The Conference Exchange

What The Conference Exchange does

The Conference Exchange (Confex) is a privately held software company founded in 1996 in Cumberland, Rhode Island, that provides a cloud-based conference and abstract management platform to professional associations and scientific societies. Its modular platform spans the full meeting lifecycle, including online abstract collection and peer review (scaled to 10,000 abstracts per meeting), speaker management via a configurable Speaker's Corner portal, conference planning with grid scheduling and conflict detection, presentation recording and distribution through the proprietary Confex Podium™ suite (recording over 10,000 presentations annually), electronic posters (ePosters), attendee mobile and web applications, registration supporting 50–8,500 registrants across multiple currencies, continuing education and ACCME-compliant credit claiming, exhibitor management, and virtual/hybrid attendance capabilities with integrations to Zoom and YouTube for live streaming.

The company's core technology is a configurable, browser-based SaaS platform with native integrations to the dominant Association Management Systems (iMIS, Personify, netFORUM), enabling single sign-on and real-time membership validation for association clients. Revenue is generated primarily through subscription and per-conference service fees for the software platform, supplemented by transaction fees on registration payment processing, on-demand content sales, and digital publication e-commerce. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting large professional societies, supported by configuration specialists, developers, and onsite AV teams.

In 2023, Confex was acquired by m|events, a European technology provider for medical and scientific conferences, and in 2024 merged with Advance Concepts, Inc., a DC-based AV production firm. As of July 1, 2023, the US business now operates under the m|events brand, combining conference management software with full-scale audio-visual production services. The company is not publicly listed, has not raised institutional venture funding, and is now a subsidiary of the privately held m|events group.

Name

The Conference Exchange

Legal name

The Conference Exchange

Website

https://confex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Conference Exchange provides cloud-based conference and abstract management software to professional associations in medicine, science, and engineering, supporting abstract submission, peer review, registration, presentation recording via Confex Podium, and hybrid attendance. Founded in 1996, it now operates as m|events in the US market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conference Management Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAM

Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYTHAHAFAB

Conference & Trade Show Registration Platforms

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Event Registration, Ticketing & Attendee Management Platforms

SECONDARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYMPAGAGAM

Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

SECONDARYHSACADAA

Meeting & Conference Planning & Coordination

Home & Personal Services/Event & Personal Concierge Services/Corporate Event & Meeting Services

Keywords

• Conference management software
• Abstract submission systems
• Event registration platforms
• Continuing education tracking
• Virtual conference solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Cumberland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Conference Management Software Services: Software-as-a-service model providing configurable tools for conference planners. Includes abstract collection, speaker management, registration, presentation management, and attendee apps. Revenue generated through service fees per conference or subscription arrangements.
2. Presentation Recording & Distribution: Confex PodiumTM recording services including post-production, web hosting, and distribution. Secure shopping cart enables sale of recordings, subscriptions, and on-demand content access.
3. Registration & Payment Processing: Credit card processing in multiple currencies (USD, CAD, EURO, JPY, INR) with payment reconciliation, refunds, and balance due notifications. Supports exhibitor and group registration fees.
4. Digital Publications & Content: E-commerce services for instant delivery of digital documents, recordings, standards, guidelines, and conference materials including multimedia recordings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Conference Exchange provides a modular, cloud-based event management software platform for professional associations and scientific/medical societies. Its suite covers abstract collection and peer review, speaker management, conference planning and scheduling, presentation recording and distribution (Confex Podium™), ePosters, attendee mobile/web apps, multi-currency registration, ACCME-compliant continuing education, exhibitor management, and virtual/hybrid attendance with webcasting and podcasting.

Product overview

The Conference Exchange (Confex) offers a comprehensive, modular event management software platform for medical, scientific, and professional conferences. The core portfolio includes integrated modules for abstract collection and submission, speaker management via Speaker's Corner, conference planning with peer review and scheduling tools, presentation management with Confex Podium recording and ePosters, attendee apps with native iOS/Android and web versions, registration, continuing education and credits, exhibitor management, and event logistics. Supporting services include design, data protection, and onsite support. The platform is designed as a modular system allowing organizations to implement specific products based on their conference needs, with strong integration capabilities for Association Management Systems (iMIS, Personify, netFORUM) and streaming platforms (Zoom, YouTube).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Confex PodiumTM: Software for managing, recording, and sharing conference presentations in multimedia format. Deployed at hundreds of meetings since 2003.

