SwapTogether: Behind the Scenes of Swapcard’s Global Offsite

SwapTogether: Behind the Scenes of Swapcard’s Global Offsite

In April 2025, something extraordinary happened: 150 Swapcardians from across the globe came together in person, many for the very first time.

Since 2020, we've thrived as a remote-first company, embracing flexibility, autonomy, and a distributed way of working. While teams have met in person over the years, gathering globally, all together in one place, was long overdue. With team members spread across 40 countries and nationalities, we've built strong virtual connections, but we’ve always known that no amount of video calls can fully replace the energy and trust that grows when we share real moments, face-to-face.

That’s why SwapTogether came to life.

For five unforgettable days in Algarve, Portugal, we stepped away from our screens to connect, collaborate, and celebrate what makes Swapcard unique. It wasn’t just a company retreat but a powerful milestone for our culture, a space to realign on our mission, and a reminder of the humans behind Slack usernames.

1. The Purpose: Why SwapTogether Exists

Remote work has opened incredible doors: flexibility, autonomy, diversity, and access to global talent, but it also brings new challenges. Without shared hallways, spontaneous chats, or team lunches, it takes intention to maintain connection, culture, and alignment.

SwapTogether was a turning point. After five years of working from different time zones and with our laptops, we felt the need for a reset: a chance to bring everyone together, not just to meet in person, but to truly connect.

This offsite wasn’t just about presentations and KPIs. It was about putting people first. We wanted to create space to:

• Strengthen our culture by making space for belonging, authenticity, and human connection.
  
  
• Align on our strategy and get everyone moving in the same direction.
  
  
• Spark energy and engagement by remembering what makes Swapcard special, and why we’re here.
  
  

As a remote-first company, we know we can’t rely on day-to-day office dynamics to build culture. We have to create intentional moments to bring our values to life, and that’s exactly what SwapTogether set out to do.

2. What Happened: The Experience from the Inside

Bringing together 150 team members from 40 countries was no small feat — and yet, from the moment we arrived in the Algarve, the energy was palpable. There was excitement, curiosity, and the joy of finally meeting face-to-face after years of remote work.

A Thoughtfully Orchestrated Journey

For this offsite, we collaborated with our leaders to make the most of our time, aiming to find the right balance between work and chill times while ensuring meaningful connections.

We began each morning with a mix of insightful workshops, training sessions, and interactive presentations. These were not just to align the company but to spark ideas, encourage interaction, and drive creativity. Each session was structured to provoke conversation and offer valuable takeaways for our teams.

Moments That Made It Personal

While the workshops and presentations were key, we knew the real connections happened during more spontaneous moments. A giant Scavenger Hunt was our team bonding activity, where friendly competition brought everyone together. However, throughout the week, smaller games and incentives encouraged participants to engage with each other, share laughs, and form new connections.

Evenings offered free time to unwind and socialize, whether by the beach, at the bar, in the lobby, or over dinner. These informal interactions that employees shared helped create unique connections and unforgettable memories. 

The offsite was also the perfect opportunity to showcase our own application, Swapcard, allowing our entire team to explore, network, and communicate through the platform. We made sure even team members who don’t typically use Swapcard in their daily work had the chance to experience it firsthand, just like our customers do. This hands-on experience brought us closer to the heart of our product and gave us a deeper understanding of the event industry.  The offsite was also the opportunity for us to use a key feature: the SpeedMeeting session, as we organized a SpeedMeeting activity to create meaningful connections and help Swapcardians meet new faces across the company. 

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Co-created with Culture in Mind

SwapTogether wasn’t a top-down event; it was co-designed with the help of many Swapcardians, and our Culture Forum, a group of employees dedicated to ensuring that the event reflected our values and culture. Their insights ensured the offsite was productive but also engaging, inclusive, and reflective of the community we’ve built.

Stories from Participants

The true essence of SwapTogether came from the personal experiences shared by our team members. Here are some highlights of how the offsite impacted different individuals:

• Shafiya, who celebrated her birthday during the event, reflected on how special it was to be surrounded by her colleagues in such a meaningful way. “Celebrating my 30th birthday during the offsite was incredibly special. I felt so lucky to be surrounded by people I’d bonded with so quickly. It wasn’t just about the celebration, but the genuine connections we built. It truly embodied Swapcard’s vision of empowering meaningful connections.”
  
  
• Zehava, who had just started her first week at Swapcard before the offsite, was moved by the experience. “What a way to begin my journey at Swapcard!” she said. “I was new to the team but felt immediately welcomed at the offsite. It was a wonderful introduction to the company’s culture and an amazing opportunity to learn about the people making Swapcard both a great product and workplace.”
  
  
• Krys, a long-time team member with over six years at Swapcard, found the offsite both nostalgic and inspiring. “I remember when all of Swapcard could fit into a single bus. Now, seeing nearly 150 of us in one room was surreal. I love that we’re a remote company, but this offsite was a powerful reminder that we’re social creatures: nothing replaces the magic of in-person connection. It was intense, energizing, and I already can’t wait for the next one.”

3. The Impact: What We’re Taking Home

The SwapTogether offsite wasn’t just about a few days of workshops and fun activities; it was about creating lasting value for both our teams and the company as a whole. As we wrap up the event, the impact is already being felt. Here's what we hope to take home from this experience:

• Renewed Motivation and Energy
  Being together in person reignited a sense of enthusiasm and commitment across the company. “The offsite was brilliant, and I left feeling incredibly proud to be a part of this company,” shared one participant. The face-to-face interactions, shared experiences, and open conversations have left everyone feeling recharged and ready to tackle the future.
  
  
• Deeper Connections and Stronger Collaboration
  By bringing together people from across 40 countries, SwapTogether allowed us to break down silos and form new connections that will foster more effective collaboration in the future. The chance to bond over shared moments made all the difference in strengthening relationships that will now translate into more cohesive teamwork.
  
  
• Strategic Alignment
  One of our key objectives for this offsite was aligning our teams on strategic priorities, and the experience was a success. Workshops and training sessions focused on bringing everyone on the same page, ensuring all team members were aligned with Swapcard’s goals.

The Ripple Effect

The impact of SwapTogether will extend far beyond the event itself. The connections made and the shared experiences in the Algarve have already set the stage for a stronger, more unified team. The bonds formed during the offsite will shape how we work together going forward, fostering a more collaborative and innovative environment as we move toward our shared goals.

If this sounds like a team you’d love to be part of, check out our open roles. We’re hiring!