Sheffield entrepreneur event MADE will see the debut of the Zapifi networking app, which promises to transform face-to-face encounters, via the users smartphone, into online connections.

The 3,000 delegates will be presented with Zapifi, and can then zap another persons virtual card to kick start a virtual conversation, allowing them to share keywords or notes, which could abolish the often time-consuming, and neglected, follow-up.

“That this exciting innovation, which you might normally associate with Silicon Valley, is coming not just from the UK but a Sheffield company, is testament to the innovative, entrepreneurial culture Britain is beginning to become famous for,” said MADE Festival chairman Michael Hayman. “While online social networking has vastly increased networking potential, it can never replace traditional face-to-face contact. Zapifi aims to become the indispensible bridge between the two.”

The free app spreads among the users contacts too, as an attempt to overcome the limitations of needing to pre-install before people can connect. Its designed to spread virally, and so for now, the only place to get a Zapifi account is from the entrepreneurs who got one at MADE – or their growing circles of contacts.

Join us at Mobile Marketing Live, our new two-day conference, exhibition and networking event being held at Londons Business Design Centre on 1-2 October