DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A WEB-BASED VIRTUAL EVENT MANAGEMENT PLATFORM FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Abstract

Entrepreneurs—individuals who establish and grow business ventures—and virtual events—digitally hosted gatherings conducted via online platforms—have become increasingly vital for networking, promotion, and engagement in the modern digital economy. Entrepreneurs face significant challenges in organising and participating in virtual events, including limited visibility, high costs, and the complexity of managing event logistics. The Virtual Event Management Platform for Entrepreneurs (VEMP) project addresses these issues by developing a comprehensive web-based application tailored to entrepreneurial needs. Employing a structured research and development approach, VEMP progresses through problem identification, design, development, and evaluation phases to streamline event management processes across event types such as conferences, webinars, and networking sessions. Key features of the platform include user-friendly interfaces, real-time communication tools, intuitive navigation, and robust data management capabilities. Methodologically, the platform’s usability was evaluated with 31 participants from diverse entrepreneurial backgrounds, focusing on interface design, usefulness, and user satisfaction. The findings reveal a high level of user acceptance, demonstrating that VEMP provides a cost-effective and efficient solution that enhances visibility, reduces logistical complexity, and expands business opportunities for entrepreneurs. Future work will focus on iterative feature enhancements and responsiveness to evolving user needs.