Here's how you can network with professionals in the virtual reality industry at conferences and events.

VR is a powerful new tool for connecting conference attendees with visitors worldwide. VR events should be developed similarly to real-world events. First, it's important to understand the event's purpose. In short, why would someone attend this event? Second, you'll need to think of three questions to understand the attendees' needs. These are great conversation starters. The goal of the questions is to better understand their needs. Third, think of a second layer of questions to help the attendees clarify what they want. Last, set up a private meeting to help solve their challenge with your product.

VR industry events like AWE can be pretty daunting and have lots of people coming and lots of companies exhibiting. It is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to meet all the interesting people there. So what you have to do is prioritize. A few days before the event, take your time to analyze the agenda of speakers and the halls of exhibitors. Think about what kind of people you are looking to meet (e.g. investors, or possible customers, etc...) and make a shortlist of like 10-20 that you absolutely need to meet. Don't select more than that, because you have to keep some time also to do random networking and let some people introduce you to other people.

Networking at VR events is key to advancing in the industry. Start by targeting must-attend conferences. Have a quick pitch ready about who you are and your VR goals. Use event apps to plan and connect with others, and participate actively in sessions to engage with like-minded pros. Visit stands to see the latest tech and meet teams. Try setting up meetings in advance through emails or LinkedIn, and don't miss out on informal gatherings like after-parties—great for relaxed chats. Always follow up with new contacts with a personalized message.

Make yourself visible! Use socials like linkedin to connect and show you're at an event, but also connect with the people you want to meet. Stay open for adhoc situations and don't be shy to step forward to someone! We're all just like you, all humans, and willing to help!

Research the event and the attendees in advance. Try to identify who the key players are, including companies and individual influencers within the virtual reality space. LinkedIn can be a great tool for this. Look up the speakers and check the list of attendees if it’s available. This preparation will help you tailor your conversations and questions to make a lasting impression.

Another thing you can do is connect to speakers, organizers, and past attendees of the conference here on LinkedIn before hand. Then, if you meet in real life, you’ll already have the foundation of the LinkedIn connection to help aid your interaction and build a relationship.

I notice that events in virtual reality could be very valuable to help shy people to communicate more easily with their avatar. This could help to develop business relationships more globally.

While at the conference, actively participate in sessions and workshops. Don’t shy away from asking questions or contributing to discussions. This not only makes you more memorable but also demonstrates your interest and knowledge in the field. Networking isn't just about swapping contact details, it's about sharing ideas and starting conversations.

This is particularly for juniors or graduates who are trying to get a foot in the door. Just show your genuine curiosity and passion by coming up to us and asking questions and starting a conversation about anything related to VR/XR. You likely won't gain an immediate friend (or job) on the spot, but you've potentially created a future connection at a company/studio you want to work for. Failing that, you were brave enough and open enough to try and that is a key ingredient in networking and relationship building... in any industry.

At a VR event, fully engage by participating in all the activities offered. Ensure to attend keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops to stay abreast of current trends and hot topics in the industry. During networking breaks, approach professionals with a friendly demeanor and genuine curiosity. Foster meaningful conversations by asking insightful questions and sharing your perspectives on VR-related topics. Remember, the aim is to create connections that last beyond the event, so focus on building rapport and exchanging ideas rather than merely distributing business cards. This approach will help you form lasting professional relationships.

- Download and set up the event’s official app prior to attending. Use it to identify key speakers, schedule meetups, and join relevant discussions or breakout sessions ??. - Prepare a digital profile or virtual business card with a QR code that links to your professional website, LinkedIn profile, or a digital portfolio is highly effective. This makes sharing your contact information quick and easy during interactions. ?? - Actively participate in virtual or augmented reality demos and workshops at the event. These settings often facilitate more natural and engaging conversations with other attendees.?? - Follow up promptly with the contacts you make at the conference using the digital platforms you’ve used to connect. ??

Many conference management apps come equipped with features that allow attendees to bookmark presentations they're interested in and also facilitate direct communication with speakers. Also if the conference is hosted on a virtual reality (VR) platform, attendees can leverage connection features to interact with speakers in a more immersive and engaging manner. This setup enhances the networking experience, making it easier for participants to establish meaningful connections and engage in deeper discussions with experts in the field.

Utilize technology at VR events by leveraging conference apps to schedule meetings and connect with like-minded professionals. Adopt digital business cards or QR codes for efficient contact exchange.

