Nextech3D.ai launches transaction marketplace for events industry
Nextech3D.ai launched an AI-powered marketplace for events this week, positioning itself to capture new revenue streams from the $1 trillion global events industry. The company, which operates through subsidiary KraftyLabs, aims to move beyond traditional event software by creating what CEO Evan Gappelberg called "a revenue engine for the entire events industry."
The marketplace lets exhibitors and sponsors create interactive attendee experiences-tastings, booth games, product demonstrations-that generate qualified sales leads. Attendees access these experiences through Nextech3D.ai's event app and answer qualifying questions in exchange for participation.
Gappelberg compared the concept to Shopify, but for events. The difference: exhibitors gain measurable return on investment and actionable attendee data, while the company captures transaction fees.
Addressing a monetization gap
Sponsor and exhibitor ROI remains one of the largest unsolved problems in the events sector, according to feedback Nextech3D.ai received from industry executives. Exhibitors have relied on the same basic monetization methods for decades-booth fees, sponsorship packages-with limited innovation.
The marketplace directly addresses this by helping exhibitors attract attendees and measure engagement outcomes tied to actual sales activity.
Built on existing infrastructure
Nextech3D.ai is integrating platforms it already owns rather than building from scratch. This approach may limit the need for substantial new capital investment while layering additional monetization on top of existing event platform revenue.
Management believes transaction-based revenues from the marketplace could eventually exceed traditional event software revenues.
What comes next
Potential catalysts include adoption by large trade shows, growth in transaction-based revenues, and increased demand for AI-driven engagement tools. Expansion of recurring revenue tied to exhibitor participation and sponsor activations could also strengthen the company's financial profile.
"The future of event tech isn't about managing events," Gappelberg said. "It's about monetizing them."
For executives evaluating event strategy and monetization, this shift reflects broader industry movement toward outcome-based pricing models. Learn more about AI for Executives & Strategy and AI for Marketing to understand how similar AI-driven revenue models are reshaping other sectors.
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