Bootstrapping event tech for success

Wonder how startups bootstrap world-class event businesses with no funding? Mads spills the tea. Running events can feel like a risky business at times. Between tight budgets, high partner expectations, and strong competition, the odds often seem stacked against us as event organizers. We're forced to pull off minor miracles at times on a strained…
Lee Matthew Jackson

Lee Matthew Jackson

February 22, 2024

Wonder how startups bootstrap world-class event businesses with no funding? Mads spills the tea.

Running events can feel like a risky business at times. Between tight budgets, high partner expectations, and strong competition, the odds often seem stacked against us as event organizers. We’re forced to pull off minor miracles at times on a strained budget.

My guest in this episode, Mads Kjer, bootstrapped Ticketbutler starting with just an idea and sheer determination. We learn how he went from “moonlighting side-hustler” to leading a thriving event ticketing and badge printing company armed only with hustle, smarts and an unwavering commitment to customer experience.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to turn your idea into profit, you need to hear Mads’ story. From leveraging side incomes to laser-focusing on customer pain points with his ticket builder software and portable badge printer hardware, he shares the tactics that allowed Ticketbutler to constantly punch above its weight class despite limited resources, and a lot of competition.

So whether you’re looking to bootstrap your own event tech startup or simply take your existing event business to the next level without going into debt, don’t miss the key lessons from Mads’ journey on how he beat the odds through resilience, agility, and customer obsession to turn his passion project into a global reaching operation with just the power of bootstrapping.

Video

We recorded this podcast live at Event Tech Live London, so if you’d prefer to watch you can do so on YouTube.

Key takeaways

Whenever I talk to Mads I learn something new or get inspired. Here’s what stood out to me this time round:

  • If entering a crowded market, consider focusing on the customer experience and identifying an underserved niche.
  • Look at leveraging modern technologies like 3D printing to rapidly build MVPs before heavily investing in product development.
  • Seek partnerships to access expertise outside your core competencies rather than trying to build everything in-house.
  • Aim to obsess over customers by listening closely to their pain points, then solve their actual problems.
  • The constraints of bootstrapping encourages you to deliver real value to customers first, rather than prioritising growth above all else.

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Event Engine Podcast Artwork

Speakers

An image our speaker Mads Kjer

Mads Kjer

Ticketbutler
Lee Matthew Jackson

Lee Matthew Jackson

Event Engine