Matched Networking
The Small Business Conference features one-on-one appointments between attendees and Government Agencies and Exhibiting Companies (“Hosts”). These meetings will lay the foundation to develop new client-consultant relationships, teaming partners, and more! All appointments are available to Full Conference registrants and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Parties will be matched based on criteria that Hosts need to fill.
Here’s how it works:
- Government Agencies and Exhibiting Companies ("Hosts") will complete a profile indicating what types of businesses they are looking for (criteria such as primary NAICS code, small business designations, where business is conducted etc.).
- Upon registering for SBC, individuals who indicate they desire to participate in Matched Networking will complete a profile about their company and the work they do. Some of the profile questions correspond to the Hosts' requirements. Other questions on the profile have specifically been requested by Hosts as important to understand.
- Attendees will see which Hosts they match and can request appointments with them….and know that they have met some or all of the desired criteria for the Host, making a future relationship that much closer!
- Small Business attendees can request appointments starting on Oct 17, 2022 at 12:00 pm EST
- Medium and Large Business attendees can request appointments starting on October 24, 2022 at 12:00 pm EST
- SAME will post how-to-guides and video tutorials on how to set up matched networking profiles, send requests and accept and decline appointments so everyone understands how to manage their participation.
One-on-One Matched Networking appointments schedule:
Wednesday, November 2, 2022: 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM CDT
Thursday, November 3, 2022: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM CDT
Friday, November 4, 2022: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
*Please note, availability is at the discretion of each Host; Hosts are not available for the entirety of the posted time period.
Hosts (Government Agencies and Exhibitors) can update their profiles and schedules starting September 26, 2022. Attendees will answer similar questions when they register for the event. When a Host logs into their Matched Networking scheduling portal, they can see the attendee’s information and matched networking score. The score is based on the correlation between questions answered by each party. The score will help the Hosts determine if the attendee is a good fit. Attendees can make appointments with any Exhibitor/Government Agency regardless of their matched networking score.
What you need to know:
- Appointments are 15 minutes long with a 5-minute break between appointments.
- All appointments are ONE-ON-ONE! Participants meet with the Host individually.
- All appointments are in-person during SBC.
- Each individual is limited to requesting 3 appointments prior to the start of SBC. This allows for maximum participation.
- If appointments are available once the conference begins, individuals may book additional appointments beyond the initial 3.
- Please honor all appointments in your schedule. If you are unable to make an appointment due to a schedule conflict, please message the other party and ask to reschedule.
Attendee Appointment Requests
Small Business attendees can access and complete the Matched Networking Profile form beginning at NOON EST on October 17, 2022. Medium and Large Business attendees can access and complete the Matched Networking Profile form beginning on October 24, 2022. Login to the Attendee Service Center (ASC) and look for the Matched Networking menu item. Review your profile and make sure it is complete and up-to-date; certain questions in the profile are used to create your matches. When appointment requests open, you will see a tab called “Matches” – look here to see with which Hosts you match – THESE ARE THE AGENCIES AND COMPANIES LOOKING SPECIFICALLY FOR WHAT YOU PROVIDE.
- You’ll see a score under the column “answer match” which shows you how many criteria you have met.
- Under the “Make Appointment” column, click on the calendar icon to request an appointment with that Host. Remember you may initially request only 3 appointments.
- On October 31 you will be able to make more than 3 appointments.
- Hosts must, in turn, accept your appointment request – not all requests are guaranteed. Notifications are sent from the system to alert both parties of the appointment.
- You can log into the ASC at any time to see your personal appointment requests, approved appointments, and appointment schedule.
- Click here to access the Matched Networking Attendee How to Guide
- Complete the appropriate "Supplemental Information Form" and email it, along with your capabilities statement, to your host.
Government Agencies & Exhibiting Companies (Hosts)
Hosts (Government Agencies/Exhibiting Companies) can access and complete the Matched Networking Host Profile form Beginning on October 6, 2022, via the Exhibitor Service Center (ESC). Anyone who indicated an interest in serving as a host will receive notification and instructions when it's ready to access.
The host profile correlates to questions posed on the attendee profile, creating a list of matches presented to the attendee. Attendees can then request an appointment with the Hosts.
When a Host logs into their Matched Networking portal, via the Exhibitor Service Center (ESC) account, they can see the attendee’s profile and matchmaking score. The score may help hosts determine if the attendee is a good fit for them. Attendees can request appointments with any Exhibiting Business/Government Agency regardless of their matchmaking score. After reviewing the attendee’s profile, the Host may accept the appointment if they would like to meet with the individual, or decline the appointment if you are unable to work together at this time; it is appropriate and acceptable to decline an appointment if they cannot fill the requirements you need – set up an informational meeting after the conference to discuss possibilities down the road! Remember that there are thousands of participants so someone else will definitely want that time slot!
Hosts should log in to the ESC and look for the Matched Networking menu item to manage their schedule – the Host controls what times they are available for attendees to request appointments. The schedule defaults to show that the Host is available at every appointment time frame – it is imperative that the Host blocks the times the Host is not available. Please block necessary breaks, sessions you need to attend, meetings and lunch as you see fit. It is the Host’s responsibility to log into the ESC account to set and manage their schedule!
Small Businesses will request appointments with you. You must either accept or decline the appointment requests. Notifications are sent from the system to alert both parties of the appointment. You can log into the ESC at any time to see your appointment requests, and review the attendee profiles, approved appointments, and appointment schedule. Small businesses have no deadline to request appointments for open time slots, so it is important to check your schedule and appointment requests through the conference. It is imperative that Hosts honor all appointments that they approved.
During the Event
Appointments will take place at the Music City Center in the Davidson Ballroom on level 1M. All appointment holders and Hosts should arrive before each scheduled appointment starts. As a reminder, each appointment is 15 minutes long with a 5 min break in between. SAME will not keep track of time for each appointment so we ask that both the Host and attendee respect each other’s schedules and arrive at the appointment on time and be aware of the length of each meeting.
