How Eventbrite Revolutionized Event Management: The Journey of Founders Kevin and Julia.
Company profile
Company business details
Motivation to build the product
The founders were motivated by the need to simplify the event management process for organizers and attendees alike. They recognized that many event creators struggled with the logistics of ticket sales and promotion, which sparked the idea for a user-friendly platform that could streamline these processes.Problem that their product solves
Eventbrite solves the problem of event management and ticket sales for organizers, who are often overwhelmed by the complexities of promoting and selling tickets for their events. The end users include event organizers and attendees, and solving this problem is crucial for fostering community engagement and enabling people to connect through live events.Their unfair advantage
Eventbrite's unfair advantage lies in its established brand recognition and extensive user base, which provides a network effect that attracts more event organizers and attendees to the platform.Strategies
Pre-Launch (Product Development & MVP)
Experimentation with Formats
Corey mentioned that C Fellows is a low-commitment accelerator that runs as a one-week experiment. This approach allows for flexibility in testing different formats and content delivery methods. By experimenting with the structure of the program, C Fellows can gather feedback and iterate on their offerings, ensuring they meet the needs of their target audience effectively.
Bootstrapping to Learn Market
In the early days of Eventbrite, Kevin Hartz and his team bootstrapped the company to understand the long tail market of ticketing. They engaged directly with customers to create a product that catered to various event types, from conferences to classes. This hands-on approach allowed them to discover the massive potential of smaller events, which they initially underestimated. By working closely with customers, they refined their product and identified the true market demand.
Identifying Market Needs
Julia shared insights on the importance of identifying and solving real problems in the market as a foundation for building a successful business. She emphasized that understanding customer needs and creating solutions that address those needs is crucial for scaling a business. This approach guided Eventbrite's development and helped the company find its product-market fit, ensuring that their offerings resonated with users.
Launch Stage
Live Audience Engagement
Corey, the founder of C Fellows, organized a live event where Kevin Hart, a notable entrepreneur and investor, was invited to give a talk. This event was designed to engage the audience directly and provide them with insights from a successful figure in the tech industry. The choice of a live audience format allowed for real-time interaction and questions, enhancing the learning experience for attendees. This strategy aimed to create a buzz around C Fellows and attract more participants to future programs.
Freemium Model for Customer Acquisition
Eventbrite adopted a freemium model where they offered a free service for event organizers to publish their events. This strategy allowed them to spread brand awareness organically, as attendees signing up for free events would encounter the Eventbrite brand. This approach not only attracted a large user base but also converted many free event organizers into paid sellers, effectively monetizing their platform without heavy spending on customer acquisition.
Learn more about Eventbrite
Kevin Hartz (Founder of Eventbrite) - Z Fellows Startup Workshop
Learn How to Build a Successful Tech Startup: Insights from Kevin Hartz, CEO of Eventbrite
