Why Most Procurement Events Fail (And What We're Doing Differently)
By Mark Perera
After two decades of organizing and attending procurement conferences, trade shows, and networking events, we've seen it all. The crowded exhibition halls. The badge-scanning booth staff. The panels where speakers talk at attendees rather than with them.
Most procurement events fail because they optimize for the wrong thing: scale. More attendees, more sponsors, more booths. But quantity doesn't create quality connections.
What Actually Creates Value
The best conversations we've ever had at events happened: - At intimate dinners after the main event - In small group discussions where everyone could contribute - When there was no agenda other than genuine exchange
The Buyers x Builders Approach
That's why we designed our events differently: - 120 hand-selected attendees – not thousands - No exhibition booths – no badge scanning, no sales pitches - Curated mixing – we thoughtfully seat buyers and builders together - One day – no wasted time, no conference fatigue
We believe the future of procurement events isn't bigger. It's better.