Latest news with #Eventbrite
Cision Canada
13 hours ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Discover Your Future in Energy
Energy in Motion 2025 CALGARY, AB, July 31, 2025 /CNW/ - Are you 18–24 and curious about careers in Alberta's energy sector? Join us this fall for two exciting, hands-on events designed to introduce you to the dynamic world of energy—from innovation and technology to real career paths and people shaping the industry. Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: Event 1: Energy in Motion Connect Date: September 23, 2025 Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Location: Edmonton Convention Center, Salon 12 Kick off your energy journey with an evening of networking and discovery: Meet industry professionals across Business Services, Engineering, IT & Tech, and Environment & Sustainability Hear inspiring stories from people in the field Learn about real career opportunities and what it takes to succeed Free pass to the Carbon Capture Canada Trade Show —get early access to cutting-edge energy innovations! RSVP: Energy In Motion Connect Tickets, Tue, Sep 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM | Eventbrite Event 2: Energy in Motion – SATO Canada Date: October 15, 2025 Time: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Location: SATO Canada, Millet Get hands-on with Alberta's energy sector in this full-day, outdoor experience: Interactive stations with live demonstrations of industry tools, rigs, and technology Talk directly with energy professionals and explore diverse career paths Free transportation from Edmonton or Red Deer Lunch & refreshments provided – just bring your curiosity (and dress for the weather!)
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Eventbrite's CEO quit a cushy career in Hollywood to launch the $225 million company with her own money: ‘If it's a disaster, we'll just be broke'
Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz ditched her cushy TV career working on hit shows like Friends, Jackass, and The Shield to bootstrap the ticketing platform with her two cofounders, scaling it from a windowless phone closet. She exclusively tells Fortune they shelled out less than $250,000 to get the company up and running, reasoning that 'if it's a disaster, we'll just be broke.' But the Gen Xer's nail-biting sacrifice paid off, as Eventbrite now boasts a $225 million valuation and serves 89 million monthly users. Most people would jump at the idea of working on hit TV shows like Friends, Jackass, and The Shield, but Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz left it all behind to pursue her passion of bringing people together. Just five years into her rising TV career—where she'd climbed the ranks to junior executive at FX—Hartz tossed the towel in on her 9-to-5 to launch Eventbrite in 2006, bootstrapping the company entirely with her husband and fellow cofounder Renaud Visage. The pitch was: 'Come work on something that doesn't exist. We'll use our own money to fund it, and if it's a disaster, we'll just be broke,'' Hartz tells Fortune. Eventbrite is now estimated to be worth $225 million, and offers events ranging from wrestling classes, to comedy shows, to cheese raves with Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski. But it all started when Hartz and her husband—serial entrepreneur and early PayPal investor Kevin Hartz—assembled a dream team to get Eventbrite off the ground. They recruited fellow cofounder Visage to come on board as chief technology officer, and the trio of entrepreneurs decided to chuck $250,000 of their own money to get Eventbrite running, moving to San Francisco. Hartz had to sacrifice her job to put all her energy into Eventbrite, skirting the route other entrepreneurs have gone down: juggling a full-time job while scaling a company on the side. Instead, she found it best to wipe her slate clean and leave her TV career behind to pursue Eventbrite. It was a professional gamble that paid off in the long run. 'I've seen entrepreneurs do that, and I think that that's a clever way to gain validation and product market fit, without putting yourself in such a perilous state,' Hartz says. 'I did not do that.' Inspiration struck during her 9-to-5 job in TV working on Friends and The Shield Hartz started working at just the age of 14—pouring coffees in cafes, and driving kids to after-school activities—and hasn't taken her foot off the gas since. While attending Pepperdine University, she worked as an intern on the set of hit TV-show Friends, later scoring an internship at MTV in the series development department. It was a 'magical' experience that eventually landed her a job at the station—once she graduated, Hartz went straight into developing shows including Jackass, The Shield, and Rescue Me across MTV and FX. Part of her job entailed researching fandom events, and suddenly, something clicked. 