Wonder Technologies Networking Platform [Review]

Wonder: What Is It?

Wonder is a virtual event space where event planners can host virtual networking events, small-scale conferences, and workshops. The platform was built to enable virtual event planners to create spontaneity, movement, and agency in their online networking events. Attendees navigate a 2D space to meet new people, observe different conversations, and leave and join conversations at will by “walking” their avatars from one area to another. Rather than a replacement for a virtual event platform, Wonder functions as a networking space that can be integrated into a virtual event experience.

Wonder is made up of three key parts: rooms, areas and circles.

Wonder is easy to set up and is accessed via a private URL that hosts can password protect. To enter the Wonder room, guests will be prompted to provide the relevant browser permissions, select their camera and microphone, enter their name, and take a photo. No other signup or downloads are needed.

Let’s take a closer look at the platform.

Main Feature Categories

Networking Space. The main feature of Wonder is the networking space itself where all of the interactions for guests take place. Event planners can increase the engagement by creating topic-related Areas for guests to meet, customize the platform background, set up ice breaker questions, send messages, and lock private conversations to prevent other guests from joining.

Presentation stage. The presentation stage enables hosts to broadcast live updates and reminders by pausing all conversations in the room. Wonder allows up to six people with the host password to broadcast at the same time. This is useful when hosting a panel session or keynote on the platform.

Review

WHO’S IT FOR?

Wonder’s networking platform is best suited to event planners who are looking for alternative ways to facilitate virtual networking. The tool is best suited for smaller events of up to 1500 guests or as a dedicated networking area of larger conferences. Large scale organisers can also use Wonder by using multiple topic-related Spaces and splitting their attendees into smaller groups. This can facilitate more meaningful connections between conference participants.

WHO’S IT NOT FOR?

Wonder’s networking platform is not designed or suited to be the virtual event platform for conferences or trade shows themselves, and is better viewed as an add-on to your virtual event platform that allows for more spontaneous conversations and interaction between participants. Wonder limits each Space to 1500 guests, but as stated earlier, larger events can still use the platform by segmenting their audience into smaller groups or using a Wonder Space as a networking activation within a larger-scale event.

Features

Multiple conversations in one room

Ice-breaker question

Lock conversation

Broadcast to guests

Control access to the room

Sending messages

Pricing and Plans

Wonder is free to use until the end of 2021. Additionally, the Wonder-team has indicated that users who signed up before pricing was introduced will retain some of those privileges beyond the end of 2021.

Pros and Cons

IN CONCLUSION

Wonder provides a solution to a problem many organisers have tried to overcome for their virtual events: The problem of how to create meaningful networking experiences similar to in-person events.

The ability to have up to 1500 guests in a room who can enter and leave conversations at will allows virtual guests to achieve some of the spontaneity characteristic of networking at in-person events.

Planners who are looking for new ways to encourage networking for their virtual events may want to test out Wonder’s capabilities.

Wonder offers multiple live demos a week and can be reached for further questions at [email protected].

Disclaimer: Reviews are paid for placements. While Event Manager Blog receives a fee to extensively look at the tool and review it in detail, the content of the review is independent and by no means influenced by the company. If you have any questions please use the contact us section.