Global Leading Market Research Publisher QYResearch announces the release of its latest report “B2B Matchmaking Software – Global Market Share and Ranking, Overall Sales and Demand Forecast 2026-2032”.
Executive Summary: The Algorithmic Handshake
For decades, the lifeblood of B2B commerce—partner discovery, supplier verification, and strategic alliance formation—has been governed by a paradox. It is simultaneously the most valuable and the most inefficient process in global trade. Reliance on trade shows, personal networks, and manual RFIs has created a “discovery tax” that, our analysis suggests, cost global enterprises over US$430 billion in 2024 in missed opportunities and extended sales cycles.
That paradigm is now undergoing its most radical transformation since the advent of the internet.
This report, drawing on 19 years of QYResearch’s sectoral intelligence and exclusive C-level interviews, dissects a market accelerating toward a US$20 billion valuation. We move beyond simple CAGR calculations to answer the strategic questions facing CEOs, CMOs, and investors: Why is this technology transitioning from a “nice-to-have” events tool to a “mission-critical” revenue infrastructure? Where are the true margins located—in local penetration or cross-border facilitation? And how do incumbents defend against vertical-specific SaaS invaders?
[Get a free sample PDF of this report (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart)]
https://www.qyresearch.com/reports/5058946/b2b-matchmaking-software
1. Market Sizing & Trajectory: Beyond the COVID Bump
The global B2B Matchmaking Software market was valued at US$8.62 billion in 2024. This is not merely a post-pandemic normalization of virtual events. It represents a structural repricing of software that directly generates revenue rather than simply reducing cost.
The QYResearch Forecast:
By 2031, the market is projected to reach US$20.03 billion, expanding at a CAGR of 12.8% .
What the Topline Number Doesn’t Show:
This growth is bi-modal. The “Virtual Events & Conferencing” segment (which dominated 2021-2023 spend) has moderated to single-digit growth. However, the ”Persistent Intelligence” segment—software that operates 24/7/365 to proactively surface partnership opportunities independent of specific events—is growing at an estimated 19-22% CAGR. Enterprises are no longer paying for a platform; they are paying for a continuously learning algorithmic agent that understands their capability gaps.
2. Product Redefined: From Utility to Strategic Asset
To understand this market’s velocity, one must first discard the legacy definition of “matchmaking software.”
Legacy Definition (circa 2020): A scheduling tool for trade show meetings.
Strategic Definition (2026): An AI-mediated, cross-referential data exchange that validates trust, predicts synergy, and automates initial commercial engagement.
Today’s platforms ingest disparate data signals—procurement histories, ESG compliance scores, export credit ratings, and even engineering capacity—to generate match scores. We are witnessing the commoditization of “introductions” and the premiumization of “predictive compatibility.”
Case in Point:
During our primary research, a senior supply chain officer at a European automotive tier-1 supplier noted: “Five years ago, we used this software to find injection molders at a trade fair. Today, we use it to identify pre-vetted battery recyclers in Southeast Asia that meet EU battery passport standards. The software now knows our regulatory compliance needs before our own sales team does.”
3. The Core Dichotomy: Local Saturation vs. Cross-Border Velocity
Our segmentation reveals a critical strategic divergence between Local and Cross-border applications.
3.1 Local Market Maturity (The Volume Driver)
- Characteristics: Dominated by SMEs, events agencies, and chambers of commerce.
- Growth Dynamic: Mature but stable (CAGR ~8-9%). High user volume, low transaction value.
- CEO Insight: Here, software is a defensive utility. It retains members and automates logistics. Competitive advantage is derived from UX and CRM integration (Salesforce/HubSpot).
3.2 Cross-Border Expansion (The Value Accelerator)
- Characteristics: Dominated by large enterprises, export credit agencies, and multilateral trade bodies.
- Growth Dynamic: Accelerating (CAGR ~16-18%). Lower user volume, exponentially higher contract value.
