Most event sponsors know the usual deal. You pay for a booth, a banner, or a logo on a bag, and then you hope the right people walk past. Sometimes they do. Often they don’t.
Quartz Events works in a different way. It does not sell space. It sells meetings. Companies that sponsor its events meet senior buyers one on one, and the buyers are chosen because they match what the sponsor sells.
In this guide, I will explain how Quartz Events sponsor matching works, what sponsors can expect, which companies take part, and what to think about before you spend money. I wrote it in plain English, so you can read it quickly and use it to make a good choice.
What Is Quartz Events?
Quartz Events is a company based in California. It runs invitation-only meetings for senior business leaders, often called executive summits. According to a company profile, it was founded in 2007 and started its work in technology-driven industries. Its events were built around personal one-to-one meetings, and each guest gets a schedule made for their own needs.
Over the years the company has used several event brands. Some of the names you may see are CONNECT, SCOPE, and VISIONS. Today, many of these events sit under a platform called Quartz Network, which has event pages for areas like finance, marketing, human resources, supply chain, and information technology.
In October 2020, Clarion Events announced that it had bought Quartz Events. Clarion is a large event company based in London that runs more than 180 events in 50 countries. In the press release, Clarion’s North American CEO praised the Quartz team for its “guaranteed meetings program.” Toby Harris stayed on as president and CEO of Quartz after the deal.
So Quartz Events is not a small start-up. It is a known name in the meeting-based event world, and it has a large company behind it.
What Does “Sponsor Matching” Mean?
At a normal trade show, sponsors pay for visibility. At a Quartz event, sponsors pay for access to people.
The idea is simple. A company that sells a product, such as finance software or a hiring tool, becomes a sponsor. Quartz then finds guests who have a real need for that kind of product and books meetings between the two sides. Each meeting is planned before the event begins.
Quartz describes its own model as connecting department heads with relevant solution providers through a curated experience. A third-party guide to the company says that sponsors pay for packages with a set number of meetings, and that the number can be from 15 up to 120 per event. That guide is not an official Quartz source, so treat the numbers as a rough idea and ask Quartz for the exact details of any package.
How the Matching Works, Step by Step
Quartz does not share its full process in public, but we can build a clear picture from the sources that exist.
1. The sponsor joins. A solution provider chooses an event and a sponsorship level. The company explains what it sells and who it wants to meet.
2. Guests are invited and checked. Quartz events are invitation-only. On its sponsor pages, the company says its team checks every attendee before the event, so that each meeting is with a senior decision maker who needs the product. Quartz Network also says a concierge team helps with this process.
3. Guests fill in a form. A good example comes from ICE Connect, a Clarion event that Quartz helped build. Delegates complete a detailed questionnaire about their industry challenges and upcoming projects. This is where the “needs” in “matched to needs” come from.
4. Software and people create the matches. The ICE Connect organizers describe matching algorithms, ranking, and scheduling software. The system pairs each guest with providers that can solve their problems.
5. Meetings are scheduled. The third-party guide says the meetings last about 20 to 30 minutes and take place online or in person between the sponsor’s team and the matched guest.
6. Follow-up happens after the event. Quartz says that 99% of attendees follow up with at least one solution provider after an event. That number comes from the company itself, so it is a claim and not an independent study. Still, it shows what Quartz wants sponsors to expect: real conversations that continue after the day ends.
What Do Sponsors Get?
Based on Quartz’s own sponsor pages, here is what a sponsor can expect.
- One-on-one meetings. This is the main product. You sit down with chosen people, not with a crowd.
- Information before the event. Quartz says sponsors receive a lot of data about the guests upfront. That helps your team prepare and talk about the real problems the guest has.
- The chance to pick your meetings. The company talks about letting sponsors “handpick” the people they meet. How much choice you get may depend on your package, so ask about it.
- Other ways to connect. Besides meetings, sponsors can join educational sessions, thought leadership talks, and networking events.
- Online and in-person choices. Quartz says its events happen in person and online, in the US and the UK.
A look at the ICE Connect model shows how detailed the planning can be. The organizers said that each solution provider receives a scheduled program three weeks before the event, and a PDF with the meeting agenda and a contact list two weeks before it opens. Quartz’s own events may work in a different way, but this gives you a good picture of the style.
Which Companies Sponsor Quartz Events?
Sponsors are solution providers. That means companies that sell something a business leader might buy. The type of sponsor depends on the event.
- CONNECT HR events attract companies in areas like learning and development, recruiting, and employee wellbeing. The areas of responsibility listed for human resources include HR technology, talent management, benefits, and culture.
- CONNECT Finance events attract sellers of tools for budgeting, financial planning, accounting, tax, cybersecurity, and ERP software, based on the topics Quartz lists for its finance guests.
- CONNECT CMO events are for marketing leaders and the companies that sell to them.
- Events for IT and supply chain are also part of the mix.
