Why I want to take on the likes of zoom

I’m a lead creator on a brand-new hybrid events and meeting platform called ‘Haia’.?

As a small business based in rural North Wales and a woman in tech - why on earth would I want to take on the big boys and what makes me think we have a chance of succeeding?

The short answer is because I want to make events about people, making them accessible to everyone. And, after 18 months of on-line meetings we’ve learnt a lot about what works and what people want when they connect.

Our starting point for Haia was making it intuitive as well as inclusive, and above all friendly. This even includes the name - it’s the way we greet friends in this part of Wales!

It’s worth taking a few steps back - to where our Haia journey began.

In 2020 - over a few short weeks we were all forced to change how we worked, how we met with colleagues or potential customers and how we attended events.?

A change on this scale would have taken years under normal circumstances.

Almost all of us had to get used to speaking to people screen to screen rather than face to face. And it wasn’t just the business meetings, it was the family get togethers, community group meetings, cultural events and concerts. I even got used to discussing my children’s school work with their teachers via video call.?

Whilst most of us just got on with it - it wasn’t as easy for everyone and it still isn’t. The more time I spent in online events it occurred to me that not everyone is able to just follow a meeting link.?

Many with accessibility needs were suddenly shut out of this new online world of video events. At a time when keeping in touch was more important than ever, some found themselves isolated - the same people who might find themselves more isolated than most of us anyway.

This is why we wanted to develop a platform that doesn’t leave anyone out. We realise online meetings have been around for a while, but the last year has shown us we need to include everybody. I knew that we could develop something better.

As conversations about Haia developed it became obvious that there was scope for improvement for all users, not just those with accessibility issues. Most current platforms lack the multilingual capabilities that Haia has and they’re not really set up for hybrid events.

For me it’s been about designing a platform?that works for the minority but benefits the majority. Features for people with sight or hearing difficulties and those who speak different languages shouldn't be an add-on, they should be included from the beginning.

We’ve worked with language technology experts at Bangor University so Haia has simultaneous text and voice translation capabilities. The platform can host multilingual events, has accessibility features that no other platform can rival, including ability to host events using British Sign Language.?

So, with restrictions now easing and face to face meetings becoming possible again, the question is how much of our lockdown habits will stay with us?

When the pandemic is behind us, I think we’ll want to hold on to some of the genuine benefits that have emerged. These include the ability to work and attend events in an online environment for convenience and importantly for environmental reasons.?

Whilst online events were impossible for many - they have been a lifeline to others who can’t travel or find in-person meetings difficult. This is the flipside of the accessibility issue we need to keep in mind.

If we fast forward 12 months, I think we’ll be talking hybrid events - which will give us the best of both worlds. We’ll be able to see people face to face when we want or need to, but the online option has to be here to stay.?

?I’m excited about the launch of Haia - I think we’ve developed something really special that will transform events and meetings - for business, social, and cultural gatherings.?

I believe in making communication easier for everyone. This is why I’ve put everything into making Haia happen.?

Of course, we’re not going to stand still - like any other platform we’ll keep developing and learning. I want to know what would make a difference to you when you attend online or hybrid events? Let us know in the comments below.

And you can become part of the Haia family…

You can become one of our beta testers as we get ready for our launch in the autumn. Click here

You can invest with us if you’d like to help us take Haia to next level - take a look at our short video below.

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Or you can just get in touch to know more about how we’ll be making events more fun and friendlier in future.

Comment below or drop me a line [email protected]?

#Innovation #StartUp #Haia