A speed networking app runs short one-on-one conversations between event attendees for you. It builds the pairs, times each round, rotates partners and collects the connections at the end. The host doesn't have to shuffle people between rooms or watch a stopwatch. The best speed networking software goes a step further: it pairs people who actually want to meet, instead of leaving it to chance.
This guide covers what to look for in a virtual speed networking platform, how it compares to running the event by hand, and how SpeedNetworking works from setup to follow-up. New to the format itself? Start with our complete guide to speed networking.
What is a speed networking app?
Speed networking is a series of short conversations in pairs. Rounds usually last 5 to 7 minutes. When time is up, everyone moves on to a new partner. In about an hour, each attendee meets a handful of new people - sometimes more than ten.
In a ballroom, all you need are tables and a bell. Online, it gets harder. Someone has to open the rooms, assign the pairs, keep time, close the rooms and reopen them with a new lineup. With 40 people and 8 rounds, that's a lot of manual clicks while the event is live.
A fast networking app takes over that work. You set the number of rounds and how long each one lasts. The platform runs the rest. Attendees click a link, see their partner on video, and a few minutes later they're talking to someone new.
Speed networking software buyer's checklist
Before you commit to a tool, run through this list. Each item is a question worth asking any vendor.
Automatic rotation
Rounds should start and end on their own, with breaks and partner changes handled automatically. Ask whether you can pause the event, extend a round or skip one while it's running. Without those controls, one technical hiccup can throw off the whole schedule.
Matching, not just random pairs
Random pairing is the simplest option and usually the weakest. Find out if attendees can say who they want to meet before the event. Check whether the system avoids pairs where neither side is interested, and whether it mixes people from different industries.
Browser-based video, no downloads
Every required download costs you attendees at the door. Conversations should start with one click. A text chat next to the video helps when a mic acts up or someone wants to share an email address.
Attendee limits that fit your events
Be realistic about headcount. A plan built for 15 people won't handle a chamber of commerce mixer with 80. If you run a series, check the monthly event limit too. Our rotation calculator helps you work out rounds and total time.
Your brand, not the vendor's
Attendees should see your logo and colors. Look for at least a branded subdomain, and a custom domain if you run events at scale.
Contact export and follow-up
The real value of speed networking shows up after the event. Attendees need to know who they met and who wants to keep talking. As the organizer, you'll want to export attendees and matches, for example as a CSV file.
GDPR and consent
You're handling personal data: names, companies, email addresses, LinkedIn profiles. Ask where the data is stored, whether the vendor will sign a data processing agreement, and how consent for sharing contact details is collected. Who an attendee wants to meet should stay private.
Invoicing
If you're buying for a company, you'll need proper invoices. Ideally they're issued automatically with every payment, including reverse charge for EU businesses.
Conversation starters
The first 30 seconds with a stranger can be awkward. A good opening question fixes that. You can borrow from our list of speed networking questions, but it's even better when the platform suggests questions tailored to each pair.
DIY with video calls vs. a dedicated speed networking platform
Plenty of hosts start with what they already have: a video conferencing tool with breakout rooms, such as Zoom or Teams. Add a spreadsheet of pairs and a phone timer, and you can run an event. The question is how much work it takes and what you give up.
| DIY: video call + breakout rooms + spreadsheet + timer | Dedicated speed networking platform | |
|---|---|---|
| Building pairs | Assigned manually or at random, planned in a spreadsheet | Automatic, based on attendee preferences |
| Rotation | Host closes and reopens rooms every round | Rounds start and end on their own |
| Timekeeping | Stopwatch and manual announcements | Rounds and breaks timed automatically |
| Registration | A form, then copying emails into a sheet | A sign-up link where attendees build their own profile |
| Mid-event changes | Every delay means rebuilding rooms by hand | Pause, resume or extend a round from the live panel |
| Conversation topics | Generic prompts pasted into chat | Icebreakers tailored to each pair's profiles |
| Follow-up | Attendees swap details on their own | Mutual matches list and CSV export |
| Host's role | Technical operator for the whole event | Host who keeps an eye on the live panel |
The DIY route is fine for a one-off session with a dozen people. Once the group grows or you run events regularly, the hours you spend operating rooms cost more than the software.
How SpeedNetworking works
SpeedNetworking is a virtual speed networking platform. All conversations happen as one-on-one video calls in the browser. There's no in-person mode - the product is built for online events only.
- Create your event. Choose the number of rounds and the length of each one. The defaults are 8 rounds of 7 minutes, plus a 3-minute lobby before the start. You can change all of it.
- Share the sign-up link. Attendees register themselves and fill in a short profile: name, company, industry, a few words about themselves and their LinkedIn.
- Attendees pick who they want to meet (Growth and Business plans). Before the event, they browse profiles and tap Like, Maybe or Pass. Mutual likes get paired first. If both people pass on each other, the system avoids that pair. People from different industries get priority. All choices stay private. Learn more in the pre-event swipe help article.
- Lobby opens, then the rounds begin. Autopilot starts each round, keeps time, handles breaks and rotates partners. Every conversation is HD video in the browser, no install needed, with text chat alongside.
- Each pair gets icebreakers. An AI model (Claude) writes questions based on both people's profiles. If AI isn't available, attendees see general business questions instead. You can turn this feature off.
- Run the event from a live panel. See the current round, active pairs and time remaining. Pause, resume, skip or extend a round, or end the event.
- Matches arrive after the event. Attendees see who they liked and who liked them back. Those who opted in get an email with their mutual matches. You can export attendees and mutual matches to CSV.
Everything runs under your brand: your own subdomain (like yourcompany.speednetworking.cloud), your logo and your colors. On the Business plan you can connect a custom domain. VAT invoices are issued automatically, with reverse charge for EU businesses.
Planning rounds and timing
With the defaults, conversations take 56 minutes. Add the 3-minute lobby and short breaks between rounds and you land just over an hour - about as long as most people will commit to an online event on a workday.
- 5-minute rounds leave time for introductions and one solid question. Good for large groups when you want more rounds.
- 7-minute rounds give people room to get into specifics. A sensible default for business events.
- More rounds isn't always better. After about ten conversations, attention drops and people stop remembering who they talked to.
Plans: which one fits
SpeedNetworking offers three monthly plans, with a discount for annual billing, plus one-time event packages if you don't want a subscription.
| Plan | Attendees per event | Events per month | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | up to 15 | 5 | Autopilot, 1:1 video, live panel |
| Growth | up to 50 | 10 | Everything in Starter + pre-event swipe |
| Business | up to 200 | 25 | Everything in Growth + custom domain, API and webhooks |
- Starter suits small, close-knit sessions: a mastermind group, a member meetup, a workshop.
- Growth fits recurring events with a few dozen attendees, where good matching makes a real difference.
- Business is built for conference organizers, accelerators and companies that want to connect the platform to their own systems through the API.
- One-time packages cover a single event of up to 30, 60 or 100 attendees, with no subscription.
You can also create a free account and run a trial event with up to 10 attendees. For current prices, see the pricing page.
Who uses a speed networking platform?
- Virtual conference organizers - a structured networking block between sessions. See speed networking for conferences.
- Chambers of commerce and business clubs - regular member meetups where everyone meets a few new faces.
- Accelerators and incubators - founders meeting mentors and investors in quick, focused slots.
- Training providers - helping cohorts in online courses and programs get to know each other.
- HR teams and distributed companies - connecting people across departments and time zones.