What if Black Tech Fest Had Used Pree? A case study on intentional networking.

Black Tech Fest is Europe’s biggest celebration of Black innovation - thousands of attendees, hundreds of conversations, endless inspiration. But here’s the truth every large event faces: The bigger the crowd, the harder it becomes to actually connect.

At BTF 2025, the content was world-class - but the networking? Feedback told a different story.

“I met great people, but it felt unstructured.”

“It was inspiring, but I didn’t know where to start or who to speak to.”

“Networking-wise, it was giving BYP - lots of fresh grads, few mid-senior spaces.”

And that’s the gap Pree was built to close.

The Missed Opportunity

BTF 2025 achieved what few events struggle to achieve - scale, representation, and impact. But with thousands of attendees and no intelligent social infrastructure, the chance to turn inspiration into lasting collaboration slipped away. At a festival of this size, even a small structural change could mean thousands more meaningful connections, mentorships, and deals.

So, what if BTF had used Pree?

 Enter Pree: Seamless. Intentional. Lasting.

Pree is not another event app.

It’s a social sensemaking platform powered by PreeSense AI - a system that listens, learns, and coaches human connection in real time.

PreeSense is what happens when networking meets self-awareness:

• It analyses how people interact (message patterns, goals, tone).

• It visualises each person’s networking journey.

• It suggests what to do next - who to follow up with, how to improve, and what opportunities you might be missing.

It’s not just about connection. It’s about evolution.

Before the Event - Purpose, not panic

Seven days before the event, Pree opens access for attendees to prepare, not just attend.

Smart Profiles: Every attendee creates a Smart Profile that goes beyond job titles: how they’d describe themselves in three words, what they’re seeking (mentor, co-founder, investor etc.), key interests, location, a fun fact, and more. These aren’t gimmicks - they feed directly into PreeSense’s engine, helping it understands each user’s wants and needs, not just who they are.

Pree Pods: Instead of chaotic WhatsApp groups, attendees can join the event-wide group chat or smaller, focused Pree Pods - breakout spaces built around shared goals such as:

• Black Founders in Fintech

• Graduate Job Seekers

• Neurodivergent Innovators

Each Pod locks when full and runs for 24 hours. That time-limit forces intentionality - quick intros, real conversations, and no idle scrolling. When Pods reset, a fresh mix of people enter. For seven days, this rhythm keeps energy high and interactions purposeful.

During the Event - Clarity in the Crowd

Inside BTF’s buzzing halls, Pree becomes a personal guide:

• QR-Scannable Profiles: scan a badge, see the Smart Profile, take notes, and star contacts for later.

• Live Dashboard: shows who’s checked in and which Pods are active.

• Meet-Ups by Design: each Pod has a designated meetup time or location (e.g. “Black Founders In Fintech - Quiet Zone 2 PM”).

And through it all, PreeSense AI is working quietly in the background - analysing patterns and generating micro-insights like:

“You’ve exchanged 18 messages out of 200 in the Black Founders in Fintech Pree Pod so far. Based on your goal to meet mentors, you’re doing well but can make yourself more visible.”

“People engaging most with you share keywords ‘fintech’ and ‘growth’ - try reaching out to X and Y next.”

If a user tends to message less but star a lot of profiles, PreeSense recognises them as a reflective networker and suggests quieter Pods or follow-ups that fit their pace. If their engagement peaks mid-day, it highlights Pods that are most active at that time, helping them connect when they’re naturally at their best. If PreeSense notices overlapping goals between people who haven’t yet spoken, it quietly recommends introductions inside the group chat.

That’s what separates Pree from any other platform. It doesn’t just enable networking – it optimises it.

After the Event - Closing the Loop

For the following seven days, Pods open up to all attendees - a final, inclusive space where people can reconnect with those they met in person or missed on the day.

Then, the event locks.

No endless notifications.

No lingering group chats.

Just a clean, summarised archive of who you met, what you discussed, and how you can build on it.

PreeSense AI sends each attendee a personal snapshot:

• Connections made

• Conversations most aligned with their goals

• Suggested follow-ups and reflective tips for future events

It’s like a networking debrief - from an AI that actually understands you.

Measurable Impact

At our own Pree Launch Event in London in August 2025 (100 + RSVPs):

• 78 % said they felt more prepared walking into the venue after connecting on Pree.

• 84 % continued conversations started in Pree Pods in real life.

• 71 % said Pree helped them meet people they otherwise wouldn’t have approached.

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“It felt like I had context before contact.”

— Attendee, London Launch 2025

Based on Pree’s in-house launch and online pilot events, engagement levels were up to three times higher than traditional event Slack or WhatsApp groups – showing that intentional structure drives participation.

If replicated at BTF’s scale, that could mean thousands more meaningful introductions, not just new contacts.

Why Pree Changes the Game

Most event platforms organise. Pree understands.

Unlike event tools like Whova, Grip, or Brella – which track attendance but not human behaviour,  Pree captures the why and how behind every connection.

Pree can integrate seamlessly with existing event platforms – either embedded in ticketing systems or linked directly through registration emails. No extra downloads, no disruption.

Legacy Event Apps	Pree Connect
Match attendees once	Learns behaviour across the event
Show attendee lists	Visualises engagement patterns
Enable chat	Summarises & coaches conversation
Send post-event email	Delivers personalised networking reports
Focus on logistics	Focuses on human sensemaking

Where others stop at connection, Pree creates comprehension - turning data into human insight.

So, What If Black Tech Fest Had Used Pree?

At events like Black Tech Fest, connection isn’t just professional - it’s cultural, communal, and often life-changing. Pree was built with that in mind: a platform designed to make access equitable, representation intentional, and every voice visible.

Picture it:

• Graduates walking in already identified possible mentors.

• Founders connecting with investors aligned to their missions.

• Neurodivergent attendees pacing their day with comfort.

• Organisers seeing live engagement analytics instead of just ticket numbers.

• Vendors leaving with warm, trackable leads.

That’s not the future of networking. That’s what’s possible now.

We’re opening limited partnerships for large-scale 2026 pilots - and Black Tech Fest should be one of them.

Want to see how it works? Let’s set up a short demo.

Learn more: www.preeconnect.com  |  Follow @preeconnect | email info@preeconnect.com

Seamless. Intentional. Lasting. Network with Pree.