Stateside with Stephanie
Meet the ' matchmaker on steroids '
ackensie Knorr, the
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Biotechnology Innovation Organisation’ s( BIO) SVP of Partnering, alongside her six-person team, are“ connectors on steroids”. In June 2026 the organisation’ s largest annual event, the BIO International Convention, was held at the San Diego Convention Center. The proprietary matchmaking platform facilitated 66,000 + meetings between 10,000 + people in 3.5 days as part of the exhibition and conference.
US-based BIO is the world’ s largest event for the biotechnology industry. Launched in 1993 with 1,400 attendees, it now draws over 20,000 global and domestic leaders, researchers, and policymakers to advance life sciences and healthcare.
Companies, organisations, and qualified individuals pay a fee based on how many meetings they want to have. Prices are tiered. Unlike many US shows, supplier companies are not required to have a presence on the show floor to participate in the meetings.
The stats Eight hundred companies exhibited in 32,500sqm. Held in adjoining halls, the Business Forum occupied 14,000sqm, had 1,000 meeting spaces consisting of 800 + cubicles and another 150 tables as an overflow. Exhibitors also hosted pre-scheduled meetings in their booths or pavilions.
The Business Forum BIO’ s Partnering( matchmaking) programme began in 2003. The
Mackensie Knorr
organisation went through a couple of different in-house platforms before launching the current one in 2025. The platform is updated regularly from the input of users, sponsors, team members, post-show surveys, and a working group.
Additionally, BIO brings its Partnering software and know-how to another 10 events around the US and internationally – on a smaller scale.
If you don’ t have the right badge, you don’ t get into the Business Forum. Media is excluded.
How it works Given a high level of partnering between companies and organiations, the industry is open to having targeted meetings during the event. On-site meetings are first arranged between companies, organisations, and universities, then person-to-person via a mobile app.
Getting to the right person in the right company division is key. The platform is geared to make that happen. Knorr says:“ Companies are encouraged to complete their profiles with new products, studies, photos, etc. Individuals also complete profiles. Based on these profiles and categories, advance filtering is available, allowing all parties to reach out to schedule meetings. Both participants must opt-in for a meeting to be scheduled.” Many are C-Suite decision-makers.
Why it’ s so effective: The process opens ten weeks prior to the show. Knorr notes:“ With 40-50 companies being added each day, the app sends updated filtered, saved searches to participants daily. They may continually add on new meetings as well as modify their schedules through the show.” If another colleague should be included in the meeting, users are able to invite them in.
The system works on an algorithm which considers the previous location of those matched, so participants don’ t have to run from one end of the venue to another.( How great is that?!) It also sends out reminders.
“ In fact,” Knorr says,“ some of our attendees and sponsors are booked the entire four days of the event.”
Learnings BIO recognised early on that arranged meetings to further business was central to helping their industry( and by extension their events) grow and prospers. They also realised it must be user friendly to be effective. I like that they don’ t rest on their laurels, using working groups, post-show surveys, sponsors and attendees to continually improve the experience.
Matchmaking is expected at expos these days. How are you using your expo’ s data to improve the experience? EW
14 Issue 4 2026 www. exhibitionworld. co. uk