Converation Starter

What Converation Starter does

Conversation Starter BV is a privately held Belgian SaaS company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Antwerp, operating a web-based event networking and matchmaking platform used by conference organizers, fair operators, business communities, accelerators, universities, governments, and recruitment event hosts. The platform uses an AI-driven recommendation engine that has calculated over 150 million relevancies to suggest optimal meeting partners, schedule compatible meeting times, and — for in-person events — direct attendees to designated meeting points. Built-in peer-to-peer video calling, powered by the Vonage Video API, runs entirely in the browser without requiring participants to install software; the platform supports online, in-person, and hybrid event formats.

The product surface includes specialized modules for online conferences, recruitment events (vacancy board, CV upload, employer matching), lead generation events, and business community events, with add-on capabilities such as sponsor booths, whitelabel branding, Eventbrite ticketing integration, and an event reporting dashboard. Pricing is quote-based, calculated per event based on type, format, participant count, exhibitor count, and video content needs, with multi-event and non-profit discounts available. The company serves organizations across 60+ countries — its listed customers include ING, Voka, EY, KU Leuven, Google, Deloitte, BelCham, the European Commission, Techstars, VDAB, and Imec.istart — and reports 250,000+ meetings planned through the platform with a 95% show-up rate.

Revenue mechanics are event-licensing driven rather than seat-based subscription; the business appears bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding rounds, and is operated by a small core team (Rutger as CEO, Dries Hendrickx as COO handling sales and operations, plus content, development, design, advisory, and event success roles). Go-to-market is sales-led with personal 15-minute product walkthroughs and dedicated success coaches assisting from setup through communication strategy. Technology infrastructure relies on AWS, MongoDB Atlas, Vonage, Mixpanel, Intercom, and Mailgun, and the company is GDPR-compliant with a consent-first data handling posture aligned to Belgian privacy law.

Name

Converation Starter

Legal name

Conversation Starter BV

Website

https://conversationstarter.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Conversation Starter is an Antwerp-based SaaS platform that uses an AI-driven recommendation engine and browser-based video calling to power networking, matchmaking, and 1:1 meeting scheduling for online, in-person, and hybrid events, serving conference organizers, recruitment events, lead generation programs, and business communities across 60+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Networking and Matchmaking Software

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821), Information (51)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHAOAC

Virtual Networking & Matchmaking Solutions (1:1, Group, AI Matchmaking)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Virtual & Hybrid Event Solutions

SECONDARYTHAHAFAE

Attendee Mobile Apps & Engagement Platforms

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

SECONDARYTHAHAFAB

Conference & Trade Show Registration Platforms

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

SECONDARYTHACAFAB

Meeting & Event Program Technology (Registration, Apps, Badging)

Travel & Hospitality/Business Travel & Corporate Travel Management/Meetings & Group Travel Management (Corporate)

SECONDARYHDAAAFAC

Conversational AI Platforms (chat/voice bots, orchestration)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning/Speech, Audio & Conversational AI

Keywords

• Event networking platform
• AI matchmaking software
• Virtual event networking
• Conference matchmaking tool
• Hybrid event software

Headquarters

HQ city

Antwerp

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Event-Based Licensing: Pricing is quote-based and calculated per event, based on event type (Community, Conference, Recruitment, Buyer-Supplier, Investor matchmaking, Academic, Lead generation), format (In-person, Online, Hybrid), number of participants, number of exhibiting organizations, and video content requirements.
2. Multi-Event Discounts: Organizations hosting multiple events per year receive personalized discounts for repeat business.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Conversation Starter sells a web-based event networking and matchmaking platform that helps event organizers facilitate meaningful one-on-one meetings at conferences, job fairs, recruitment events, lead generation events, and business communities. The platform combines an AI-driven participant recommendation engine, custom networking profiles with ice-breaker requests and offers, built-in browser-based video calling, sponsor booths, and event reporting dashboards, supporting in-person, online, and hybrid event formats on a per-event quote-based pricing model.

