A Stamford woman has won a grant following the creation of a successful algorithm to help boost networking and business growth.

Bored with traditional networking, a Stamford-based entrepreneur has created unique mathematical formulas and scientific research to design the perfect networking scenario to boost business growth.

Talk Networking, which is the only one of its kind, has become so popular with a 300% uptake in attendance in the last 3 years, they have received £25,000 of Growth Works funding to expand across the UK. 

Felicity Francis, the brains behind the group, is now looking at ways to further automate the process and use maths to create the perfect meeting style for any personality. 

Designed specifically to enhance interaction Talk Networking means you never meet the same person in break out rooms, are steered towards individuals most likely to benefit your business and the agenda of the group encourages meaningful interactions specifically designed to build long-term business relationships. 

Felicity Francis, who is based in Stamford and runs her own telemarketing business, said "I have always had a technical mind. I see problems and I know there must be an algorithm or formula that can sort it. By breaking down human interaction into its simplest parts I was able to create a mathematical formula that enhanced the simple networking meeting to make sure that every business was getting the most meaningful interaction. 

"Whether you are an introvert or extrovert the program works to help improve your experience." 

Felicity Francis. Image credit: Talk Networking.

Launching online in 2020 the group has already grown to include four different online networking styles. Thanks to the specialist grant, specifically designed for ambitious, fast-growing businesses, they will now be able to reopen further face-to-face networking later this year and increase capacity across all of its meetings.

Using the same principles as the online algorithms the face to face groups deliver a supercharged experience which encourages interaction and helps participants meet the right people in the room for their business. 

Talking about how the group hopes to change the face of networking for small businesses, Felicity said: "When I started my business, I went to lots of networking groups and none of them really worked in the way I wanted them to. Everyone networks differently but networking hasn't changed in style since it was first introduced. I knew something had to change to make it more productive. 

"Frustrated by faceless zoom group meetings I started to work on a formula which would drive interaction and help businesses to really connect with the right people in the right way. 

"Everything Talk Networking does is designed to make it more efficient and easier for businesses to support one another, no more guess work or unproductive long meetings. 

"With further developments in the pipeline, I am excited by how Talk Networking is developing the business tools of the future which help modernise networking to produce the very best results." 

Talk Networking was originally launched in Lincolnshire as a face-to-face networking group 13 years ago. When COVID 19 hit in 2020 there was a need to bring the groups online and Felicity designed a bespoke online system to maximise engagement with mathematical algorithms driving ROI for every attendee.

Growth Works, based in Peterborough, support ambitious and fast-growing businesses across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to scale faster and stay ahead of the game.

More information is available on the Talk Networking website.