Every virtual networking event has a goal behind it—pipeline generation, community building, or simply getting the right people in the same room. The format you run determines whether you hit that goal or just hit your attendance number.
But first, a quick overview of the different formats, along with what event tech you'd need to get it done:
| Format | When to use | Tech required |
|---|
| Speed networking | Large events where you want many quick 1:1 introductions among similar attendees | Breakout rooms with timed rotation or push notifications to send out alerts |
| Structured roundtables | When you want focused, topic-driven discussions in small groups | Breakout rooms, facilitator controls, polls/whiteboards, chat |
| Open networking lounges | Informal, self-directed networking environments (like hallway conversations) | Spatial platforms (e.g., Gather) or multiple open breakout rooms with hosts |
| Async networking | When attendees are in different time zones, or engagement spans before/after the event | In-app messaging, AI matchmaking, discussion threads, and meeting scheduling tools |
| Cohort-based networking | Multi-session programs focused on long-term relationships and learning | Multi-track sessions and async chat channels |
Speed networking
Speed networking runs attendees through a series of short one-on-one video calls before moving them to the next person. Sessions typically run two to five minutes each. It is the highest-volume format available. A single one-hour session can generate 15–12 unique conversations per attendee.
That makes it well-suited to events where the primary KPI is new connections made or conversations started. This also makes it the best format when attendees share enough common ground to make a cold introduction worthwhile, such as the same industry or job function. Without that context, the conversations stay surface-level and awkward.
Where it breaks down is in depth. Speed networking is an opening, not a relationship. You need to follow up; otherwise, the connections do not go anywhere.
How to run it: While some virtual event software give you automated rotations, most don't. In such cases, here's how you can run a speed networking event with breakout rooms. Keep one group of attendees fixed in their rooms and rotate the other group on a timer. It takes more manual coordination, but it gets the job done.
Some event software, like Zoho Backstage, also includes a push notification feature, which can be a great way to notify attendees that their time's up and they need to move to the next room.
Structured roundtables
Roundtables bring six to ten attendees together in a moderated group discussion around a specific topic or question. The topic serves as a cold introduction, as attendees already have something in common before anyone speaks.
It is the format best suited to deep attendee engagement. Where speed networking optimizes for volume, roundtables optimize for quality of conversation. The event success metrics to look for are engagement rate and session satisfaction scores. These are the signals that tell you whether people found the experience worth their time.
Pro tip: You can also run a virtual fishbowl session. Here, a small group discusses on camera while the rest of the room watches off-camera, then people rotate in. It is a good way to bring expert perspectives into the conversation without losing the small-group feel.
Where it breaks down is in moderation. A roundtable without a confident facilitator drifts. One or two people dominate, quieter attendees disengage, and the conversation loses the thread. And online, this happens faster than in person.
How to run it: This is as simple as setting up breakout rooms in your virtual event platform and assigning attendees to each one. To keep the conversation moving, pair it with engagement features — live polls to open the discussion, real-time whiteboards attendees can contribute to, and a chat function for attendees who are less comfortable speaking on camera.
Open networking lounges
Open networking lounges give attendees a shared virtual space with no fixed agenda. They choose who to talk to, which conversation to join, and how long to stay. It is the closest virtual equivalent to a conference hallway or a post-session drinks reception. It is also one of the better formats for sponsor visibility, since lounges can be structured around branded rooms or tables without it feeling forced.
Where it breaks down is passivity. Without a nudge, a significant portion of attendees will observe rather than participate. So while many people might drop in out of curiosity, many might not participate in the discussion.
How to run it: Platforms like Gather.town are built for this format as they use spatial audio and avatar-based movement to mimic the feel of a physical room. If you are running on a standard virtual event platform, replicate it with a set of open breakout rooms organized by topic or interest area.
Label the rooms clearly, seed each one with a discussion prompt, and assign a host to each room to keep things from going quiet.
Async networking
Async networking removes the shared time requirement entirely. Attendees connect through platform-matched introductions, community threads, audio messages, or video profiles they can engage with on their own schedule. The conversation starts asynchronously and moves to a live call when both parties are ready.
It is the only format that works across significant time zone differences without asking anyone to show up at an inconvenient hour, and works best in membership communities and professional associations where attendees have an ongoing reason to be in the same space.
On the other end, without a live event creating urgency, participation drops off. Attendees opt in with good intentions, but then deprioritize it when the week gets busy. A warm, specific prompt and a clear deadline for responding make a measurable difference to follow-through rates.
How to run it: Pick an event platform that offers multiple ways to connect—in-app chat, discussion channels, and the ability to book one-on-one meetings directly. Async networking also does not have to be part of the event itself. It works well as a pre-event activity, giving attendees a way to find and reach out to each other before the first session begins.
Cohort-based networking
Cohort-based networking keeps the same small group of attendees together across multiple sessions over days, weeks, or months. Rather than meeting someone once and hoping the connection sticks, attendees build familiarity through repeated interaction around shared goals or challenges.
It is sometimes called Birds of a Feather, a format where people are grouped by a specific interest, role, or problem they are working through together.
It helps with both relationship depth and long-term community retention. For events where the goal is a genuine professional community, this is the most effective format available. It works best in accelerator programs, fellowship cohorts, leadership development events, and any context where attendees are investing in a longer arc of learning or growth together.
How to run it: If your event platform supports multi-track sessions, you can run all your cohort rooms simultaneously, each with its own host, agenda, and chat channel without any of the groups bleeding into each other. Between sessions, keep a dedicated discussion channel open so the conversation carries forward, and the next meeting feels like a continuation rather than starting over.
