Case Study: Deep Learning Indaba 2025 - Expanding Connections with Gatherly (Hybrid Event)

Overview

Indaba 2025 is a six-day event dedicated to advancing the conversation around AI and technology, with a strong focus on education, collaboration, and African innovation.

The event features a series of talks, hands-on workshops, and community-driven discussions led by researchers, industry leaders, and emerging voices in AI.

To extend its reach and create an inclusive experience, Indaba partners with Gatherly to implement a digital twin of the live event, ensuring that participants across the globe can engage meaningfully regardless of location.

Floor Plan for Hybrid Events

Challenge

Indaba has always been a highly interactive in-person gathering that fosters deep technical discussions, skill-sharing, and professional networking.

However, geographic and financial barriers limit accessibility for many individuals who would benefit from participation.

The challenge is to maintain the event’s immersive and interactive nature while expanding its reach beyond those who can attend physically.

Solution

Gatherly, as a Digital Twin for this Hybrid Event, provides an interactive digital space that mirrors the in-person Indaba experience, allowing remote participants to engage in real-time. Key features include:

• Live-Streamed Talks & Workshops: Keynotes, panel discussions, and hands-on technical workshops are available to virtual attendees, ensuring equitable access to learning opportunities.

• AI-Powered Networking: Intelligent matchmaking connects attendees based on shared research interests and professional goals, fostering collaboration across regions and disciplines.

• Interactive Discussion Lounges: Virtual spaces that encourage deep-dive discussions, enabling participants to engage with speakers, workshop facilitators, and peers in real-time.

• Hybrid Collaboration Opportunities: Digital poster sessions, virtual mentorship meetups, and collaborative coding environments provide avenues for engagement that transcend physical boundaries.

Floor Plan For Hybrid Events

Impact

The integration of Gatherly’s digital twin transforms Indaba 2025 into a more inclusive and globally connected event. Key outcomes include:

• Greater Accessibility: More participants from diverse backgrounds and locations can join the event, fostering a richer exchange of ideas.

• Deeper Engagement: Virtual attendees actively contribute to discussions, workshops, and collaborative projects, enhancing the overall learning experience.

• Sustained Knowledge Sharing: Recordings, discussion threads, and ongoing virtual engagement ensure that insights from Indaba 2025 continue to benefit the AI community long after the event concludes.

Conclusion 

Indaba 2025 exemplifies how AI and technology can bridge geographical divides and create meaningful connections. By partnering with Gatherly, the event redefines accessibility in technical conferences, ensuring that knowledge, mentorship, and collaboration remain at the forefront of Africa’s AI ecosystem.