Products and services

• Speaker Management (Speaker's Corner) Configurable Speaker's Corner portal for professional associations where invited speakers complete all requirements online, including intent to present, copyright agreements, recording permissions, file uploads, CVs, honoraria, travel arrangements, hotel confirmations, and CME/COI disclosures.
• Abstract Collection Online abstract submission and review system capable of processing up to 10,000 abstracts per meeting, supporting scientific abstracts with special characters, graphics, tables, images, and 30+ file formats, with native integration to Association Management Systems (iMIS, Personify, netFORUM) via single sign-on.
• Conference Planning Conference planning and scheduling module with peer review (blinded options), automatic reviewer assignment, conflict checking, session-to-room and time-slot assignment, and grid/quick scheduling tools for complex multi-track programs.
• Presentation Management Presentation management suite that integrates Confex Podium recording, ePosters for virtual and in-person poster sessions, and virtual attendance with webcasting and podcasting for end-to-end presentation lifecycle management.
• Confex Meeting App Native iOS and Android attendee app with browser-based online program, offering real-time updates, offline availability, QR code scanning, access control, personalized scheduling, bookmarking, messaging, networking tools, and audience response polling.
• Registration Full-featured registration system supporting 50–8,500 registrants with individual, group, and exhibitor registration, payment processing in multiple currencies (USD, CAD, EURO, JPY, INR), dynamic discounting, badge management, onsite kiosks, and integration with abstract and mobile app systems.
• Continuing Education & Credits Comprehensive continuing education solution with accreditation agency integration, session evaluation, pre/post tests, credit certificates, self-assessment modules, quizzing, and instant certificate delivery, supporting ACCME and other accreditors.
• Exhibitor Management Exhibitor management module with interactive booth map, exhibitor index generation, booth and personnel registration, exhibitor profile collection, advertising and sponsorship management, virtual exhibit capabilities, and lead collection tools.
• Event Management Event logistics management for social events, field trips, committee meetings, meeting room reservations, AV needs, food and beverage services, room configuration, volunteer management, expense tracking, and integration with conference center and AV vendor outputs.
• Confex Podium Proprietary presentation recording and management system that collects, checks, monitors, distributes, cues, and records conference presentations in synchronized multimedia format, publishing online or on DVD within 24 hours, recording over 10,000 presentations annually.
• ePosters Electronic poster presentation system supporting virtual ePosters with live video discussion for remote presenters, in-person ePosters on monitor stations, intellectual property protection, and certificate generation, replacing physical poster boards with multi-monitor displays.
• Virtual Attendance Virtual conference attendance platform enabling remote participation through webcasting, on-demand recordings, and audio podcasts, with secure shopping cart for paid access, Confex Podium recording, and integration with Zoom and YouTube for live streaming.
• Design Services Design services for digital and print publishing, including custom reports for InDesign and PDF output, ebook creation, and full program book and signage layout services, working with trusted print vendors and existing designer/printer relationships.
• Data Protection Services Data protection service including hierarchical password protection, separate client databases, GDPR-compliant privacy policies, secure archives with shopping cart for subscriptions, 99.9% server uptime, and 24-hour monitoring with emergency response.
• Onsite Services Onsite support services including speaker ready room setup, registration desk support, self-serve kiosk assistance, badge printing, and AV technical support during conferences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce costs by up to 100-fold compared to 1996 technology standards through advances in information technology
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• m|eventscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023In 2023, Confex became part of m|events, Europe's #1 technology provider for medical and scientific conferences. As of July 1st, Confex now operates as m|events in the US market. The merger combines Confex's conference management software with m|events' AV solutions to offer an all-in-one solution for the US market.
• Advance Concepts, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC-based audio visual production experts that joined the m|events team to support US market expansion. This partnership enables support for events through every stage from planning to post-production, scaling from intimate events to the largest multi-room conferences.
• iMISsupportingTechnology or IntegrationAssociation Management System integration partner. Works with Confex to validate membership and registration status, import personal information in real time, and enable single sign-on reducing user authentication friction.
• PersonifysupportingTechnology or IntegrationAssociation Management System integration partner. Provides membership verification and registration data synchronization with Confex conference management platform.
• netFORUMsupportingTechnology or IntegrationAssociation Management System integration partner. Enables integration with Confex for member validation, real-time data import, and single sign-on capabilities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• RainFocus: Enterprise event marketing platform serving large conferences and trade shows with registration, content management, and personalized attendee experiences—directly competing for the same large-association and enterprise event RFPs.
• Cvent: Largest incumbent in event management software, serving associations, corporations, and trade shows with registration, mobile apps, abstract management, and virtual event capabilities—a much broader portfolio that overlaps Confex's offerings.
• Bizzabo: Modern event experience platform offering registration, mobile apps, and hybrid/virtual event solutions to mid-market and enterprise customers, competing with Confex for the same association and enterprise event budgets.
• Stova (formerly Aventri): Event management platform offering registration, abstract management, and mobile solutions for associations and corporations—directly overlapping with multiple Confex modules.
• Eventbrite: Large-scale event ticketing and registration platform; while skewed to consumer/smaller events, it competes for registration dollars in segments adjacent to Confex's association base.

Direct peers

• CadmiumCD: Direct competitor providing event management software purpose-built for associations and professional societies, including abstract submission, speaker management, registration, and mobile apps—the same core workflow modules Confex delivers.
• vFairs: Virtual and hybrid event platform serving associations and enterprises with registration, virtual venues, and content libraries—overlapping with Confex's virtual attendance and ePoster capabilities.
• Pathable: Event app and community platform purpose-built for associations and conferences, offering mobile apps, networking, and hybrid meeting features comparable to Confex Meeting App.
• m|events: European parent company and direct peer in the same medical/scientific conference technology category; provides cloud-based platforms and AV solutions across Europe, overlapping entirely with Confex's product suite in a different geography.
• Conference Compass: Conference app and engagement platform serving associations and medical societies, offering native mobile apps, live polling, and networking features comparable to Confex Meeting App.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/confexsolution
• Facebookfacebook.com/conferenceexchange
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-conference-exchange

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Conference Exchange