'I remember going to this fandom event that was insanely niche, and feeling the energy of the people in the room, it just stuck with me,' Hartz says. 'It was this palpable, kinetic energy…When we started Eventbrite, I was thinking about that all along: 'How do we enable the people who gather others around these niche passion areas and create this magic?'' While most couples may wring their hands at the idea of putting their finances on the line to launch a company together, Hartz's partner was enthusiastic about going all-in on a light bulb moment. In fact, the Gen X CEO's nearly 20-year success may have never panned out if it wasn't for her husband Kevin—who's success investing in the then little-known startup called PayPal—persuaded her to take the leap into entrepreneurship. 'It's only serial entrepreneurs who can convince someone of that,' Hartz says. 'We made it on less than a quarter of a million dollars…I'm really, really proud of it.' Scaling a business idea into a $225 million ticketing giant Once Hartz made the decision to leave TV forever, she packed her things into boxes, and drove up the coast of California to settle in her company's new headquarters: San Francisco. The Silicon Valley hub had the tech connections and industry access to help get things off the ground. So just like that, she set up shop in Potrero Hill, the 'warehouse district'. 'I was moving saw horses and plywood into a windowless phone closet on Monday, in this warehouse district in San Francisco, going in my head, 'Wait, what if he's crazy?' Well, it's a little late for that,' Hartz says. 'I've been working since I was 14 with no break. So it was really important to me that I be working on day one.' Eventbrite was able to get things off the ground thanks in part to perfect timing; in the mid-2000s, social media platforms were looking to bring together its users in real life. Facebook made Eventbrite one of its first connect partners, solidifying a huge new customer base looking for community events to partake in. Then 2008 came, and thousands of workers from all across the U.S. were being laid off in droves during the financial crisis. Hartz said 'the world collapsed' in those dire years, and people were desperate for community while facing hardship. It was a tough era for corporate American workers, but was an opportunity for Eventbrite to bring them together. Over the next decade the business would amass a total of $373 million in equity funding through 11 fundraising rounds, according to Pitchbook, attracting investors like Tiger Global Management, Sequoia Capital and Square. The ticketing platform has since amassed a fanbase in nearly 180 countries—in 2024 alone, it had distributed 83 million paid tickets for over 4.7 million events. With 89 million monthly users, people are scoring seats at events ranging from a sunset Bach concert in Central Park to a house music cruise on the Hudson river. This story was originally featured on
National Geographic
3 days ago
- Health
- National Geographic
How knitting may be rewiring your brain
From knitting to woodwork, slow and steady hobbies may offer surprising brain benefits, including reduced stress and better long-term memory. Photograph by Dusan Ladjevic, Getty Images 'Grandma hobbies' like knitting are making a comeback among Gen Z—but it's not just for nostalgia. Neuroscience shows these tactile pastimes may help preserve brain health as we age. The rhythmic click of needles. The softness of yarn running over fingertips. The satisfying logic of knit, purl, repeat. Knitting—and other so-called 'grandma hobbies'—is making a comeback, especially among younger generations. According to Eventbrite data, Gen Z's interest in 'grannycore' gatherings, such as knitting circles and needlework workshops, has surged in recent months, driven in part by a search for relief from digital burnout. But the benefits go beyond nostalgia. Recent studies suggest that slow, tactile tasks, such as knitting, may activate brain systems in ways that support long-term cognitive health in various ways, including engaging memory, attention, and motor function, while helping to regulate stress. In other words, regardless of age or gender, engaging in hands-on, mentally demanding hobbies—whether knitting, wood carving, or model building—may be one of the simplest ways to support brain health. Here's what the science says. How knitting activates your brain While meditation and puzzles also offer brain benefits, knitting uniquely combines fine motor coordination, creative planning, and rhythmic bilateral movement—all of which engage different brain systems at once. This kind of creativity in any capacity is helpful, says Emily Sharp, a licensed therapist at NY Art Therapy. That bilateral