- CEO Insight: Here, software is an offensive asset. It de-risks entry into geopolitically complex markets. The provider that can accurately verify the legitimacy of a supplier in Vietnam or Mexico for a US buyer owns the premium pricing tier.
We are observing the early emergence of ”Industry-Cloud Verticalization.” Horizontal players (like B2match or Grip) dominate generalist events. However, specialized platforms targeting Aerospace (e.g., Aeromart Toulouse), Pharma CDMOs, or Semiconductor supply chains are commanding 3-4x higher revenue per user by embedding technical nomenclature and regulatory validation directly into the matching algorithm.
4. Competitive Landscape: The Barbell Effect
The vendor ecosystem is fragmenting into a distinct barbell shape.
Barbell Top: The Experience Titans
Players: Grip, B2match, Brella, Accelevents.
Strategy: These firms are racing to become the “Operating System” for the global events industry. They are aggressively acquiring adjacent tech (polling, lead retrieval) to increase switching costs. Their threat is not niche competitors, but Microsoft and Salesforce embedding native matching into their existing collaboration suites.
Barbell Bottom: The Vertical-Native Challengers
Players: Powerlinx (corporate strategic alliances), Aeromart (aerospace), B2BeeMatch.
Strategy: These firms reject the “one-size-fits-all” model. Powerlinx, for example, specifically facilitates corporate-startup partnerships for Fortune 500 innovation teams. They do not sell licenses; they sell facilitated outcomes, often taking success fees or retained advisory contracts.
The SME Conundrum:
Vendors targeting the SME segment face a high-churn, low-margin environment. SMEs desire matchmaking software but often lack the internal procurement infrastructure to action the matches. The winning strategy here is ”Matchmaking-as-a-Service” —where the vendor provides not just the software, but the human relationship manager to close the loop.
5. Technology Barriers and the “Trust Deficit”
Despite AI advancements, the industry faces a persistent technology barrier: data veracity.
The Problem:
Algorithms are only as intelligent as the data they consume. A significant portion of B2B company profiles on matchmaking platforms contain outdated information or inflated capabilities.
The Solution Frontier:
We are seeing early investment in Blockchain-based Digital Identity/Passports. Early adopters (particularly in cross-border platforms) are experimenting with verified credentialing. The platform that solves the “liar’s dividend” in B2B profiles will capture the market’s highest margin segment.
6. Strategic Outlook: Where Should Capital and Attention Flow?
For CEOs & Marketing Leaders:
- Shift Budget from Events to “Always-On”: The ROI on a perpetual matchmaking license will soon outpace the ROI on a single exhibition booth. Treat your matchmaking profile as a permanent digital asset.
- Demand Verticalization: If your vendor cannot differentiate between a logistics provider and a chip manufacturer in their algorithm, you are overpaying for under-specialized technology.
For Investors:
- Look for “Data Moats”: We screen for companies that own proprietary taxonomy or have exclusive partnerships with credit bureaus/trade associations. UI is easily copied; unique data on corporate capability is not.
- Monitor the ERP Gateway: The ultimate prize is integration into SAP/Oracle. The first matchmaking vendor to function as a native plugin within procurement software will achieve escape velocity.
Conclusion:
The B2B matchmaking software market is no longer just about connectivity; it is about commercial gravity. The platforms that succeed will be those that act less like social networks and more like high-frequency trading desks—processing vast amounts of trust signals to execute the perfect commercial match in milliseconds. The US$20 billion forecast is not an aspiration; it is the inevitable revaluation of a tool that finally knows the true value of a business introduction.
Contact Us:
If you have any queries regarding this report or if you would like further information, please contact us:
QY Research Inc.
Add: 17890 Castleton Street Suite 369 City of Industry CA 91748 United States
EN: https://www.qyresearch.com
E-mail: global@qyresearch.com
Tel: 001-626-842-1666 (US)
JP: https://www.qyresearch.co.jp
