The Public Company CEO Experience

Nextech3D.ai & KraftyLab Acquisition: Scaling AI-Powered Enterprise Event Engagement

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Event Technology Spotlight, we go inside the Nextech3D.ai & KraftyLab acquisition and explore what it means for the future of enterprise event engagement.

Host Katie with Evan Gappelberg, CEO of Nextech3D.ai, to discuss why KraftyLab was the right strategic move — and why now.

As the global events industry continues to grow, enterprises are rethinking how they drive engagement, culture, and connection at scale. This conversation breaks down how AI, experiential design, and enterprise-focused platforms are coming together to create a new category of engagement technology.

🔍 What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why Nextech3D.ai acquired KraftyLab
How enterprise engagement is shifting from single events to long-term programs
The role of AI in personalizing and scaling human-centered experiences
How this acquisition expands Nextech3D.ai beyond event infrastructure
What customers gain from a unified, end-to-end engagement platform
Why AI is increasing — not reducing — the importance of real human connection

This episode offers a strategic look at how AI-powered platforms, enterprise engagement, and experiential technology are shaping the future of global events and organizational culture.

Guest: Evan Gappelberg, CEO, Nextech3D.ai
Host: Katie
Series: Event Technology Spotlight

Follow Nextech3D.ai & Eventdex for more AI-powered event innovation:

🔗 LinkedIn (Nextech3D.ai): https://linkedin.com/company/nextech3dai
🔗 LinkedIn (KraftyLab): https://www.linkedin.com/company/kraftylab/?viewAsMember=true
🔗 LinkedIn (Map D): https://www.linkedin.com/company/mapdbynextech/?viewAsMember=true
🔗 LinkedIn (Eventdex): https://www.linkedin.com/company/eventdex/?viewAsMember=true

🌐 Website: https://nextech3d.ai

🌐 KraftyLab : https://www.kraftylab.com/

🌐 Map D : https://mapdevents.com/

🌐 Eventdex : https://www.eventdex.com/

Powered by Nextech3D.ai — building the AI-driven future of events.

Episode 9: Blockchain Ticketing - A High-Margin Growth Engine for Nextech3D.ai

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Blockchain ticketing is no longer just an innovation — it’s becoming a material revenue driver for the global event industry.

In this investor-focused episode, we break down why blockchain ticketing represents a high-margin, scalable growth opportunity for Nextech3D.ai shareholders, and how the acquisition of Eventdex accelerates this opportunity.

In this conversation, CEO Evan Gappelberg explains how blockchain ticketing modernizes the foundation of event access by turning every ticket into a verifiable, tamper-proof digital asset, while unlocking new recurring revenue streams for organizers and platform providers.

Key topics covered in this episode:

Why the traditional ticketing market is structurally broken
How blockchain ticketing works — explained simply for investors
Why Nextech3D.ai + Eventdex is uniquely positioned to scale this technology
How AI + blockchain together prevent fraud and resale abuse
How organizers can monetize secondary ticket resales
Why blockchain ticketing is a high-margin SaaS upsell
The impact on AOV, ARR, and platform expansion
Nextech3D.ai’s 2026 vision for identity-linked tickets, NFTs, loyalty tokens, and AI-driven access control

This is not experimental R&D. Blockchain ticketing is a commercially deployable product with the potential to contribute millions in incremental ARR over the next 18–24 months, making it a meaningful growth catalyst for Nextech3D.ai shareholders.

🎧 This episode is designed for investors, event organizers, and technology leaders looking to understand where event security, monetization, and AI-first platforms are heading next.

Follow Nextech3D.ai & Eventdex for more AI-powered event innovation:

🌐 Website: https://nextech3d.ai

🌐 KraftyLab : https://www.kraftylab.com/

🌐 Map D : https://mapdevents.com/

🌐 Eventdex : https://www.eventdex.com/

Powered by Nextech3D.ai — building the AI-driven future of events.

Episode 8: The Future in AI: Eventdex Joins Nextech3D.ai

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0500

In this special episode of The Future in AI, Host Katie Rubino sits down with Evan Gappelberg, CEO of Nextech3D.ai, to break down why the acquisition of Eventdex is already transforming the company’s growth trajectory.

This conversation dives into:

Why Eventdex was the right acquisition at the right time
Immediate sales momentum and cross-sell expansion
AI as a high-margin revenue engine
Blockchain ticketing as a disruptive new vertical
AOV growth, ARR expansion, and 2026 pipeline acceleration
The unified AI-first event operating system
Visionary insights for investors, customers, and partners

From AI matchmaking and 3D floor plans to blockchain-secured compliance and registration automation, this merger positions Nextech3D.ai as the fastest-growing all-in-one event-tech platform.

🎧 Tune in now to hear how AI is reshaping revenue models, product strategy, and the future of events.

Follow Nextech3D.ai & Eventdex for more AI-powered event innovation:

🌐 Website: https://nextech3d.ai

🌐 KraftyLab : https://www.kraftylab.com/

🌐 Map D : https://mapdevents.com/

🌐 Eventdex : https://www.eventdex.com/

Powered by Nextech3D.ai — building the AI-driven future of events.

Episode 7: Navigating the Future - CEO Strategies for Success in the AI Industry

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0500

In this episode produced with AIFounders, Evan Gappelberg shares valuable insights discussing the dynamic nature of successful entrepreneurship and the importance of adaptability. From pivotal moments in business to the potential risks and opportunities presented by AI, Evan delves into the evolution of technology and its impact on industries and highlights the innovative use of AI in Nextech, particularly the development of a groundbreaking 3D model search engine.

