Latest news with #ticketing
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
From Hollywood to Silicon Valley: How Eventbrite's CEO Bet $250K On A Phone Closet Startup
Julia Hartz left a rising TV executive career at FX to co-found Eventbrite Inc. (NYSE:EB), launching the ticketing startup from a phone closet in San Francisco. She, her husband Kevin Hartz, and engineer Renaud Visage pooled $250,000 of their personal savings to bootstrap the venture, Fortune reported. Leaving TV for Tech Before making the leap, Hartz had built an early resume that included internships at "Friends" and MTV's development department, eventually working on series such as "Jackass," "The Shield," and "Rescue Me." She rose to junior executive at FX before walking away. Don't Miss: The same firms that backed Uber, Venmo and eBay are investing in this pre-IPO company disrupting a $1.8T market — Accredited Investors: Grab Pre-IPO Shares of the AI Company Powering Hasbro, Sephora & MGM— While many entrepreneurs choose to build their companies on the side, Hartz committed full-time from day one. "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 told Fortune. "I did not do that." Riding the Rise of Social Media Eventbrite's early growth aligned with a critical moment in tech: the expansion of social media platforms in the mid-2000s. Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) selected Eventbrite as one of its first Connect partners, giving the company access to a growing network of users seeking in-person experiences. This partnership, combined with Eventbrite's self-service platform, enabled organizers, including creators, performers, and niche communities to quickly set up and promote events with minimal overhead. This accessible model helped Eventbrite scale across a wide variety of event types and locations, according to Fortune. Trending: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can Recession-Proofing Through Real-World Connection Hartz described the 2008 Great Recession as a moment of collapse for corporate America. Yet the demand for meaningful human connection remained strong as many people turned to affordable, local events as a way to stay connected, Fortune reported. Between 2006 and 2019, Eventbrite raised $373 million in equity funding across 11 funding rounds from investors including Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management, and Square, according to Pitchbook. The company went public in 2018. A Platform With Global Reach By the end of 2024, Eventbrite had expanded to support events in nearly 180 countries. It sold 83 million paid tickets over the year, powered by 4.7 million events, the company reported. The platform reached 88 million average monthly active users in Q1 2025. Event types have evolved with their user base, including everything from Bach concerts in Central Park and mixed martial arts showcases to house music cruises and cheese-themed parties hosted by Antoni Porowski of "Queer Eye," according to Fortune. That diversity reflects Eventbrite's original mission: to make it easy for people to gather around their passions—no matter how Human Element Hartz credited much of her startup journey to a single moment from her days in television: attending a fan event. "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," she told Fortune. "It was this palpable, kinetic 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?'" That experience, combined with her husband's encouragement and prior success with PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL), helped her make the leap. "We made it on less than a quarter of a million dollars," Hartz said. "I'm really, really proud of it." Read Next: $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. Image: Imagn Images Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article From Hollywood to Silicon Valley: How Eventbrite's CEO Bet $250K On A Phone Closet Startup originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
How murky world of ticket touting is making life a misery for Hong Kong fans
Keith Rumjahn was immensely frustrated after failing to get tickets to recent shows in Hong Kong by American comedian Jimmy O. Yang and British band Coldplay. Tickets were available in the secondary market – but cost at least twice their face value. Trying to book a public basketball court is another great source of irritation for Rumjahn, as he and his friends are only able to secure slots from touts who mark up the charge tenfold, from HK$100 to HK$200 to HK$1,000 to HK$2,000. Rumjahn, the founder of a fitness and sports apps and games company, attempted to counter the scalpers with a self-made automated booking agent but it proved futile. He said scalpers' sophisticated bots – software applications designed to perform automated, repetitive tasks – entered the system within 10 seconds of bookings opening and snapped up all the courts, while his own programme took a few minutes. 'We have a group that plays three times a week and we still buy from the scalpers. I guess that's the only way anyone is getting to play, right?' Rumjahn said. But Rumjahn, who is in his forties, said he refused to support concert ticket touts even though it had become the norm for anyone wanting high-demand experiences to buy from them. 'The whole ticketing system is not very transparent. Getting tickets was impossible,' he said. 'Every single Kai Tak show has been sold out, so obviously there are scalpers. 'I think the culture of making fast money, that flip mentality, in Hong Kong is so deep and people just got accustomed to buying from scalpers.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Live Nation beats revenue estimates on red-hot concert demand
(Reuters) -Ticketmaster-parent Live Nation Entertainment beat Wall Street estimates for second-quarter revenue on Thursday, driven by strong demand for concerts. The results signal continued resilience and growth in the live entertainment industry amid economic uncertainty. Fans are still willing to spend on live experiences such as concerts and events, helping Live Nation Entertainment — a bellwether for discretionary consumer spending and the health of the global entertainment market. "Global expansion continues to drive touring growth, with fan attendance hitting new highs and ticket buying strong at every price point from VIP to the back row," CEO Michael Rapino said in a statement. "To meet this momentum, we're expanding our global venue portfolio and investing in the artists who make it all possible." The company reported a 16% surge in revenue to $7.01 billion, beating analysts' average estimate of $6.84 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. The majority of its revenue, or about $5.95 billion, came from the concerts business, which consists of merchandise sales and the production of live music events, followed by $742.7 million from ticketing. Live Nation's total estimated events in the April-to-June period fell about 2.6% to 14,292 from last year, but 44.2 million fans attended its shows — compared with 22.3 million in the previous quarter. Total estimated tickets sold in the quarter ended June 30 stood at 155.8 million, compared with 155.1 million in the first quarter. Live Nation said tariffs are expected to have minimal impact on its venue investment costs, festival supply chain and other expenses. The company's quarterly profit came in at 41 cents per share, compared with $1.03 per share a year earlier. Its adjusted operating income stood at $798 million, compared with estimates of $756.1 million.
