DoubleDutch Receives $19M in Series D Funding
August 24, 2014
Mobile event app developer DoubleDutch announced the close of $19 million in Series D funding led by Mithril Capital Management. Previous investors Bessemer Venture Partners, Index Ventures and Bullpen Capital also participated, along with Singapore-based Enspire Capital. Ajay Royan, co-founder and managing general partner of Mithril, joins the DoubleDutch board.
In a press release announcing the funding, Lawrence Coburn, CEO of DoubleDutch is quoted as saying, “More than three years into our journey, we continue to see signs that the market for data driven event technology is massive, underserved, and ripe for a winner-take-all outcome." Coburn added "in Mithril, we have found a partner that matches our ambition and outlook. Our mutual goal is to build a durable, independent company that redefines the category."
DoubleDutch plans to use the $19 million in funding to expand its global presence, build out its technical teams to rapidly scale product deployment, and deliver new features to organizers.
Jennifer Hawkins, director of marketing for DoubleDutch, said they are hiring in all areas including engineering, sales and data science. “Company culture is very important to us at DoubleDutch. As we continue to expand - growing overseas as well as domestically - finding people who are passionate about our software and the problems we are tackling is crucial, said Hawkins.
DoubleDutch is looking to apply a chunk of this funding to the data side of the app. Hawkins wants event organizers to get the same realtime benefits and insights from their app data that marketers get from digital marketing such as AdWords. The ability to see what aspects of the event are working and what is not, which all comes back to the attendee experience.
The attendee experience is at the core of their product, and DoubleDutch intends to focus a large majority of their efforts into identifying and building ways to increase engagement and enhance overall attendee satisfaction.
Ajay Royan, Co-founder and Managing General Partner of Mithril is quoted as saying, "While legacy event companies focus on registration or logistics, DoubleDutch's platform uniquely preserves relationships that foster powerful, sustainable, long-term advantages. They are already working with some of the largest event organizers around the world, and this new investment will allow DoubleDutch to focus on identifying and pursuing enormous new opportunities."
What does the future of mobile event apps look like to DoubleDutch? In addition to the increase in demand for data, Hawkins said, “We believe that mobile, social functionality is going to dramatically improve the way people attend live events, not to mention how marketers execute, measure, and optimize them. The overarching goal is to produce mobile technology designed to maximize engagement, gather structured analytics, and unlock valuable insight in the same way that marketing automation and website analytics have done for the digital sphere.”
DoubleDutch is headquartered in San Francisco and has offices in Amsterdam, London, and Hong Kong to serve EMEA and Asia. The new funding will help them expand in those regions, particularly in Asia where local expertise is a top priority. They plan to continue to expand the company and services into new regions.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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