SeatGeek didn’t become one of the biggest names in ticketing by following the playbook. It started as a simple ticket search engine on the TechCrunch 50 stage (now known as TechCrunch Battlefield) and took on the industry\u2019s massive incumbents by expanding its vision, surviving industry-defining challenges, and convincing investors that even a monopoly could be disrupted.<\/p>\n
In this episode of Build Mode, host and Startup Battlefield lead Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Jack Groetzinger, co-founder and CEO of SeatGeek, to unpack the company’s 17-year journey from startup to industry leader. Jack shares how SeatGeek raised nearly $400 million in venture capital, why he believes founders should think about expanding rather than pivoting, what it was like fundraising during the COVID-19 shutdown of live events, and why the company ultimately walked away from its planned SPAC. He also explains how founders can convince investors to back them against an entrenched incumbent, why your first hires define your company’s future, and how AI is reshaping the future of live entertainment and ticketing.<\/p>\n
Chapters:
\n00:00 \u2013 Intro: How SeatGeek Took on Ticketmaster
\n01:09 \u2013 From Startup Battlefield to Building SeatGeek
\n04:03 \u2013 Finding Product-Market Fit in a Broken Ticketing Industry
\n05:54 \u2013 Why SeatGeek Expanded Instead of Pivoting
\n07:14 \u2013 Raising Nearly $400M and Surviving the Hardest Fundraise During COVID
\n10:46 \u2013 Why SeatGeek Walked Away from Its SPAC IPO
\n13:57 \u2013 How to Raise Money Against a Monopoly Like Ticketmaster
\n17:02 \u2013 The Hiring Mistakes That Nearly Hurt SeatGeek’s Culture
\n19:08 \u2013 How AI Will Transform Live Entertainment and Ticketing
\n22:19 \u2013 Regulation, Competition, and Jack Groetzinger’s Advice for Founders<\/p>\n
Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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