Daily Telegraph
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Ticketing programme launched for Rugby World Cup 2027
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News. It's time to get planning rugby fans. The 2027 Rugby World Cup is on its way Down Under and now fans can start booking everything in. The launch of the ticketing programme officially launched in Sydney on Tuesday with over 2.5 million tickets on offer to fans across the globe. It makes it the biggest and most accessible tournament in history with fans able to get their hands on tickets for just $40. Tickets are set to be released in phases starting with a presale in February 2026 for fans who register before the end of January 2026, with further tickets sold via an application phase in May 2026. For the real diehard fans who want to go a notch above, a superfan pass is up for grabs which gives the individual the ability to purchase up to four tickets per match and includes the World Cup opener and final. Chris Stanley, Managing Director of Rugby World Cup 2027 speaks during the launch. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images) 'In total, over 2.5 million tickets will be made available for this expanded edition, more than any previous Men's Rugby World Cup, reflecting the ambition to deliver a tournament that is truly for everyone,' a statement read. 'Making the tournament as accessible as possible for everyone has been a key focus, with ticket prices for adults starting from just $40 for pool matches, and $65 to watch the Wallabies in their home tournament. 'Families have also been a core priority, with children's tickets starting at $20 available for all matches except the semi-finals and the final. The aim is to encourage families to enjoy world- class rugby in an unforgettable setting, creating lifelong memories. Children under two can attend RWC matches for free.' Michael Hooper speaks on stage during the Rugby World Cup 2027 Australia Ticketing Program and Hospitality Launch. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images) The announcement comes on the heels of rugby booming in Australia off the back of the Wallabies taking on the British and Irish Lions tour. The Wallabies were denied an upset win in heartbreaking and controversial fashion after the visitors scored a last-gasp try to claim a thrilling 29-26 victory. Hugo Keenan went over for the Lions in the 79th minute to win it, only for Australia to desperately appeal the try, claiming Jac Morgan had made contact with the head of Carlo Tizzano at the breakdown in the lead-up. Referee Andrea Piardi, however, deemed there to be no foul play in the lead-up, much to the frustration of fans watching on. Despite the back-to-back defeats, interest in the Wallabies has risen and will only keep thriving as the World Cup draws closer. Head to and sign up before 31 January 2026 to access the presale tickets for the World Cup. Originally published as Ticketing programme launched for Rugby World Cup 2027
News.com.au
30-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Ticketing programme launched for Rugby World Cup 2027
It's time to get planning rugby fans. The 2027 Rugby World Cup is on its way Down Under and now fans can start booking everything in. The launch of the ticketing programme officially launched in Sydney on Tuesday with over 2.5 million tickets on offer to fans across the globe. It makes it the biggest and most accessible tournament in history with fans able to get their hands on tickets for just $40. Tickets are set to be released in phases starting with a presale in February 2026 for fans who register before the end of January 2026, with further tickets sold via an application phase in May 2026. For the real diehard fans who want to go a notch above, a superfan pass is up for grabs which gives the individual the ability to purchase up to four tickets per match and includes the World Cup opener and final. 'In total, over 2.5 million tickets will be made available for this expanded edition, more than any previous Men's Rugby World Cup, reflecting the ambition to deliver a tournament that is truly for everyone,' a statement read. 'Making the tournament as accessible as possible for everyone has been a key focus, with ticket prices for adults starting from just $40 for pool matches, and $65 to watch the Wallabies in their home tournament. 'Families have also been a core priority, with children's tickets starting at $20 available for all matches except the semi-finals and the final. The aim is to encourage families to enjoy world- class rugby in an unforgettable setting, creating lifelong memories. Children under two can attend RWC matches for free.' The announcement comes on the heels of rugby booming in Australia off the back of the Wallabies taking on the British and Irish Lions tour. The Wallabies were denied an upset win in heartbreaking and controversial fashion after the visitors scored a last-gasp try to claim a thrilling 29-26 victory. Hugo Keenan went over for the Lions in the 79th minute to win it, only for Australia to desperately appeal the try, claiming Jac Morgan had made contact with the head of Carlo Tizzano at the breakdown in the lead-up. Referee Andrea Piardi, however, deemed there to be no foul play in the lead-up, much to the frustration of fans watching on. Despite the back-to-back defeats, interest in the Wallabies has risen and will only keep thriving as the World Cup draws closer.