Virtual business cards and QR codes continue to be ineffective in many VR platforms as the information is either tied directly to the platform with challenges to export or sync with traditional lead-generation tools without jumping through hoops. LONGING for an API to make that handshake easier all around. (HINT HINT - We will test it!) Currently, QR codes in VR headsets are ineffective, near useless. The tech I recommend is being familiar both with accessing with a VR headset and switching to 2D desktop or even mobile when that becomes tiring, increasing your flexibility and adaptability to attend and be present in the events. If producing VR events, choose platforms that embrace the most diverse devices.

Not many people are using business cards or should be using cards as they tend to get thrown away. I use the LinkedIn app with the QR code to connect to people and then send them a message as soon as I add them to remind myself to book a meeting, sending resources and thanking them for their time. This allows me to go back to my Linkedin messages when I get home and have a list of things to do. If they don't have LinkedIn I use the notepad app on my phone.

After a VR conference, promptly follow up with new contacts by sending personalized messages referencing specific conversations, expressing continued interest, and proposing further discussions or collaborations to strengthen professional relationships.

This is where tech thrives. Use automation and lead-tools. Give them time to get home and process their experience, though. I personally am overwhelmed when I'm hit with dozens of "wanna coffee" messages as soon as I get home. I tend to respond to those that show up a week or so later as they are not lost in the crowd, or ones that mention a key point in our discussion, which tells me they listened. My personal and professional recommendation is to NOT arrange a meeting. Start a conversation through email or social to establish the relationship and understand better what the person's (and potential client's) needs are and if you are good fit. Professionals rarely have time to keep adding more cold call meetings, so respect their time.

Join VR industry groups and forums on social media or dedicated online communities to maintain connections with professionals, contribute to discussions, share your work, and discover new collaboration opportunities. This will help foster a sense of camaraderie among industry peers.

If I had a dime for every group I joined - Joining groups is great. But it is too easy to list on LinkedIn you are a member of X, Y, and Z industry groups. That tells me NOTHING. Be selective. Join groups with an eye to volunteering or participating in an active way that increases your visibility because of your generosity of spirit not your grab for the stage. Be active because you want to help the group's mission, collaborate, engage, and truly be helpful. Those of us working with such groups want to work with passionate, engaged, and truly helpful people. Be one, and you may find a home you didn't know you needed to thrive in.

Being active in a community for the right reasons goes a long away. - Updates on development with personal projects. - Knowledge sharing and Participating is essential, there should ideally be a mutual benefit for individuals associating with you. - The industry being at an early stage, we also have to act as industry evangelists as well at times, adding to the community from our networks. Group reach should also be a factor, Local, national or global? each should have differentiated goals and objectives. Someone who's authoritative and knowledgeable locally might be a passive participant globally and funnel folks from their local networks to the global one. We have an interesting VR network in APAC/MENA, Please DM to join on whatsapp.

I think one of the most negative aspects of networking events is that people often just engage in light small talk. The value of such small talk conversations and contacts is very limited, so I recommend being bold enough to start more in-depth conversations or discussions. Don't be afraid to disagree from time to time, at least if you have good arguments for your position. After all, reasonable people respect differing opinions, and discussing different perspectives on an issue can add value to the conversation.

It is very important to understand that every work or business relationship must be based on win-win. This means that both parties involved must benefit from the relationship. This ensures that the relationship established lasts over time and is fruitful.

Zoom into VR conferences and events armed with a killer elevator pitch and business cards that scream "future"! Set clear networking goals—mentor quest, partnership hunts, or tech treasure gathering. Before the event, get chatty on social media using the event’s hashtag to make some pre-conference pals. At the event, don't just sit there—dive into discussions, workshops, and maybe even photobomb a few VR demos to get noticed. Schedule some face-to-face chats to turn those LinkedIn connections into real-world allies. Post-event, follow up like a boss: drop those new contacts a witty note reminiscing about that epic VR showdown. Keep the VR vibe alive in online communities and ride the virtual wave to networking success!

The key is to make the most out of the medium. The strenght of VR and AR communication lies in its ability to create and experience things that are impossile in the real world. Braking the laws of phisics to achive the best presentation of your product or service. Change perspectives, inverse colors, switch day and night, bring closer or make bigger than ever possible. It is our turn to do the impossible.