Follow Nextech3D.ai & Eventdex for more AI-powered event innovation:

🌐 Website: https://nextech3d.ai

🌐 KraftyLab : https://www.kraftylab.com/

🌐 Map D : https://mapdevents.com/

🌐 Eventdex : https://www.eventdex.com/

Powered by Nextech3D.ai — building the AI-driven future of events.

Episode 6: ARway.ai Update on Apple Vision Pro Launch

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Evan provides a progress report on ARway.ai, as well as what the imminent launch of Apple Vision Pro will mean for the company going forward. As the Apple launch is only weeks away from the recording of this episode, Evan also provides additional detail around the ARway.ai patented augmented reality spatial computing platform, increased adoption rates across a growing customer portfolio, and how the company is well poised to be the leader in indoor wayfinding.

Follow Nextech3D.ai & Eventdex for more AI-powered event innovation:

🌐 Website: https://nextech3d.ai

🌐 KraftyLab : https://www.kraftylab.com/

🌐 Map D : https://mapdevents.com/

🌐 Eventdex : https://www.eventdex.com/

Powered by Nextech3D.ai — building the AI-driven future of events.

Episode 5 : Problem Solving with a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA)

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 16:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, Evan shares his thoughts, beliefs and methodologies on problem solving, maintaining a positive mental attitude, the importance of physical fitness, as well as the law of attraction and conscious hypnosis. We all face many challenges in our business and personal lives, and this 40-minute episode is crafted to help our listeners mitigate stress and anxiety as well as develop and maintain a proper mindset to achieve success in all facets of life.

Follow Nextech3D.ai & Eventdex for more AI-powered event innovation:

🌐 Website: https://nextech3d.ai

🌐 KraftyLab : https://www.kraftylab.com/

🌐 Map D : https://mapdevents.com/

🌐 Eventdex : https://www.eventdex.com/

Powered by Nextech3D.ai — building the AI-driven future of events.

Episode 4 : The Power of AI and Its Impact on Society

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, Evan provides a clear and easy-to-understand overview of the many facets of AI. Artificial Intelligence holds great potential to change the world, and here you will find several use case scenarios of how that is happening now, as well as what the future may hold for AI as it is accepted into the mainstream and incorporated into our daily lives.

Follow Nextech3D.ai & Eventdex for more AI-powered event innovation:

🌐 Website: https://nextech3d.ai

🌐 KraftyLab : https://www.kraftylab.com/

🌐 Map D : https://mapdevents.com/

🌐 Eventdex : https://www.eventdex.com/

Powered by Nextech3D.ai — building the AI-driven future of events.

Episode 3: Toggle3D.ai (CSE: TGGL) (OTC: TGGLF)

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Evan talks about the recent Toggle3D.ai IPO which now has the company trading on the CSE and OTC. Additionally, he speaks to the ease of use and adoption of the Toggle3D.ai technology as well as the growth potential within the CAD/CGI and 3D markets.

Follow Nextech3D.ai & Eventdex for more AI-powered event innovation:

🌐 Website: https://nextech3d.ai

🌐 KraftyLab : https://www.kraftylab.com/

🌐 Map D : https://mapdevents.com/

🌐 Eventdex : https://www.eventdex.com/

Powered by Nextech3D.ai — building the AI-driven future of events.

Episode 2: ARway.ai (CSE: ARWY) (OTC:ARWYF)

Tue, 30 May 2023 11:00:00 -0400

Today's episode is a deep dive and drill down on ARway.ai which is one of Evan's portfolio companies focused on Augmented Reality and publicly traded on the CSE:ARWY, OTCQB:ARWYF and FSE:E65. Learn how ARway.ai is poised to dominate the indoor wayfinding markets in both Enterprise and B2C environments and how this patented, proprietary technology can be seamlessly integrated into almost any app. Evan talks about the company’s current pipeline, deal size, sales cycle and path to revenue, as well as how Apple Glasses, Microsoft’s HoloLens and Meta are opening up immense markets where AR experiences will become the norm. Of course, no episode would be complete without some discussion about AI, so here again is an opportunity to learn how the ARway.ai platform can not only provide an immersive AR experience, but also improve production and efficiencies across enterprise markets.

Follow Nextech3D.ai & Eventdex for more AI-powered event innovation:

🌐 Website: https://nextech3d.ai

🌐 KraftyLab : https://www.kraftylab.com/

🌐 Map D : https://mapdevents.com/

🌐 Eventdex : https://www.eventdex.com/

Powered by Nextech3D.ai — building the AI-driven future of events.

Episode 1: Intro to The Public Company CEO Experience Podcast & Nextech3D.ai

Fri, 19 May 2023 14:00:00 -0400

The CEO Experience Public Company Podcast kicks off with episode 1, introducing Evan Gappelberg, CEO of 3 publicly traded technology Companies: Nextech3D.ai (CSE:NTAR) (OTC:NEXCF), ARway.ai (CSE:ARWY) (OTC:ARWYF) and Toggle3D.ai (CSE:TGGL)

Follow Nextech3D.ai & Eventdex for more AI-powered event innovation:

🌐 Website: https://nextech3d.ai

🌐 KraftyLab : https://www.kraftylab.com/

🌐 Map D : https://mapdevents.com/

🌐 Eventdex : https://www.eventdex.com/

Powered by Nextech3D.ai — building the AI-driven future of events.