Events.com, a forward-thinking event management platform, has emerged as a leader in transforming the way events are planned, managed, and executed. This has been achieved by offering a comprehensive suite of tools for ticketing, registration, and event marketing. In doing so, Events.com has gained the trust of both organizers and participants, paving the way for future growth in an industry that is already booming and expected to reach $1,552.9 billion globally by 2028.
Notably, the company has announced its intention to go public via a merger with Concord Acquisition Corp II (CNDA +0%), presenting a compelling opportunity for investors to get in early. Below, we look to guide potential investors through the process, risks, and opportunities involved in buying pre-IPO shares of Events.com.
What is Events.com?
Founded in 2010, Events.com has steadily built its reputation as an innovative force in the event management space. The platform enables organizers to seamlessly manage all aspects of an event—from ticket sales and registration to marketing and data analytics. Its mission is to empower organizers with tools that streamline their processes while enhancing attendee experiences, creating a more efficient and successful event lifecycle.
Key features and advantages:
- Comprehensive platform: Events.com offers a one-stop solution for event management, from ticketing and registration to marketing and analytics.
- Focus on hybrid events: The platform is uniquely designed to support in-person and virtual events – a critical advantage in the post-pandemic world.
- Data-driven insights: Events.com gives organizers powerful analytics to track event performance, attendee behavior, and marketing effectiveness.
- Scalability: The platform can handle events of all sizes, from small community gatherings to large-scale conferences and festivals.
Events.com’s platform is uniquely designed to serve a wide range of events, from large-scale conferences and music festivals to local community gatherings. The company provides event planners with deep insights into attendee behavior, event performance, and marketing effectiveness by offering a user-friendly interface coupled with powerful back-end analytics. This has positioned the company as a go-to solution for event organizers seeking to optimize their processes and grow their audience.
In addition to ticketing and event management, Events.com continues to expand its service offerings, including sponsorship management, vendor coordination, and integration with other industry tools. The platform’s future growth prospects are strong as it evolves to meet the demands of a rapidly changing events industry that increasingly values digital and hybrid event formats.
With a solid foundation and a growing user base, Events.com represents a compelling opportunity for those interested in investing in the digital transformation of event management. The platform’s potential to scale further as in-person and hybrid events regain past popularity makes it an exciting prospect in the tech-driven events landscape.
Historical Funding Rounds
Summary of Events.com Funding:
- Total Funding: Events.com has raised $84.425 million across 12 funding rounds.
- Largest Round: The largest round was $34.5 million raised on March 12, 2020.
- Investors: Events.com has been backed by a mix of 19 institutional, corporate, and angel investors.
- Latest Round: The latest funding round was a Conventional Debt round on June 14, 2023, with an undisclosed amount.
Funding Rounds Breakdown:
- 2 Seed Rounds
- 0 Early-Stage Rounds
- 10 Late-Stage Rounds (Series B rounds spanning from 2012 to 2023)
- 1 Debt Round (Conventional Debt round on June 14, 2023)
- 0 Grant (Prize Money) Rounds
Key Investors:
Prominent investors include Mercato Partners, Arctaris Capital Partners, and Moore Venture Partners.
Funding data is sourced from Tracxn.
Why Invest in Events.com?
Events.com is on the verge of a major milestone: going public through a business combination with Concord Acquisition Corp II. This offers investors an exciting opportunity to participate in the growth of a leading event management platform. The confirmed path to a public listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) also provides a clear timeline for investors who want to capitalize on the company’s future growth potential.
Here’s why Events.com is attracting investor attention:
- Innovative Technology: Events.com offers an all-in-one platform that simplifies event planning, ticketing, registration, and marketing. As event organizers increasingly turn to digital and hybrid event formats, Events.com is uniquely positioned to meet this demand with flexible, scalable solutions that integrate advanced data analytics and user-friendly interfaces.
- Market Expansion: The event industry is rebounding as live events return and hybrid models gain traction. Events.com is well-equipped to capture this growth, and its upcoming public listing will provide the company with additional capital to enhance its platform and expand its market presence globally.
- Confirmed IPO via Business Combination: Unlike many companies where an IPO is speculative, Events.com has a clear path to becoming publicly traded through its business combination with Concord Acquisition Corp II. This reduces the uncertainty surrounding investment timing and offers a defined opportunity for potential returns.
- Growth in Hybrid and Digital Events: The pandemic has permanently transformed the events industry, with hybrid and digital events becoming a lasting trend. Events.com’s ability to facilitate in-person and virtual event management positions it to capitalize on this new era of events.
- Strong Investor Backing: With institutional investors already supporting its growth, Events.com is well-funded and primed for expansion. The capital raised through its public listing will further fuel its ability to scale and innovate in a fast-growing sector.
As the company moves towards its public listing on the NYSE, investors can look forward to potential growth as Events.com continues to lead in the digital transformation of event management.
How to Buy Events.com Pre-IPO Shares
With Events.com preparing to go public through its business combination with Concord Acquisition Corp II, investors may be exploring pre-IPO opportunities. Purchasing pre-IPO shares in a private company can be complex, but here’s a breakdown of how it’s possible:
1. Pre-IPO Secondary Marketplace
A secondary marketplace allows investors to buy shares of private companies before their initial public offering (IPO). These platforms connect accredited investors with current or former employees, early-stage investors, or insiders who may wish to sell their private shares before the company goes public.