A third-party guide notes that a financial planning software company called Abacum appeared as a moderating sponsor at a CONNECT CFO session. This shows that sponsors can do more than just take meetings. They can also share ideas in front of the group and build a name for themselves.
I could not find one official public list of every sponsor, so if you want to see who sponsored a certain event, check that event’s page or ask the Quartz team.
Who Attends These Events?
The guests are senior business people. Quartz says that its events serve many fields and that the guests come from across the company roster.
The company also makes some big claims about its reach. Its sponsor page says that 80% of Fortune 500 companies have attended a Quartz Network event. A 2021 news report from iGaming Business said that 80% of Fortune 100 companies took part in Quartz events the year before. These are numbers from the company and its partners, so use them as a guide and ask for proof if the number matters for your decision.
One more number is useful. Quartz says that 97% of its sponsors would recommend a Quartz Network event to their peers. Again, this is a company number, but it is still worth asking about when you talk to the sales team.
Why This Model Works for Some Companies
Think about a normal conference. A salesperson might talk to 200 people in two days, and only a few of them can really buy. The rest are students, partners, or people from other teams.
In a matched event, the meeting list is short but focused. Every person on the list has said, in a form, that they have a need. For a company with a long sales process, one good meeting with the right manager can be worth more than a hundred quick chats at a booth.
It also helps new companies. A small firm may not have a famous brand, but if the software solves a problem the guest listed, they can still win a good conversation.
Things to Think About Before You Sponsor
No event is right for every company. Here are some honest points to check.
The cost is high. Quartz does not list its prices in public, and meeting-based sponsorship is usually not cheap. You will need to ask for a quote and compare it with your usual cost for a new customer.
A meeting is not a sale. Even a well-matched meeting is only the start. Your team needs time to follow up. Plan your calls and emails before the event, and decide who will do the work.
Match quality matters. The system is only as good as the answers guests give and the way you describe your product. If your description is unclear, you may get meetings that do not fit.
Check the current details. Quartz’s brands, formats, and locations change over time. Some pages and guides online may be old. Always confirm dates, formats, and meeting numbers with the company.
Ask for references. Talk to a company that sponsored the same event last year. Ask how many meetings were useful and how many deals started.
How Does Quartz Compare With Other Sponsor Matching Options?
The words “sponsor matching companies” can mean different things, so it helps to know what else is out there.
- Other meeting-based event companies. Clarion has a division called Clarion Connect that brings together its one-to-one event business, and it has bought another meeting forum company called Eaton Hall. Questex also runs hosted buyer programs and has launched a framework called Q Connect to set up one-to-one meetings between buyers and solution providers. These are close cousins of the Quartz model.
- Sponsorship marketplaces. Some websites help event owners find sponsors. SponsorHub, for example, was set up in New York as an online marketplace where marketers look for events, teams, and entertainers to sponsor. A smaller site called Sponsearch matches sponsors with charities and community events. These work in the other direction. They help events find money, while Quartz helps sellers find buyers.
So if your goal is to raise money for your own event, a marketplace may suit you. If your goal is to meet people who might buy your product, a meeting-based event like Quartz is closer to what you need.
Quick Tips to Get the Most From a Quartz Sponsorship
- Write a clear product summary. Use simple words. Say who the product is for and what problem it solves.
- Read your guest data early. Use the information Quartz gives you to plan each talk.
- Prepare questions, not a sales speech. Senior guests prefer a real conversation.
- Send a short thank-you note the same day. Add one useful idea from the meeting.
- Track the results. Count meetings, second calls, and deals so you can decide if you should return next year.
Final Thoughts
Quartz Events sponsor matching is built on one simple idea: meet fewer people, but meet the right ones. Guests are invited and checked, they share their needs, and software and people work together to set up the meetings. For a company that sells to senior leaders, this can save time and bring better conversations than a normal sponsorship.
At the same time, it is not a magic answer. The price is not public, the best numbers come from the company, and your team still has to do the follow-up work. Ask good questions, talk to past sponsors, and compare the cost with the value of a new customer. If the numbers make sense, a Quartz event can be a smart way to start real business talks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Quartz Events sponsor matching?
It is a system where companies that sell products or services sponsor an event and receive planned one-on-one meetings with senior guests who have a matching need. Instead of waiting for people to visit a booth, the sponsor meets chosen people at set times. Guests are invited, checked by the Quartz team, and matched by their answers to a questionnaire and by scheduling software.
Who owns Quartz Events?
Clarion Events announced in October 2020 that it had acquired Quartz Events. The Quartz team, led by president and CEO Toby Harris, kept its structure after the deal. Clarion is an international event company based in London.
How many meetings can a sponsor get?
It depends on the package. A third-party guide says that sponsors can get from 15 to 120 one-on-one meetings per event, but Quartz does not show this on its public pages. The best way to get a real answer is to contact Quartz, ask about the event you like, and request a written list of what each package includes.
