, hosted buyer programs, job fairs, “brainwhirl events” focusing on engaging content and collaborative exercises, and business communities with multiple events across the year. Any event with a networking focus could stand to benefit from this kind of advanced AI-driven matchmaking.

Who’s it not for?

The MeetMatch platform and event app may not be suited to event organizers hosting small, single-track, one-off events with limited networking. Its AI software can, however, be used for content recommendations in addition to attendee matchmaking.

Pricing and Plans

MeetMatch does not make its pricing plans publicly available.

Features

Native registration: MeetMatch offers its own in-house registration system, which can make the data-gathering process more streamlined. Attendees have the option to register with their LinkedIn profile or using an email address.

Third-party registration: MeetMatch is also able to integrate with third-party registration platforms. In such cases, attendees are typically prompted to answer a short set of business-related questions when they log in to the platform.

AI-driven matchmaking: As detailed above, MeetMatch’s primary USP is its advanced AI matchmaking tool, which uses both self-reported data and a full scan of the internet for publicly available, business-related information on each attendee and their company. The breakdown of collected data is roughly 30 percent for individual professional details, and 70 percent for company-related information.

AI-powered content recommendations: MeetMatch’s AI-powered data analysis can be used for content recommendations and market segmentation. For example, it can generate lists of attendees most likely to be interested in specific content for the purpose of targeted email campaigns.

Data security and protection: MeetMatch is GDPR compliant, and all attendee data is kept within the full control of the event organizer. For example, they do not advertise alternative events to a given organizer’s attendees, nor do they share attendee data between different organizer accounts.

Integrations and custom coding: The MeetMatch platform is designed to be integrated with CRMs and other third-party software. Additionally, custom coding and scripting is available when needed.

Digital maps: In addition to offering interactive floor maps, MeetMatch includes the option to create a map showcasing the locations of exhibiting company headquarters.

Openers: MeetMatch offers a dedicated page for “Openers,” or offers that could be the beginning of a long-term business relationship. At a job fair, for example, this page could be used for internship postings. As with the company page, the list of openers can be filtered using customized search criteria and browsed by AI-backed compatibility scoring.

Data visualization combined with gamification: MeetMatch’s software includes advanced data visualization tools that can readily be adapted for gamification purposes. For example, attendees at a DHL event were prompted to click a button on their app to make a circular image of their headshot bounce on a large screen.

Data gathering and sharing incentives: In addition to scouring the internet for relevant information on attendees and their companies, MeetMatch can create videos to encourage attendees to answer further questions. For repeat clients, they are also able to develop personalized attendee surveys that help to further refine their matchmaking recommendations. Additionally, MeetMatch provides clients with extensive analytics on platform usage.

Authentication: MeetMatch includes facial recognition technology to automatically authenticate attendees during the check-in process.

AI-powered spam filtration: The event platform and app includes the ability to scan for (and remove) spam sent by fellow attendees.

Pros

• Advanced AI matchmaking based on business compatibility and/or complementary talents
• AI-driven content recommendations and curated attendee lists
• Adaptability to multiple networking activity models (e.g. pre-planned and speed networking)
• Unique interface designs such as a zero-click option and searchable directories
• Adherence to strict data privacy regulations
• Unique data visualization tools
• AI-powered spam filtration that protects high-profile attendees from being inundated with unsolicited marketing messages

Cons

• Because MeetMatch is continually refining its product and developing new innovations, it is sometimes prone to temporary glitches

In Conclusion

MeetMatch combines advanced AI matchmaking with industry-standard event app tools and features, making it a true innovator within the event tech sector. For those looking to take their networking to the next level, MeetMatch may be a solution worth exploring.

To learn more about MeetMatch, book a demo here.

Disclaimer: Skift Meetings receives a fee to review this product. The content below is verified for accuracy and aims to provide an objective look at the product’s key features, potential uses, and pricing, among other factors. If you have any questions please use the work with us section.