While for some people networking is an easy task, for others it’s akin to punishment. With both categories in mind, Vincent Lorent and Aloïs Echard have come up with Fyndup, a mobile app that facilitates networking at professional events. Halfway between Linkedin and Tinder, Fyndup promises its users targeted, personalised and fluid networking, with the possibility of interacting with their ‘matches’ before, during and after a business event. The application has already attracted more than 600 Fyndupers in Brussels…. in just 3 months of operation. Very promising.
Breaking the ice even before the event
Having worked in the events sector for several years, Vincent and Aloïs know better than anyone: « in networking, it’s often the first contact that is the most difficult. » Glass in hand, in a room full of strangers, the first step can be a tricky one. By logging on to Fyndup, users can now identify and even contact other participants ahead of an event. A great way to break the ice before the big night. To use the app, all users have to do is create an introductory profile with useful professional information. Then all they have to do is register for an event and consult the profiles of the other participants. Request for connection, acceptance, discussion in messaging mode… then everything works just like on an (almost) classic social network.
« Precise targeting and quality of contact are the keys to successful networking »
Match-making for greater efficiency
Because an event is stealthy by nature, it’s important to choose your interactions carefully. Based on a match-making system, the Fyndup application « automatically identifies the individuals most relevant to each user’s network » and makes personalised suggestions. If, despite this, users have not had time to meet all their targets, they will still be able to contact them by email after the event.
On the organisers’ side, Fyndup offers a personalised management space that enables event managers to easily create, modify or delete events « thanks to a calendar centralising all networking activities by sector of activity ». In addition, organisers can access other functions such as ticketing management and the generation of statistical reports on participants at their events.
On the road to adoption
Fyndup’s agenda is now filling up fast. And with good reason. The recent signing of several strategic partnerships with hub.brussels, Pulse foundation and Odoo Experience, as well as the confirmation of a long-term collaboration with the Cercle de Wallonie – more than 150 events a year – promise Vincent and Aloïs a future as bright as it is busy. Not inclined to rest on their laurels, the two partners are already thinking about the future and working on improvements such as the integration of new functions or the creation of « ultra-precise filters to refine targeting ». Investors beware: in order to accelerate its development, FyndUp will be raising funds in 2024.
