Live virtual networking events are a great way to connect people from anywhere. But it can be confusing to know where to start. Do you randomly sort people into Zoom Breakout Rooms? Purchase a standalone networking platform and try to get participants trained before the event?

The answer: none of the above.

Read on for the best (and easiest) way to run a live, virtual networking event.

(Don’t feel like reading? Watch this video instead → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq_bbd2O4fc&t=20s)

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Hosting a Live Virtual Networking Event

The first thing to know when hosting a virtual networking event is that your participants are likely to be the most familiar with Zoom. Fewer new platforms = less confusion - and more networking - for your participants. 

Currently, the only way to automate live networking experiences in Zoom is to use a Zoom App called twine for Zoom.

With twine for Zoom, live networking facilitators can …

• 🪢 Automatically sort participants into roulette style Breakout Rooms for timed, back-to-back small group or 1:1 conversations
• 👀 Set custom sorting rules for Breakout Rooms based on any variable you choose; match mentors with mentees, HR with new hires, students with research assistants…
• 🗺️ Create themed tables in Map Mode; participants can hop in and out of Breakout Rooms as they please
• 💬 Message across Breakout Rooms, with individuals, or with the whole group; return to your messages even once the meeting has ended.
• 💥Click through icebreakers while in a Breakout Room to get the conversation flowing.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑Use pre-set templates such as “Speed Networking” or “Mentor/Mentee” for one-click setup

Here’s how to run a live networking event using twine for Zoom: 

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Update: Make sure your Zoom is updated to the latest version.

Download: Head to the “Apps” button in the bottom right of your screen. Search “twine for Zoom” and add the app.

Invite: invite your meeting participants. (Participants struggling to download the app due to IT restrictions? No worries– as long as the host has the app, all meeting attendees can still participate!)

Select: Select one of our premade templates or choose your own matchmaking mode. 

Set: Answer a couple of quick questions about conversation length & pairing rules, and you’re ready to go! 

Sit back & relax: When you start matchmaking, participants will automatically be sorted into timed, back-to-back conversations based on the variables you have set. 

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‍What else is coming to twine for Zoom?‍

Here’s what you’ll be able to do with t4z soon:

• ✅ Assign tasks to Breakout Rooms and monitor progress as the host
• 🔍 Customize & upload your own conversation prompts
• 📽️ Embed video, audio, images
• 📊 Detailed analytics dashboards & participant profiles

Try it out! 

Here at twine, we use our Zoom App in almost every meeting. It’s changed the way that we connect with one another. We can’t wait for other teams to experience that same ease and connection. 

‍Download twine for Zoom → 

PS: Need help? Check out these articles on how to use twine for Zoom or book a free 15 minute training session with us.

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