Calgary-born atVenu has announced a $179 million (USD $130 million) equity investment from Sixth Street Growth, setting the stage for further expansion into live event markets.
Founded in 2012 by Derek Ball, Ben Brannen, and James Seigel, atVenu offers a specialized platform for live events, serving major touring artists, merchandisers, record labels, venue operators, festival promoters, and food and beverage providers.
atVenu’s platform stands out with its inventory management, forecasting, and financial settlements, all tailored to the fast-paced world of pop-up commerce. Its integrated point-of-sale system provides a streamlined solution that meets the unique demands of live events.
The new partnership with Sixth Street is set to boost atVenu’s growth into sports and food and beverage markets while strengthening its position as a leader in music merchandise.
Customers using atVenu have seen a 20% revenue increase compared to generic systems, thanks to event-specific inventory controls, multi-location sales management, and faster checkout speeds. By uniting key players from the live event industry, atVenu helps streamline everything from pre-event setup to post-event reporting and financial disbursements.
During events, atVenu simplifies the management of multiple locations, inventory, and point-of-sale hardware, while providing real-time data to improve the event experience. Unlike traditional retail platforms, atVenu is designed to maximize revenue during the brief window of an event.
“Over the past decade, we’ve focused on helping our customers run successful, profitable events,” said Derek Ball, atVenu Co-Founder and CEO. “Sixth Street shares this mission and will help us grow our impact in this industry.”
Handling over $1.6 billion in annual merchandise and food and beverage sales, atVenu is used at more than 125,000 events each year, from small clubs to the world’s largest stadiums, venues, festivals, and sporting events. As the leader in music merchandise, the company continues to expand into new markets and regions.
Leave a Reply