Case Study: xdeck Remote Conference and Pitch Competition
Description and Goal
xdeck is a German startup accelerator created by founders, for founders. As they prepared to send off their most recent batch of programme graduates, the COVID pandemic hit. The current accelerator batch could not conclude with a physical conference as planned. The client connected with PIRATEx and quickly decided to transform their physical event into a digital one. The startup accelerator, located in Germany’s digitally most advanced office space, “The Ship” was designed to present a charming and informative conference, to showcase their startups and founders.
Facts and Figures
- Type of Event: xdeck Remote Conference & Pitch Competition
- Duration: 3 hours
- 300 participants: 300
- 2 stages: 2
- 10+ speakers: 10+
- 1 livestream
- 6 pitching startups
Technology and Formats
PIRATEx created the platform used for this event specifically for the client. We utilized a customized landing page showing an embedded video player combined with a Q&A and polling platform. The program included various live and pre-recorded talks and a panel discussion. Following this programming, the event hosted a pitch competition followed by a Q&A session with 6 participating startups. Audience engagement decided the ultimate winner of the pitch competition via the polling platform.
Promotion
As the conference was free to participate in, the organizers promoted the event exclusively through social media. Participants, speakers and partners utilized their personal LinkedIn and Twitter accounts to spread the word about the conference. They each shared the event link, creating a personal touch to the event, and conveying a feeling of exclusiveness.
Key Outcomes: Know your platform, and be flexible!
Extensive knowledge and experience of your streaming platform is a necessary precondition to ensure flexibility before the start of the event.
Your agenda might change up to the minute the event begins. Or even, during the event itself. Build in some flexibility and interchangeability into your agenda to make for a fluid experience even if the programme does not go ahead as planned.
Written by:
Felix Josephi
PIRATEx Managing Director
