The world was caught by surprise in early 2020 with the rapid spread of the coronavirus and the global pandemic that followed. Governments, institutions, and organisations faced unprecedented challenges but quickly began preparing responses to the COVID-19 crisis. One of the European Commission’s key initiatives was the EUvsVirus Program, designed to foster innovation and collaboration across borders.
This initiative consisted of three parts: the hackathon, the Matchathon, and follow-up support for winning projects. The Matchathon was a unique online event aimed at connecting hackathon winners with organisations capable of implementing their solutions. Participants included venture capitalists, corporate executives, universities, and investors—all collaborating virtually at a scale never seen before.
The technical backbone of the event
The Matchathon’s success depended on one critical factor: the choice of the right video conferencing platform. As every meeting, pitch, and presentation would be conducted remotely, the platform needed to deliver a stable, high-quality, and feature-rich experience.
Requirements included:
- Stable connections for extended periods of time
- HD video quality
- Screen and slide sharing for all participants
- Live streaming capabilities
- Interactive Q&A features
Digital Samba was chosen to provide this backbone, and we are proud that our platform supported the event seamlessly.
The matchathon experience
The EUvsVirus Matchathon attracted more than 30,000 applicants. Around 2,200 projects were submitted, and 117 winning teams were selected to present their ideas during the event.
The Demo Day took place on 21 May 2020, followed by the Matchathon from 22 to 25 May. Participants joined remotely from across Europe, each team leader given just 30 seconds to pitch their project to investors and institutions.
To ensure smooth coordination, Digital Samba powered not only the pitches but also mentor sessions, enabling organisers and team leaders to manage logistics effectively.
Digital Samba’s achievement
For us at Digital Samba, the Matchathon was an opportunity to demonstrate that our platform could handle large-scale, multi-day online events without compromising quality.
One highlight was a large webinar with nearly 400 participants that ran for two hours without technical issues. The event was also live-streamed on Facebook, further extending its reach.
This success reinforced Digital Samba’s role as a reliable and innovative European solution for large online events and remote collaboration.
Record-breaking results
The EUvsVirus Matchathon was hailed as a landmark success in online collaboration, bringing together diverse communities for a common cause.
Key outcomes included:
- 500 new partnerships
- 700+ curated meetings
- 400+ partners involved
- 120 projects developed
- 40 countries represented
Looking ahead
The Matchathon was not just an event—it was proof of what can be achieved when technology and collaboration come together under pressure. For Digital Samba, it was also the moment we showcased our platform’s ability to support Europe at scale.
This was only the beginning. In 2020, we stood ready for new challenges, eager to support organisations with secure, scalable, and feature-rich video conferencing for any event, large or small.
If you are planning an online event or looking for a reliable video conferencing partner, Digital Samba is here to help.
Feel free to reach out here to our team with your ideas and plans!
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