Two goals that are usually organized separately
Most companies organize business matching, meaning events that connect with partners or potential customers, and internal team building as two entirely separate events, with different budgets and schedules. That is safe but more expensive, since each event needs its own venue and organizing cost.
When to consider combining
Combining suits a company whose partner relationships are close enough to invite them to a fun event, rather than only meeting in the framework of a seminar or a formal working session. These are usually long-time partners, close suppliers, or major customers with whom the company wants to build a deeper relationship beyond ordinary transactions.
Why an activity like kart racing suits this purpose
Traditional networking, standing with a glass of water making polite conversation, usually creates pressure to start talking, which not everyone is comfortable with. An activity with natural common ground like kart racing solves this problem: participants have something to talk about while waiting for their turn or discussing the result they just achieved, without having to look for a topic from scratch.
How to arrange it so neither goal gets diluted
The biggest risk of combining is diluting both goals: the networking part isn't formal enough to discuss work, while the team building part feels constrained by outside guests. A sensible approach is to separate the schedule clearly within one session, for example the first part for the company's own staff to get used to the activity, and the second part inviting partners to join, instead of mixing the two with no time boundary.
Practical application for the combined model
The space at Infinity Racing fits this model thanks to the 115-square-meter Zone 2, designed as a premium networking lounge, formal enough for mingling with partners, while the three-level kart track keeps the atmosphere relaxed and less formal than a traditional seminar. A company can run the internal racing first, then invite partners to join a friendly race or only the networking portion, depending on how close the relationship is.
Questions to answer before deciding to combine
Before deciding, the company should ask itself three things: do the invited partners suit a fun atmosphere or do you need to keep things formal, does combining really cost less than organizing separately, and will your internal team feel comfortable having outside guests at their own team building day.
How to choose a suitable guest list
When you decide to fold business matching into a team building event, choosing the right guest list matters as much as choosing the venue. Don't invite your entire partner list. Select by two criteria: how close the cooperation relationship is, and whether the partner is comfortable with a fun atmosphere rather than only used to meeting in a formal setting.
A practical way to sort them is into three groups: long-standing partners with good personal relationships with people in the company, suitable to invite to both the racing and the networking; new partners or those in negotiation, suitable to invite only to the networking to keep a somewhat more formal atmosphere; and partners to invite only when there is a specific need, avoiding inviting everyone just because the contact list exists. The number of outside guests also shouldn't exceed 15-20% of total participants, so it doesn't dilute the internal bonding atmosphere that is the main goal of the team building part.
There is no right answer for every company
Combining business matching and team building isn't the right choice in every case. It depends on the nature of the partner relationship and the company's internal culture. For companies with close partner relationships that want an experience different from ordinary networking events, it is a direction worth trying, as long as the schedule is arranged clearly enough that neither goal gets lost.
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