Ryzers community networks in virtual world

BANGALORE: In a world where networking is all about flamboyant parties, power breakfasts, chance meetings at an airport, there is a new mantra - RYZING.
The community of Ryzers will tell you all about networking the smarter, savvier, 24/7 way. A growing community worldwide, there are over 300 Ryzers in Bangalore with Mumbai recording the highest number of Ryzers in the country (500).You''ll find them in the world of virtual networking. Their address is Ryze.com.
Here the rules are different. Networking is not just about partying to build contacts. Online chat messengers do not form the basis of interaction. Ryzers network through online message boards and private messages.
They discuss topics as diverse as the islands in Bahamas, photography, cooking and anger management.
Founded by Adrian Scott, former CEO of the music company Napster, Ryze has become a platform for top professionals across the world to discuss and build business contacts with each other.
Ryzers have spread throughout the seven continents with the largest network in the US. Time, space and industry no bar. After the first steps of virtual networking, Ryzers attend Mixers.
According to the Ryzer dictionary that''s a party of sorts. It''s all about introductions and meeting each other off line. First time Mixers for Ryzers who have networked online are a fun get-together where more networking happens.
"During our mixer, all of us spoke about our group, how to take it further and when to have more mixers. In time our mixers will probably be as active as Mumbai which has them every third Friday of a month," Ryzer Anjali Hegde said.
Mediaturf Vice president, Anjali has gained three business inquiries from the Ryzer community ever since she signed up. At the core of Ryzing is every networker''s single minded quest to build more contacts, be it professional or personal or both.
"Networking usually involves meeting existing contacts through parties which cannot be held very often. Ryzing is seamless. You can network with a whole lot of new contacts anytime. It also offers you a fair amount of anonymity," Hegde added.
The Ryzer community prides itself on being a mature group. They''ll joke with you, share some bizzare stories and discuss business. But if you spam them, you''re out of the Ryzer circle.
"I have found two people I might want to hire and do business with. We have had two mixers so far and every week new Ryzers join in. Friends turn into contacts as you go along," Mahesh Murthy, founder of Mumbai based Passion Fund said.
Ryzer networking topics include Repetitive Strain Injury, Brand Futures, Web of Finance, advertising and marketing, Outsourcing, the art and science of catching Gophers, Serious Play, Entertainment Industry Network, Social software, parents working from home and loving it among others.
Conversations from golf to trekking to hypocrisy are all thrown in. Every Ryzer has his own homage which lists out his designation, company name, previous companies he has worked with, interests and some photographs of himself.