California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo) University of Maryland University of California - Berkeley. Other industries in which speed mentoring events have been publicized include: International Interior Design Association (NY Chapter) – Oct 10, 2012 (Annual) NEWH (Hospitality Industry Network) American Society of Media Photographers Information Architecture Institute Wings of Hope (UK) Women of the World Festivals (UK) Advantages and disadvantages Speed networking has advantages over typical meet-and-greet events. For participants Speed networking facilitates the meeting of individuals who may not have had the opportunity to exchange information without a structured environment. Each attendee is "guaranteed to meet more people than [he/she] typically would using traditional networking during the same amount of time." It relieves participants of the stress of introductions as attendees all have a single purpose. It rids the awkward "exit" by having time limits – no need to find a way to bow out of a conversation gracefully – and therefore increases the number of potential new meets. However, there are also risks for attendees, and these relate to an unfortunate perception that a business relationship can also be speed-tracked, as well as a misconception that quantity is of prime importance. Members still need to take time to develop relationships with individual fellow members outside the networking event and the importance of this cannot be overestimated. Other principles of good networking, such as an attitude of giving, not pushing, business cards or marketing material at people, for example, still stand. People can not just drop in during a round robin event as it disrupts the flow and matching. For hosts Speed networking positions the host as an expert in information exchange and business leadership. It adds value to organizations whose structure is innate to business mingling, like alumni associations and chambers of commerce. The different speed networking models have their own benefits. Group-based speed networking, for example, provides the opportunity to meet a maximum number of people with less stress on the participant or repetition of one's personal information. References Meetings