What FaceTime does

FaceTime is a UK-based not-for-profit initiative founded in 2010 and headquartered in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, that serves as the exhibitor education arm of the Association of Event Organisers (AEO). It produces and distributes free educational content — including 20+ downloadable guides, a 16-part Exhibitor Shorts video series, original research publications, expert-led webinars, and scam-awareness resources — aimed at helping businesses improve their performance at trade shows and exhibitions.

The platform operates as a content hub rather than a software product, with no proprietary technology stack, no API, and no mobile application. Content is delivered through a self-serve website (facetime.org.uk, hosted on the ASP Events CMS), supplemented by organic social channels (Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr) and email. FaceTime has produced original industry research in partnership with Explori and N200, including a study analyzing over 250,000 attendees across 30 UK B2B exhibitions, and has co-developed topic-specific guides with specialist partners such as DB Schenker (Brexit: Movement of Goods) and law firm Freeths (Brexit: Movement of People).

Commercially, FaceTime does not generate revenue from end users; all content is provided free of charge. The initiative is funded by AEO membership dues and sponsor contributions, and is operationally supported by a small team of 19 staff. Its go-to-market is content-led and referral-driven: AEO member event organisers (such as Terrapinn) actively recommend FaceTime to their exhibitors as a neutral, impartial resource, creating a top-of-funnel distribution channel for the UK exhibition industry's SMB and enterprise exhibiting segment.

Name

FaceTime

Legal name

FaceTime

Website

https://facetime.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FaceTime is a UK-based AEO-funded not-for-profit initiative that produces free exhibitor training content — guides, videos, webinars, and research — to help businesses improve performance at trade shows, distributed via its website and event organiser referrals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkhamsted

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. AEO Membership Funding: FaceTime is funded by AEO (Association of Event Organisers) members and sponsors. It operates as a not-for-profit initiative providing free resources to the exhibition industry rather than generating commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FaceTime is a free, AEO-funded educational platform that provides exhibitor training and resources to businesses participating in trade shows and exhibitions. Its offerings include a library of 20+ downloadable guides, original research publications, a 16-part video series, expert-hosted webinars, and scam awareness content — all delivered at no cost to help exhibitors improve performance, generate leads, and measure ROI from face-to-face marketing.

Product overview

FaceTime is an exhibitor training and resources platform that provides a suite of educational tools for businesses using exhibitions as a marketing channel. The core offering consists of downloadable guides covering topics such as event selection, stand design, pre-show marketing, GDPR compliance, budgeting, and international exhibiting. Supplementary offerings include a 16-part exhibitor video series, research publications on exhibition effectiveness and attendee behavior, webinars with expert hosts, and scam awareness resources. The platform operates as a centralized knowledge hub rather than a software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exhibitor Guides Collection A comprehensive library of 20+ downloadable guides covering all aspects of exhibiting at trade shows, including Brexit guidance (Movement of Goods, Movement of People), GDPR compliance, PR strategies, social media marketing, budgeting, stand design (Stand & Deliver), and international exhibition guidance. Produced for exhibiting businesses and marketers at no cost.
• Research Publications Data-driven research reports on exhibition effectiveness including Event Advocacy studies (The Power to Influence, comparing 12 trade and consumer shows), The Power of Live Events analysis, and The B2B Exhibition Visitor profiling study based on over 250,000 attendee records across 30 UK B2B exhibitions. Produced for marketers, business directors, and event organisers.
• Exhibitor Shorts Video Series A 16-part video series providing exhibitor training and tips covering exhibition fundamentals, event selection, planning, marketing, staff management, visitor engagement, data collection, and ROI measurement. Available free on the FaceTime website for exhibiting businesses.
• Webinars Online webinar sessions featuring expert hosts covering various exhibiting topics, including question and answer sessions. Free for exhibitors and marketers seeking interactive training on exhibition best practices.
• Scam Awareness Resources Educational resources warning exhibitors about fraudulent directory services and scam companies (such as Event Fair, FairGuide.com/Construct Data Verlag, Expo Guide, and International Fairs Directory) targeting the exhibition industry, including guidance on identification, reporting, and avoidance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of millennials at exhibitions have purchasing influence
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• DB SchenkerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced the 'Brexit: Movement of Goods' guide in conjunction with DB Schenker, a global logistics company, providing exhibitors with guidance on Brexit-related logistics.
• FreethsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced the 'Brexit: Movement of People' guide in conjunction with Freeths, a law firm, providing exhibitors with guidance on immigration and personnel movement post-Brexit.
• ExploriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for the 'Event Advocacy - The Power to Influence' study. Explori compared responses from 12 trade and consumer shows with control groups to identify influential attendee behaviours.
• N200minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation with N200 for the 'Profiler: The B2B Exhibition Visitor' research study that analysed profiles of more than 250,000 attendees across 30 B2B exhibitions in the UK.
• GESminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGES contributed to the 'Stand & Deliver' guide, providing expertise on exhibition stand design, space requirements, and how to impress visitors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Cvent: Large event management platform providing registration, marketing, and event technology with associated education resources — a broader incumbent serving the same event marketer persona as FaceTime.
• UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry): Global trade association for the exhibition industry, providing research, education, and industry programmes to members worldwide — a broader incumbent to AEO/FaceTime's UK-focused exhibitor education scope.
• IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events): International association for exhibitions and events offering education, certification (CEM), and research — a broader incumbent producing comparable exhibitor training and content at international scale.
• GES (Global Experience Specialists): Large exhibition services provider offering stand design, build, and event experience solutions — already a FaceTime content partner (Stand & Deliver guide) and a broader incumbent touching exhibitor enablement.

Direct peers

• CEIR (Center for Exhibition Industry Research): Industry research and education organisation dedicated to the exhibitions industry, producing benchmarking, research reports, and education for exhibitors and organisers — directly comparable to FaceTime's role as an exhibitor knowledge hub.
• Event Leadership Institute (formerly Event Marketing Institute): Provider of professional education and certification for event marketers and organisers, offering courses, webinars, and content — comparable to FaceTime's training-led GTM aimed at the same exhibitor/event marketer audience.
• Velvet Chainsaw: Consulting and education firm focused on trade shows and exhibitions, producing research, training, and content for exhibitors and organisers — comparable to FaceTime's exhibitor education mission.
• Explori: Event research and benchmarking firm producing post-show research including the Event Advocacy study already co-produced with FaceTime — overlaps directly on data-driven exhibitor education content.
• 2Heads Global: Exhibition marketing agency providing strategy, design, and research for exhibitors and organisers, including thought-leadership content on exhibiting best practice — comparable to FaceTime on the marketing-research-for-exhibitors axis.

Emerging players

• Bizzabo: Event experience and marketing platform with content and education resources for event marketers — adjacent to FaceTime's audience of event marketers, but operating as a software platform rather than a neutral educational initiative.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/facetimeuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/facetime

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 FaceTime