Eventbrite ft. Julia Hartz - A thriving events company took 14 years to build and nearly disappeared in 14 days
Oct 5, 2023
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Julia Hartz, CEO of Eventbrite, discusses the challenges of building and reinventing the events company during a global shutdown. Topics include transitioning to sustainable profitability, learning from a crisis and evaluating acquisitions, challenges faced after acquiring Ticketfly, adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, reflections on leadership and rebuilding, and the future of events in the evolving landscape.
Eventbrite successfully transformed its pricing model by introducing a three-tiered package system, resulting in increased revenue per customer and momentum in the total creator account.
Despite challenges and uncertainties, Eventbrite's acquisition of Ticketfly helped them leapfrog in the music industry, demonstrating the power of resilience, customer focus, and community spirit.
Deep dives
Eventbrite's Journey to Profitability
Eventbrite faced the challenge of transitioning to a path of sustainable profitability after becoming post-product market fit but not profitable. They realized that their one-size-fits-all pricing model was getting lost in the noise due to their diverse customer segments. To capture more value, Eventbrite underwent a comprehensive pricing model change, introducing a three-tiered package system. Despite the risks involved, they conducted experiments, analyzed segments' price sensitivity, and ultimately made the necessary pricing adjustments. This decision led to positive outcomes, including increased revenue per customer and momentum in the total creator account.
The Ticketfly Acquisition Gamble
Eventbrite faced a crucible moment when considering the acquisition of Ticketfly to compete in the live music space. The decision was challenging due to differences in cultures, business models, and customers served. Concerns about successfully integrating the two companies, potential customer churn, and the risk of introducing a sales-led approach complicated the decision-making. Despite objections and uncertainties, Eventbrite ultimately acquired Ticketfly to leapfrog in the music industry. The integration process proved more difficult and time-consuming than anticipated, leading to technical challenges, higher customer churn, and a hacker takeover of the Ticketfly platform. However, Eventbrite's resilience, customer focus, and community spirit helped them navigate this challenging period.
Surviving the COVID-19 Pandemic
Eventbrite faced its most significant crucible moment during the COVID-19 pandemic when 90% of its revenue disappeared in just two weeks. They responded with resilience, adaptability, and a customer-centric approach. Eventbrite supported its community by providing refunds and credits for canceled events, building tools for virtual events, and advocating for the live events industry in government relief efforts. They refocused their strategy on serving frequent creators and reduced costs through layoffs and operational realignments. With innovative solutions, financial support from Francisco Partners, and an unwavering determination, Eventbrite weathered the crisis and emerged stronger, ready to rebuild the live events industry.
Lessons from Crucible Moments
Eventbrite's journey illustrates valuable lessons. They learned the importance of making timely and significant shifts, even if they involve risks or tectonic changes, such as pricing adjustments. They discovered the power of reevaluating assumptions and refocusing on their core strategy, as seen in their successful alignment with frequent creators and empowering them with a better product experience. The crucible moments also highlighted the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit, the significance of strong community and customer relationships, and the potential for rebirth and growth in times of crisis.
What happens to an events company when every event is canceled? “Even if you have spent 14 years building something, it could truly be gone in 14 days.” After working tirelessly to revolutionize how live events are organized, this was the reality Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz faced in March of 2020 as pandemic lockdowns went into effect, extinguishing the lifeblood of her business. She brought the same strategic thinking and grit that had led the company through its previous inflection points to rally her team and reinvent Eventbrite in the middle of a global shutdown.