Huddly at InfoComm 2025: Smarter Cameras, Real Flexibility, and a Big Debut
In the constant buzz of InfoComm 2025, some booths felt like product launch parties. Others felt like technical deep dives. But the Huddly booth? That felt like a conversation — about flexibility, AI, and how hybrid learning is (still) reshaping what we ask from cameras in higher education spaces.
Shadi Tefagh, Huddly’s Senior Marketing Director for the Americas, met up with HETMA’s Ryan Gray to talk about where Huddly is headed, what they brought to booth 4415, and why their very first all-in-one video bar is more than just a checklist item. The message throughout: Huddly’s evolving — and listening.
“Your guys’s booth was hopping for sure at the show… a combination of kind of like awesome high tech with good themes that run through it and you really highlight use cases, not just like product numbers.”
The Debut of the Huddly C1 Video Bar
Let’s start with the big one: Huddly launched its first-ever AI-driven video bar, called the C1. If you’re used to thinking of Huddly purely as a compact camera company, this was a shift — but a thoughtful one.
The C1 isn’t just a camera slapped onto a speaker. It’s designed with modularity in mind. Want to use it as a standalone camera with your preferred speakers? No problem. Want a full kit for a flex room or small classroom? It’s ready for that, too.
“The big thing for us was the announcement of our new first ever for us AI driven video bar the Huddly C1… also to be able to demo it in our private meeting room space…”
That modularity is especially appealing for higher ed spaces where AV needs vary — not just from room to room, but sometimes hour to hour.
Thinking Beyond “Install and Forget”
A recurring theme in the conversation with Shadi was adaptability. Higher ed tech managers don’t always get to build the ideal room. They inherit them. Odd angles, weird lighting, shared furniture layouts — and it’s here that Huddly’s roots in smart, compact cameras still shine.
Their lineup still includes:
The Huddly IQ: A staple for small conference spaces and ad hoc huddle rooms
The Huddly L1: A larger-frame camera better suited to classrooms and mid-size collaboration spaces
The new C1: Designed to bring those same smarts to more integrated packages
AI-driven framing, people-counting, and natural transitions during multi-speaker conversations are table stakes at this point — but Huddly continues to refine how those features actually feel in use.
“We always say it gets better over time… no cost to software upgrading, but that’s going to be across all of our products.”
Partnering for the Ecosystem, Not Just the Box
One of the most interesting parts of Huddly’s booth story wasn’t even hardware — it was partnerships. Shadi pointed out that higher ed isn’t just buying “cameras” anymore. It’s building ecosystems — rooms that need to play nicely with scheduling platforms, control systems, UC platforms, and network monitoring tools.
“This year we focused on real-world use case experiences with Shure, Lenovo, and Barco… multi-camera experiences with Shure’s Intellimix kit.”
That’s part of the strategy behind their new certified partnerships — with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and others. Whether you’re standardizing your UC platform or just trying to reduce support tickets, those certifications matter.
And for higher ed IT and AV teams, so does predictability.
For Higher Ed, It’s About Empowering the Edge
Another notable thread: Huddly is thinking hard about how to support hybrid models without increasing complexity. That’s a pain point plenty of colleges are wrestling with — how to deliver equity in hybrid learning without adding layers of setup or troubleshooting.
By automating framing, tracking, and leveling audio pickup zones, Huddly aims to help faculty and students focus on teaching and learning — not toggling mic modes.
“The AI really comes in and not only focuses on delivering a great video experience, but now also an amazing audio experience as well.”
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. But that ethos — reduce user friction while increasing clarity — is one most campus tech teams can get behind.
Booth Energy: A Mix of Curiosity and Clarity
InfoComm booths run the gamut from “sensory overload” to “minimalist chic.” Huddly’s sat somewhere in the middle. There was hands-on interaction, yes, but also a sense of open discussion.
Shadi said that for many visitors — especially from higher ed — it wasn’t about a hard sell. It was about seeing themselves in the use case. How would a small regional university use the C1 differently than a flagship research institution? How would IT leaders with limited staff navigate firmware updates or security protocols?
“We did have a lot of higher education customers show up as well, which was great to see… the feedback was really around the way the AI is drowning out the echo, the noise on the show floor…”
And how can AI-powered tools stay useful but not invasive?
Those are the right questions to be asking — and Huddly seemed ready for them.
A Note to the Higher Ed Community
Not everyone could make it to InfoComm this year, but the team at Huddly still had a message for higher ed pros watching from afar.
“We would love for you… to set up a demo… seeing is truly believing with us.”
It’s a simple gesture, but a meaningful one — and it matched the tone of the booth: approachable, transparent, and interested in building long-term trust.
Bottom Line for Campus Tech Teams
If you’ve worked with Huddly before, InfoComm 2025 likely confirmed what you already know: their cameras are smart, compact, and quietly powerful.
But the debut of the C1 video bar and the shift toward ecosystem-first thinking shows they’re not standing still. For AV pros in higher ed, here’s what stood out:
Modular design is here to stay — especially for campuses with varying needs and limited install windows
AI-powered tools need to prioritize usability just as much as intelligence
Partnerships and certifications can save real time and frustration during deployment and support
Hybrid learning isn’t going anywhere, and Huddly’s trying to meet it with empathy, not complexity
“How do we do things that aren’t already being done and solve for some real world challenges?… the modularity and the improvements for future proof technology will continue to be a theme with Huddly.”
For Those Watching from Afar
If you didn’t make it to booth 4415 this year, you can still catch up via Huddly’s blog and their product launch materials. Shadi and the team were clear: this isn’t about grabbing attention for attention’s sake — it’s about showing up for the long-term conversation.
And for colleges and universities trying to make the most of AV investments that need to last, scale, and flex — that conversation is more relevant than ever.
