We are delighted to welcome another icon in our industry as today’s guest.
Bob Vaez, Founder and CEO of EventMobi, is a true entrepreneur, and his company is widely recognized throughout the events industry.
Stay tuned as Bob shares his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons he learned building a business through multiple periods of disruption. He also offers practical advice for business owners looking to compete with larger organizations while creating meaningful experiences for customers and attendees.
Bob’s Entrepreneurial Journey
After studying computer engineering, Bob spent nearly a decade in chip design, including a role at NVIDIA. Although he enjoyed the people and innovation, he wanted to build something of his own. A simple question—why conference information wasn’t available on a mobile device—led him to create EventMobi. What began as a side project quickly evolved into an international business serving customers across North America and Europe.
Launching EventMobi
Bob launched EventMobi during a recession, when organizations were looking for ways to reduce costs, improve attendee experiences, create new sponsorship opportunities, and reduce waste. At the same time, mobile technology and cloud software were gaining momentum. He believes periods of disruption often create opportunities for businesses that solve real problems.
Sponsorship
Sponsorship has evolved from simple logo placement and brand visibility to more targeted and meaningful engagement. Bob explains that organizers can create greater value by helping sponsors connect with specific audience segments and offering sponsorship opportunities that align with attendees’ interests and needs.
Shared Experiences
Sponsors often bring valuable expertise to an industry. Bob believes organizers can create stronger experiences by involving sponsors in educational content, especially when sponsors and customers connect through real-world experiences. That approach benefits attendees while helping sponsors build credibility and relationships.
Relationships
Strong business relationships are seldom built on a trade show floor. Bob explains that shared experiences, activities, and informal conversations often foster deeper trust and stronger long-term connections than brief meetings at a trade show booth.
Genuine Innovation
Many attendees visit exhibitors to learn what’s new. They are looking for new ideas, products, services, and approaches to take back to their organizations. Bob encourages exhibitors to focus on showcasing genuine innovation rather than simply increasing visibility.
Engaging Events
Bob believes engagement increases when attendees become active participants rather than passive listeners. Attendees want more than information. They want opportunities to ask questions, share ideas, participate in discussions, and connect with other people.
Face-to-Face Experiences
As AI generates more content and information becomes easier to access, live events offer something different: authentic conversations, trusted expertise, and direct interaction with other people. These experiences create stronger memories and greater long-term value for attendees.
AI
Bob sees AI as an opportunity to reduce administrative work and free up time for more meaningful activities. Instead of spending hours on repetitive tasks, planners can invest more time in working with speakers, sponsors, vendors, and attendees to create better event experiences.
Smaller Businesses
AI is helping smaller businesses access capabilities that once required large teams. Bob recommends focusing on the specific tasks that consume the most time or create the most frustration. By solving those challenges first, small businesses can operate more efficiently and make better use of their resources.
Powerful Small Agencies
While larger organizations often rely on established processes, smaller agencies can stand out through their insight, creativity, and perspective. Bob believes that an agency’s unique understanding of its clients and its ability to create distinctive experiences can be a powerful competitive advantage.
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