Event Tech of the Week: @theCatchbox

Today, we’re talking about: Catchbox Inc.

Company/Tool Name: Catchbox Inc. / Catchbox Pro

Website: getcatchbox.com

Twitter: @theCatchbox

Facebook: /CatchBox/

What is the “problem” that your tool seeks to solve?

Everyday event organizers around the world face the same challenge – how to engage their audiences.

One way to do this is to encourage dialogue by including Q&A sessions or interactive panel discussions into events. Unfortunately, trying to pass around a regular mic is slow, cumbersome, and often has the opposite effect, making events boring instead of engaging.

That’s why we invented the Catchbox, the worlds first, soft throwable microphone that is designed to be thrown from one participant to another.

What is the best audience for this tool? Corporate events? Social? Other? Large? Small?

The Catchbox is a great addition to any event where you want audiences to participate in a discussion. This includes large conferences with audiences of several hundred people, large and small lectures, as well as smaller events such as breakout sessions and workshops.

What does your tool help event planners do better?

Catchbox provides a simple and effective solution for audience engagement by eliminating the downfalls of traditional microphones, while still keeping the advantages.

Because it is throwable, the device can reach the middle and back rows of any audience with ease, and doesn’t require mic ushers. More importantly, the simple act of throwing and catching the Catchbox creates a sense of playfulness, and lowers the barriers for participation.

This helps event planners to activate their audiences, as well as to make events more effective and fun.

How is your tool different from/better than the competition?

The Catchbox is more than a throwable microphone – it’s a combination of state of the art technology and award winning design.

By combining advanced foams and technical fabrics, the cover protects the electronics inside from impact, as well as the person catching it. In addition, the inbuilt sensors and chipsets ensure that the device automatically mutes itself when thrown or dropped.

What is the single coolest feature of your product?

In addition to its throwable features, the cover can be customised to match your desired brand. Whether it’s a simple color decision, an official company logo or an event hashtag, the Catchbox has the potential to become a display medium for your brand.

Anything else we need to know?

The Catchbox Pro is an award winning event solution with recognition from the industry. Last year Catchbox pro received the BizBash Event Style Award for “Best new event product 2015” and was a finalist for “Event Tech of the year” in 2015 hosted by Event Manager Blog.

This weekly series spotlights a new tech tool that is designed to help make planning events much more seamless. Whether it’s using event software to track every detail from start to finish or mobile apps that deliver content to attendees’ fingertips, these technologies allow planners to divert their stress to more critical issues like deciding which napkin color looks best.