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Case studies Real project, live

WBF Connect, the WBF network platform

A one-night event becomes a year-round business network: matchmaking that explains itself, meetings, opportunities, a digital pass and six membership tiers.

For
Founders and startups, SMEs and operations
Service
Build
Client
WBF · Wine Business Fashion
Connected to
WBF Wine Business Fashion, a prestige website in seven languages
See it live portal.wbfexperiences.com
WBF Connect home page: “Onde conexões viram contratos” and a 92% match card
WBF Connect home page on mobile
Three matchmaking recommendations with their scores
Every recommendation has its score and a written reason.
Opportunities marketplace
Offers and requests, with volume and deadline.
Live mode during an event
Live mode, during the event.
Table of the features unlocked by each membership tier
What each membership tier unlocks.
Matchmaking recommendation on mobile
Matchmaking on mobile.
Live mode on mobile
Live mode on mobile.
Hover over or tap a block to see its role in the system.

A working prototype, live online: the whole journey can be clicked through with six demo profiles, before the server is connected. The calendar, partners and articles are real; the members, companies and opportunities are examples.

01Problem

The value of a business event evaporates when the gala ends: business cards gather dust and promising encounters are never followed up.

WBF wanted to move from an events company to an international business ecosystem, with a reason to come back every week and paid memberships.

02Context

Users
Guests, delegates, exhibitors, investors, partners and VIPs on the WBF circuit, across Portugal, Angola, Macau, the Gulf and Brazil.
Current process
Meetings arranged on site, with no tool to prepare for the event or to follow up on what was said there.
Constraints
Have the client approve the full journey before investing in the server, a finish worthy of a luxury brand, reduced motion on request.
Tools in place
  • WBF website
  • Editions calendar
  • Social media

03Solution

A platform built around the “Before, During, After” journey: before, discover the event and who is coming, receive recommendations, book your meetings; during, the schedule, the pass and live mode; after, the report, follow-ups and opportunities.

The matchmaking reads what each person offers and is looking for, calculates a two-way fit and explains it in one sentence. One click turns the recommendation into a meeting request.

Delivered first as a complete prototype on static hosting: the client tests every screen with six profiles before paying for the server.

Why this approach. Validate the product before building the server: a clickable journey can be fixed in a few hours; a production database can't.

04Architecture

Input

  • Events Twelve editions in nine cities, status calculated from the dates, programme, attendees sorted by affinity, registration by type of participation.
  • Profiles People and companies: what they offer, what they are looking for, their markets and their events.

Automation

  • Affinity engine Thirteen themes recognised in free text, a two-way fit, the reason written in plain words. Rules, not AI: every score can be explained.
  • Meetings A request with context, time slot and goal; confirm or suggest another time; a schedule with the table number.

Data

  • Opportunities Offers and requests by type, volume and deadline, a “for my profile” filter, and replies that open a meeting request.
  • Access tiers Six memberships, from Guest to VIP. Every locked feature offers an upgrade.

Output

  • Pass and card A digital pass with QR code and zones by tier, and a digital business card to share.
  • Live mode During the event: video, business lounge occupancy, live alerts, next meeting.

05Features

  • Before, during, afterThe event no longer ends at the gala: preparation, the day on site, report and follow-ups.
  • Matchmaking that explains itselfEvery score comes with its reason: who is looking for what, who offers it, and which event both will attend.
  • From score to meetingOne click opens a pre-filled meeting request; the schedule gives the table number.
  • MarketplaceOffers and requests with volume, deadline and a filter by profile.
  • Six membership tiersGuest, Member, Executive, Investor, Partner, VIP: dedicated dashboards and progressive access.
  • Digital pass and cardQR code, venue zones by tier, a business card to share.
  • Market guides and reportsAn animated world map, six country guides on “how to enter this market”, members-only reports.
  • Messaging and channelsDirect messages and channels by event or by sector.
  • ⌘K searchEvents, people, companies, opportunities, markets and articles, with or without accents.

06Result

  • The client walks through and approves every screen before any server investment.
  • A paid membership model ready to use, from Guest to VIP.
  • Every match can end in a booked meeting.

How it is measured

  • Memberships by tier
  • Meetings requested and confirmed per edition
  • Opportunities posted and replies received

07What I did

  1. Product and journey design
  2. UX/UI
  3. Design and motion
  4. Matchmaking engine
  5. Complete prototype in JavaScript
  6. Launch
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