Pre-IPO marketplaces offer a chance to invest in companies during high-growth phases, often at a lower valuation than what they may command once public. Several secondary marketplaces provide accredited investors access to shares from employees, early investors, or venture capital firms with equity in Events.com.
Things to Consider:
- Eligibility: Typically, you must be an accredited investor, meaning you must meet certain income or net worth requirements.
- Liquidity: Shares purchased in secondary markets may be illiquid until Events.com goes public, meaning you may be unable to sell them easily before the IPO or acquisition.
Some platforms like Linqto offer access to shares of high-growth private companies. Linqto’s mission is to make private investing accessible, with lower entry requirements than traditional private equity. Past offerings on Linqto have included companies like Robinhood and Coinbase.
Visit Linqto →
2. Private Equity Firms
Private equity firms or venture capital (VC) funds may provide limited opportunities for high-net-worth individuals to invest in Events.com. These firms often acquire shares directly from existing shareholders or participate in funding rounds.
Considerations:
- Access: Significant capital is usually required, as private equity firms often deal in large transactions.
- Long-Term Horizon: These investments typically come with a longer-term commitment, and liquidity may be limited until a public offering or company buyout occurs.
3. Employee Equity Sales
Employees of Events.com may receive equity as part of their compensation packages. Sometimes, these employees may seek to sell some of their shares privately to generate liquidity. Buyers may need to work with brokers or legal teams to ensure compliance with securities laws.
Key Factors:
- Private Transactions: Buying shares from employees can involve complex legal agreements, valuation concerns, and transfer restrictions. Proper due diligence and legal compliance are essential.
- Brokerage: An investment broker familiar with private equity transactions can assist in negotiating and completing the deal.
Risks of Investing in Pre-IPO Shares
While the rewards of investing in pre-IPO Events.com shares can be substantial, there are also notable risks:
- Liquidity Risk Pre-IPO shares are typically illiquid, meaning you may not be able to sell them before the company goes public or is acquired. If Events.com delays its IPO, you could be holding shares for an extended period without the ability to sell them.
- Valuation Risk Events.com’s valuation is based on private funding rounds and may not reflect the true market value when it goes public. If the market does not align with the current valuation, early investors may not see the returns they anticipated.
- Regulatory Risk As with any company, Events.com could face changes in industry regulations or market conditions that could impact its profitability or IPO timing.
- Market Risk As a pre-IPO investor, you are betting on Events.com’s long-term success. While its prospects are promising, factors such as economic downturns or market volatility at the time of the IPO could negatively affect stock performance.
Investing in pre-IPO shares of Events.com involves both opportunity and risk. Investors should carefully weigh their options and conduct thorough research before participating.
Valuation of Events.com and Future IPO
Per the aforementioned announcement, Events.com is set to go public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) through a business combination with Concord Acquisition Corp II. This transaction values Events.com at a pre-money equity value of $314 million. Once the deal is finalized, the company will trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol ‘RSVP’. The IPO is generating considerable anticipation, as Events.com has already achieved global adoption, serving events in 128 countries and collecting data on more than 60 million eventgoers, according to its investor deck.
At $314 million, Event.com’s valuation positions it competitively and potentially as a bargain in the event management space, with the average valuation for event technology companies typically ranging from $500 million to $1 billion. This is especially true when compared to more prominent players like Cvent ($4.6 billion) and Eventbrite ($1.1 billion)(EB -1.38%). While its valuation is significantly lower than those of these giants, it is higher than that of smaller players like Bizzabo ($138 million). Given the market shift towards hybrid and digital events, Events.com’s flexible platform offers significant growth potential, especially with its upcoming public listing. Its smaller size could allow for faster adaptation to market trends, allowing investors to enter at an attractive price point before further expansion.
Intriguingly, despite the company’s rapid growth and global presence, its share price has remained stable on Linqto. When Events.com was reintroduced to the platform, its price had only slightly increased since last December, demonstrating a steady valuation despite growing momentum.
The business combination also signals a significant step forward for the event management platform and is expected to elevate its presence in the event technology industry. Going public will allow Events.com to access new capital, which will be critical for scaling its operations, enhancing its technology offerings, and expanding into new markets.
Conclusion
Investing in Events.com pre-IPO shares presents an exciting opportunity for those willing to embrace the associated risks. As the company continues to innovate in the event management industry and prepares to go public, the potential for long-term growth is significant. However, investors must carefully consider the risks related to liquidity, valuation, and market conditions.
Before investing in pre-IPO shares of Events.com, it’s essential to conduct thorough due diligence, seek advice from financial experts, and ensure that this type of investment aligns with your financial goals and risk tolerance. As Events.com moves forward along its mission to transform the event management landscape, early investors who believe in the company’s vision may see substantial returns for their foresight and willingness to take on the associated risks.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Pre-IPO shares are typically available only to accredited investors and carry significant risk. Always perform thorough due diligence and consult a financial advisor or legal expert before making investment decisions.
