Silicon Valley Speakers Launched Free Planning Hub
Meeting planners now access free vendor directories and AI-powered workflow tools.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Job Search
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In April 2025, Noah Cheyer launched an online resource hub for meeting planners that provides free vendor directories and AI-driven planning tools. The platform aims to streamline event logistics for professionals who previously relied on expensive directories or personal referrals.
Why it matters
The platform addresses the operational challenge of sourcing reliable event vendors without the overhead of paid subscription services. By offering centralized digital tools and a jobs database, the hub reduces search costs for independent planners and small-business operators.
The hub serves more than 2,000 meeting planners, with a jobs database that lists up to 200 new positions weekly vs. the platform's initial launch capacity. It currently maintains a community reach of 13,000 LinkedIn followers and 600 members in an affiliated WhatsApp group.
The players
Noah Cheyer
The founder of Silicon Valley Speakers who oversees the development of AI planning tools and industry resource hubs.
Brad Gillespie
A partner who co-manages the event industry jobs database hosted on the platform.
The details
The platform functions by vetting directory listings through a combination of online research and direct interviews with meeting professionals. It incorporates GPT-based tools designed to analyze survey data and refine pitches, alongside a jobs database managed by Noah Cheyer and Brad Gillespie. This integration allows users to automate routine tasks while sourcing professional contacts through a fee-free directory.
Timeline
In April 2025, Noah Cheyer began developing free GPT tools for the platform.
As of September 2026, the Silicon Valley Speakers website reached more than 2,000 users.
Market Landscape
The platform reflects the broader industry shift toward specialized, community-led resource hubs that bypass traditional, fee-based service directories. It follows a pattern of consolidation where professional networks increasingly rely on AI-integrated tools to streamline logistical operations.
Operators in the event space should evaluate if their current vendor sourcing methods are incurring unnecessary directory fees. The platform offers a low-cost alternative for recruitment and planning that may serve as a useful benchmark for internal efficiency.
The takeaway
The rise of centralized, free resource hubs suggests that legacy directory models in the event industry are under increasing pricing pressure. Operators should monitor the growth of these platforms to determine if they can reduce recruitment and vendor-vetting overhead by shifting to community-vetted tools.
Further reading
For broader trends in industry recruitment, see the Job Search section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Skift Meetings.
Live Poll
Do you trust online vendor directories more than personal referrals when looking for professional services?
