Skift Take
Bizzabo has acquired Klik, a Montreal-based event tech startup developing wearable badging technology. The deal, Bizzabo’s fourth acquisition in six months, is worth $13.5M in a mix of cash and stock.
The acquisition, announced at Bizzabo’s “The Future of Event Experiences” hybrid event today, enables Bizzabo to bring new onsite hardware and software expertise in-house. The acquisition complements the company’s previous acquisitions of x.ai, Whalebone and TeeVid.
Bizzabo is betting on in-person events to return in full force in 2022, now more technology-powered than ever. The company sees Klik’s smart badging technology as the ideal way to make the collection of rich behavioral and intent data possible for in-person events.
With planners now more used to accessing extensive event data sets that are a product of online events, the ability to match this type of data output for in-person events could be a gamechanger; it is certainly a priority for event tech platforms looking to complete and harmonize their virtual, hybrid and in-person event offering.
In addition to providing rich data on attendee behavior to organizers, Klik’s wearable solution can also trigger customized recommendations that trigger lights and vibration from each attendee’s badge and further details listed in the accompanying app.
“We’re going to revolutionize in-person experiences”, said Bizzabo co-founder and CEO Eran Ben-Shushan, clearly bullish on the potential of Klik’s technology.
Under the hood, Kilk uses a passive tracking system based on advanced BLE (Bluetooth) technology, unlike other hardware event technologies that rely on NFC/RFID capabilities. According to the company, this approach has significant advantages including the collection of advanced analytics like dwell time and touchless contact exchanges.
Bizzabo also announced today plans for the launch of its own App Marketplace in 2022. The company is looking to partner with external technology companies and developers to integrate a wide range of solutions into the OS. Boaz Ram, previously Head of Alliances at Salesforce, joins the company serving as the Vice President of Marketplace to lead this effort.
