Our history
A journey built between event culture, entrepreneurial takeover and the creation then development of the One-to-One Meetings Exhibitions model in Europe.
Biography
Romuald Gadrat
Founder & President of Weyou Group.
Age 19
First hands-on steps in sound, lighting, video and event production.
Age 22
Created his first technical services company in sound, lighting and video.
2012
Development of a proprietary technology platform connected in real time.
Romuald Gadrat is a French entrepreneur who built his career entirely in the field. Holding a vocational diploma, he began his career at 19 in a major company specializing in sound, lighting and video. This early immersion in event production gave him a concrete understanding of organization, technology, showmanship and above all the human experience.
At only 22, he created his first technical services company in sound, lighting and video. Very quickly, he contributed to organizing some of the largest Parisian evenings in emblematic venues such as:
- the Carrousel du Louvre ;
- the Paris Opera ;
- Studio de la Porte de la Chapelle ;
- as well as many large-scale private and corporate events.
Among his notable achievements, he recreated Place du Tertre in Montmartre inside a giant event, already demonstrating an immersive and innovative approach to event design.
After several years as a technical provider for professional exhibitions, Romuald Gadrat quickly understood the limits of the traditional fair and exhibition model: a lot of visibility, but too little truly measurable business for exhibitors.
He then decided to completely rethink professional events and created HEAVENT Paris, an exhibition dedicated to event professionals that would become over the years a true European reference and one of the sector’s greatest successes.
HEAVENT Paris then acts as a true blockbuster of the event industry, deeply transforming market standards and establishing a new way to design professional meetings.
This success pushed Romuald Gadrat to go further in his vision: creating exhibitions where technology, data and human meetings work together to produce concrete business.
He then founded Weyou Group and developed the One-to-One Meetings Exhibitions concept, based on:
- highly qualified meetings ;
- buyers carrying real projects ;
- matchmaking algorithms ;
- ROI analysis ;
- and a hybrid organization combining digital and human production.
From 2012, he launched the development of a proprietary technology platform connected in real time to:
- CRM ;
- matchmaking algorithms ;
- behavioral analytics ;
- ROI statistics ;
- and all exhibition operations.
Today, Weyou Group organizes more than 25 professional exhibitions in Europe, notably in Paris, Cannes, Marbella and Amsterdam, and stands as one of the European leaders in One-to-One Meetings exhibitions.
Romuald Gadrat’s vision is based on a strong conviction: the future of professional exhibitions belongs to events capable of turning data and people into real business performance.
Digital Platform + Human Production = Business ResultsTimeline
The dates that shaped Weyou Group
2005 to 2025
From Heavent Expo to the European development of Weyou Spain and Weyou Netherlands, the timeline traces the group’s key milestones.
2005May
Tarsus France acquires Heavent Expo
The event exhibition enters the Tarsus France portfolio before becoming one of the foundations of the Weyou story.
2008April
Romuald Gadrat appointed Managing Director
Tarsus France entrusts general management to Romuald Gadrat during a period of market transformation.
2008May
First One-to-One exhibition in France
The group launches Heavent Meetings, held in Deauville the first year, then in Cannes.
2012January
New One-to-One Meetings Exhibitions
Tarsus France expands the model with several sector-specific events.
- IT & Cybersecurity Meetings
- All4Customer Meetings
- Workplace Meetings
2012March
Start of Weyou Gestion development
Our proprietary interconnected platform begins structuring data, meetings and exhibition management.
2015July
Acquisition by Romuald Gadrat and FCDE
Tarsus France is acquired, opening a new entrepreneurial phase for the group.
2016November
Tarsus France becomes Weyou Group
The identity change supports the development of a model more focused on data, matchmaking and ROI.
2017November
Launch of Transports & Logistics Meetings
Weyou Group continues expanding the One-to-One Meetings Exhibitions format across sectors.
2019October
New transaction with EMZ Partners
Weyou announces a transaction with EMZ Partners, a structuring step in its development.
2020August
Exhibitions open during the pandemic
Weyou Group is presented as the only organizer to open exhibitions just after restrictions on gatherings for events were lifted.
2020October
Launch of Hotel & Restaurant Meetings
The group adds a new strategic vertical to its One-to-One event portfolio.
2021November
Launch of Healthcare Meetings
Weyou Group develops a format dedicated to the healthcare sector and its decision-makers.
2023December
Interior Exterior Design Meetings
Weyou Group announces the launch of an exhibition dedicated to the interior and exterior design universe.
2024April
Honorary citizen of Cannes
Romuald Gadrat is named honorary citizen of the city of Cannes.
2024September
Development of Weyou Spain
Weyou Group launches five One-to-One Meetings Exhibitions in Marbella.
- IT & Cybersecurity Meetings Spain
- Hotel & Restaurant Meetings Spain
- Heavent Meetings Spain
- All4Customer Meetings Spain
- Interior Exterior Design Meetings Spain
2025June
Development of Weyou Netherlands
Weyou Group launches seven One-to-One Meetings Exhibitions in Amsterdam.
- IT & Cybersecurity Meetings Netherlands
- E-commerce CX & AI Meetings Netherlands
- Heavent Meetings Netherlands
- Hotel & Restaurant Meetings Netherlands
- Interior Exterior Design Meetings Netherlands
- Transports Logistics Intralogistics 360 Meetings Netherlands
- Workplace Meetings Netherlands
