Last Updated on February 22, 2012 by New-Startups Team
Business development co-founders and startup teams in general need access to local networking events to promote, grow and learn. Wa.ag is a site that helps connect businesses and professionals / those looking for networking opportunities so that everyone can benefit.
Bridging the online-offline gap to establish meaningful connections and opportunity for business professionals through the facilitation of incentivized collaborative get-togethers in bars, clubs, restaurants, and other venues during their off-peak hours is how Wa.ag is changing the way networking is done. Unlike traditional networking events which typically result in a pile of useless business cards, Wa.ag events are designed to foster meaningful connections and create opportunities for those in attendance – with rewards for showing up.
Every Wa.ag event features a small business or brand, which comes prepared with challenges they are facing, products they want to test, or designs on which they want feedback. At a designated time during the event, attendees break into focus groups and share insights, feedback, and relevant connections with the featured company…all while networking with others in attendance. This natural icebreaking format allows people to show “who they are” as opposed to just pitching “what they do”, moving beyond superficial networking to something resulting in real connections and opportunities, not just a collection of business cards or an increase of followers on Twitter/Facebook.
Short for “work as a group”, the New York based Wa.ag starts every day by sending its users an email with information on where the next event is taking place. Once there attendees check-in via phone or device and state what they are working on. And the rewards start right when that happens, such as free food, drinks and gift cards. Once filled with rewards attendees can overview others who are at the event to pick and choose who to network with and possibly foster deeper connections than at most traditional networking events – all while experiencing new venues.
For the venues hosting the events, Wa.ag drives business to their location during off-peak hours, giving them social exposure, building their brand advocates and helping to generate repeat business through word out mouth…all without the need to offer fire-sale discounts or incur any out-of-pocket costs. Benefits to the Featured Company: They get insight, feedback, suggestions, exposure, connections, and ideas from those in attendance.
With networking benefits to both attendees and businesses, Wa.ag is showing hot to build community and a winning solution for everyone, not just those fostering deals through traditional business card swapping events.