Product overview

Conversation Starter is a single unified SaaS platform for event networking and matchmaking. The core platform provides AI-driven participant matching, built-in video calling, networking profiles with ice breakers, and event reporting. The platform includes specialized modules for different event types: Online Conferences, Recruitment Events, Lead Generation Events, and Business Community Events, all accessible through a single product with configurable features. Additional capabilities include Sponsor Booth promotion, Whitelabel Branding, Eventbrite ticketing integration, and personal set-up coaching services. The platform supports in-person, online, and hybrid event formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conversation Starter Platform All-in-one web-based event networking and matchmaking platform for event organizers running in-person, online, or hybrid events. Combines an AI-driven recommendation engine, networking profiles with ice-breaker requests and offers, built-in video calling, sponsor booths, and event reporting dashboards.
• Online Conference Module Conference networking module providing tailor-made networking capabilities for online conferences, including scheduled or automatic 1-on-1 meetings, breakout rooms, sponsor booths, Eventbrite ticketing integration, and event reporting dashboards.
• Recruitment Event Module Networking module for online recruitment events featuring vacancy boards, CV uploads, employer booths with custom branding and downloadable content, and AI-powered job seeker to vacancy matching.
• Lead Generation Event Module Networking solution for B2B lead generation events featuring rich data qualification through customizable networking profiles, instant meeting scheduling, exhibitor highlights, and sponsor promotion capabilities.
• Business Community Event Module Networking platform for business communities, alumni networks, investor communities, and sector federations, enabling customizable events with measurable engagement metrics, sponsor promotion, and video content integration.
• In-Person Event Module Event matchmaking module for in-person networking where an AI-driven meeting planner directs participants to meeting points, with speaker schedule management and workshop registration capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95.2% average engagement rate for scheduled meetings
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• Vonage Video APIcoreTechnology or IntegrationCore technology partner providing peer-to-peer video calling capability directly integrated into the platform. Enables participants to join video calls without downloading software.
• EventbritemoderateTechnology or IntegrationTicketing platform integration allowing participants to sign up for events and create networking profiles simultaneously through Eventbrite checkout.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• vFairs: vFairs is an established virtual and hybrid event platform with matchmaking, exhibitor booths, and registration. It overlaps with Conversation Starter on conference networking but operates a broader event management portfolio.
• Bizzabo: Bizzabo is a broader event experience platform covering registration, marketing, and onsite solutions. It competes in conference and hybrid event workflows that overlap with Conversation Starter's organizer-focused offering.
• 6Connex: 6Connex provides virtual, hybrid, and in-person event platform solutions for enterprises, with networking and matchmaking capabilities. It is a broader incumbent serving the same event organizer customer base.
• Eventbrite: Eventbrite is a major ticketing and event registration platform with which Conversation Starter has a native integration. As a broad incumbent in event technology, it represents both a partner and an adjacent competitor for organizer wallet share.
• Hopin (RingCentral Events): Hopin, now RingCentral Events, is a broad virtual and hybrid event platform. While much larger in scope, it competes for the same event organizer customers in hybrid conferences and online networking use cases.

Direct peers

• Grip: Grip is an AI-powered event matchmaking and lead-capture platform focused on connecting attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors. It is highly comparable as a specialized networking/matchmaking play targeting the same conference organizer buyer.
• Brella: Brella is a direct competitor offering an event networking and matchmaking platform with AI-driven 1:1 meeting recommendations, built-in video, and sponsor tools for conferences. It targets the same organizer customer base and event formats as Conversation Starter.
• Swapcard: Swapcard provides AI-powered event matchmaking, networking, and community features for in-person, hybrid, and virtual events. It competes head-to-head with Conversation Starter across conference, community, and trade show segments.
• Hubilo: Hubilo is a virtual and hybrid event platform with strong networking, matchmaking, and community engagement features. It is comparable in addressing the same organizer persona with AI-driven 1:1 meeting scheduling.

Emerging players

• PheedLoop: PheedLoop is an emerging event management platform offering registration, networking, and engagement tools for conferences. It overlaps with Conversation Starter in attendee networking and engagement, though it is broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conversationstarter-net
• Xx.com/converstart

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 Converation Starter