stimulation—created by the alternating use of both hands—is similar to what's used in EMDR therapy, says Sharp, adding that this type of stimulation is linked to reduced cortisol levels, increased serotonin and dopamine, and improved emotional regulation. It also engages the brain's dopamine system in ways that can improve focus and potentially delay age-related cognitive decline, says Alvaro Pascual-Leone, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and chief medical officer at Linus Health. A 2024 study in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience supports this outlook, demonstrating how creative endeavors activate the brain's dopaminergic reward network, particularly in areas deeply involved in pleasure, motivation, and mood. But unlike the dopamine spikes triggered by scrolling or sugar, knitting provides a slower, steadier reward. (Do crossword puzzles really keep your brain sharp?) That's key, Pascual-Leone says: 'It's not good to have too much [dopamine], it's not good to have too little. A steady, pleasant functioning of the brain is better than a binging of chemicals.' Plus, since activities like knitting require planning, sequencing, and problem-solving, they activate executive function alongside motor and emotional systems. This full-brain engagement helps reinforce neural connectivity, a crucial tool for maintaining the brain's flexibility and resilience as we age. If you are already an accomplished knitter, don't pat yourself on the back just yet. The cognitive benefits of activities like knitting aren't about the task itself—they're about the process of learning something new. 'If you've never knitted, then knitting is perfect,' says Pascual-Leone. 'But if you are a professional knitter, then not so much. It can give you a sense of accomplishment, which is valuable, but the goal is to make your brain work on solving a challenge it has never done before.' (Here's why adults need to make time for playtime.) Novelty matters. When you challenge the brain with unfamiliar tasks, such as learning to knit, it lights up new pathways, offering a unique neurological boost. With time and repetition, those same actions become fluent and meditative, allowing the brain to shift into a restorative flow state. This challenge-to-mastery arc helps maintain neural plasticity. However, you must continually reinvent the challenges for your brain as you master old ones. The good news? The cognitive challenge doesn't have to be big or lofty, says Pasucal-Leone: 'What is actually critical is to give your brain a challenge it hasn't yet mastered.' Cognitive decline begins to develop decades before there's any outward evidence, says Lakelyn Eichenberger, a gerontologist and caregiving advocate at Home Instead, which is why engaging in mentally stimulating hobbies throughout one's life is so important. 'Challenging your brain in these ways will be really good for you in terms of long-term brain health,' she says. For aging brains, creative hobbies can offer a form of low-stakes cognitive training—mental workouts that strengthen neural wiring and flexibility over time. Sharp says tactile hobbies create 'greater brain connectivity that helps aging populations where neurons are naturally dying off as the aging process happens.' Activities like quilting, cross-stitching, whittling, pottery, or even bookbinding offer similar cognitive benefits, especially when they involve both hands, sequence-based thinking, and a learning curve. (Here's why having a hobby is good for your brain and body.) While there is a notion that we are better off engaging in tech-driven activities targeted at brain health, Pascual-Leone says we may only need those tools because we've abandoned traditional pastimes. Unlike brain games or apps, these tactile activities offer emotional benefits, which can help reduce cortisol levels and meet the brain's need for social interaction, says Eichenberger. Group knitting circles or crafting classes, for instance, can help reduce loneliness and provide emotional grounding, especially during major life transitions such as retirement. Eichenberger adds that 'people who engage in these activities often report themselves as happier, healthier, and more satisfied with life.' A meta-analysis in BMC Public Health underscores this point, highlighting how hands-on, repetitive hobbies may boost psychological well-being. Other research shows that among individuals with Parkinson's disease, creative art interventions improve memory, dexterity, and emotional resilience, suggesting benefits even in late-stage neurodegeneration, indicating it's never too late to start these hobbies. 'We focus so much on the medical side of aging,' Eichenberger says, 'but we have to consider our physical, mental, and emotional health, and these leisure activities are part of that.'
