Methodology

How AI matching works

Referral Nova scores every possible pair of members on seven factors and suggests the pairs where referrals can flow in both directions. This page lists each factor, its weight, and where the data comes from, so you can see exactly why a match appears.

The short answer

For every other member, the AI asks seven questions about your two profiles, gives each answer a weight, adds them up, and ranks the result. The two biggest questions are whether each of you wants to meet the other’s profession. The next two are whether each of you can actually refer clients to the other. Then shared keywords, location and barter.

The seven factors and their weights

FactorMax pointsWhat it checksData used
Industry alignment25Their industry is one you said you want to meet.Your "who I want to meet" industries vs their industry
Reverse alignment20Your industry is one they said they want to meet.Their "who I want to meet" industries vs your industry
They can refer you15They listed your industry among the ones they regularly refer clients to.Their "who I refer" list vs your industry
You can refer them15You listed their industry among the ones you regularly refer clients to.Your "who I refer" list vs their industry
Keyword overlap15Shared services, specialties and client types, 5 points per overlap up to 15.Keywords, services offered, ideal-client roles and problems
Location10Same city scores 10, same state 5, otherwise 0.City and state on both profiles
Barter10Both open to trading services scores 5; a direct offering-to-want match scores 10.Barter offerings and wants, when both are open to it

Maximum total: 110. Industry alignment and reverse alignment are deliberately the heaviest because a referral partnership needs both people to want it; a pair that scores only on keywords and location is a coincidence, not a partnership.

Two tiers, so nothing is hidden

The top of your list is “strong” matches: pairs with a real two-sided fit. Below them are “discovery” picks: members who scored lower but might still be worth a conversation, shown with the reason. The network is never hidden behind a strict threshold, which matters in a young network where the perfect partner may not have joined yet.

What the priority boost is, and is not

A member who invites others who join earns a temporary priority boost. It adds to the ordering of that member in other people’s lists. It does not change whether a pair is classified as strong or discovery, because that classification uses the unboosted profile-fit score. Nobody can pay for placement.

What is excluded

  • Members you are already engaged with: connected, messaging, booked, or in your pipeline. They leave your suggestions so the slots go to new people.
  • Administrators and staff accounts. They are operators, not match candidates.
  • Removed accounts.

How and when it refreshes

The whole network is re-scored every six hours. Opening your dashboard tops up your own list at most once every 15 minutes, or immediately when you press Refresh matches. A new member enters everyone’s candidate pool the moment their profile is saved.

What is never used

Your messages, your call notes, your email and your phone number. Matching reads profile fields only. Your 60-second video is for the people you meet, not for the algorithm.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum match score?
The seven factors add up to 110 points. A "strong" match is a pair that scores well in both directions; below that, a pair can still surface as a "discovery" pick so the whole network stays visible instead of hiding behind a threshold.
Can someone pay to rank higher in my matches?
No one can buy placement. A member who invites others earns a temporary priority boost that affects ORDERING only; the strong-or-discovery classification still comes from the genuine profile-fit score, so a boost never turns a poor fit into a match.
How often do matches refresh?
The whole network is re-scored every six hours, and your own list tops up when you open the dashboard (at most every 15 minutes, or immediately when you press Refresh matches). New members join the pool as soon as their profile is saved.
Does the AI read my messages or my video?
Matching uses your profile fields only: industries, who you serve, who you refer, keywords, services, location and barter. Messages are never used for matching. Your video is for the people you meet, not for the algorithm.

See your own matches

Build a referral engine, not just a contact list. Referral Nova’s AI matches you with trusted partners so qualified referrals flow both ways.