South Wales Argus
18-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Llwyn Celyn farmhouse to open to public for rare weekend
Llwyn Celyn, a Grade I listed building in the Black Mountains, will welcome visitors from July 25 to 27 for a rare opportunity to explore its historic grounds. The Landmark Trust, a leading building restoration charity, has organised the event, which will feature creative writing and wellbeing activities. Celebrated poet Clare E Potter will lead a free creative house tour on Saturday, July 26, from 11am to 12pm, followed by a Writing for Wellbeing workshop from 1pm to 2pm. Tickets for the workshop are £6.13, including the booking fee, and can be pre-booked via Eventbrite at The farmhouse, typically reserved for holiday guests, is one of Monmouthshire's most atmospheric historic buildings. Set in the picturesque Llanthony Valley, it is only open to the public two weekends a year. Visitors can look forward to a free general entry, learning about the building's journey from ruin to restoration, and engaging in creative writing activities. Restored by The Landmark Trust, Llwyn Celyn was recently featured on Channel 4's Historic House Rescue series. The event is open to all, family-friendly, and refreshments will be available. Dogs are also welcome on site. Llwyn Celyn is approximately a 15-minute drive from Abergavenny, with accessible parking on site and general parking in a neighbouring field. Pre-booking is preferred via the Landmark Trust website. This rare event offers a chance to discover a slice of history in a stunning natural setting.
Axios
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
A new Houston audience goes all-in on mahjong
Mahjong is making a major comeback — and the tile game is now trending with a younger, diverse audience. Why it matters: The centuries-old Chinese strategy game often associated with older generations in the Asian diaspora has a new wave of players in Houston who are making it their own. Stunning stat: Between 2023 and 2024, mahjong events on Eventbrite surged 179% nationwide and a staggering 867% in Houston, per the online platform's data. Among the nine major cities analyzed by Eventbrite, Houston ranked third for most events last year, behind New York and San Francisco. State of play: While longtime players continue their regular games, a new crowd is reshaping the hobby — drawn in by post-pandemic social appeal, and, of course, all the new pretty tiles in the market. Houston - and Dallas -based tile companies now sell sets that run upward of $300. Houstonian Amanda Commons discovered mahjong on a bachelorette trip about three years ago and, along with her friend Nicole Cottone, joined a group of HISD moms in West University who had a Google Sheet of roughly 100 players. In November 2023, Commons and Cottone launched That's aMAHJzing, a company offering $60–75 lessons to help people start their own neighborhood groups. They also host $50 open plays, tournaments and kids camps. "I think it's people craving connection … and I think people like to get involved with beautiful trends," Commons tells Axios. Making an old game "bougie" and slapping "a big price point" also makes more people want to play, Commons adds. The big picture: As demand grows, many instructors now regularly teach the American version of mahjong in collaboration with tile companies. While many new players are white women, the resurgence is drawing people of all ages and backgrounds — including those reconnecting with the game through their cultural roots. Flashback: Originally Chinese, mahjong was embraced by Jewish women in 1930s New York, shaping the American version still played today — including at the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. Versions like Cantonese, Taiwanese and American each have distinct rules — all played by four people, often with gambling elements. Zoom in: The Chinese Community Center in Houston is seeing a rise in mahjong participants, too. After a successful AAPI Heritage Month game event in May, the center began hosting monthly beginner meetups using the Taiwanese version and is now adding bimonthly club sessions for more experienced players, CCC development manager Jo Truong tells Axios. The most recent meetup hit capacity with 40 players across 10 tables — only four of whom were CCC members. Entry is $35, and the event gained traction through a "very active" Facebook mahjong group sharing the invite. What they're saying: Lynn Chou, who started playing at age 6, now teaches alongside friends at the CCC and says attendees have ranged from young children to a 100-year-old.
