How it all began
Autumn 2014. A young man, full of excitement, wants to put together an event with his sports club. He is looking for a simple way to sell tickets online – and stumbles across a market that has long forgotten its users.
On one side: international major providers with overpriced, opaque pricing models that charge small clubs like his or don’t offer a solution at all. On the other side: confusing niche providers whose technology feels like it was left behind in the last millennium. Between these fronts – no space for the people who organise events out of passion. For clubs. For cultural creators. For those who bring our society to life.
Then we decided to do it ourselves.
This frustration found a place where it didn’t have to fade away: the e-commerce agency MySign. That’s where the conviction emerged that things had to be done differently. Radically differently. Over two intensive weeks of innovation, ideas were tested, discarded and rethought. Not to create yet another provider, but to turn an entire market upside down.
Three principles that were set to change everything:
- Free – thanks to a completely new business model
Why should those who enable culture and community on a voluntary basis be the ones to pay? The answer: they shouldn’t. A ticketing solution without fees for organisers and without surcharges for ticket buyers – a model that simply did not exist in the market at the time.
- Uncompromisingly simple
No training. No manuals. No hidden barriers. From the small village club to the big festival – everyone should be able to sell tickets in just a few clicks.
- Together instead of against each other
Not us against the organisers – but us with them. Their feedback, wishes and ideas continuously flow into the platform. No exploitation. Instead, a shared ambition to build the best event platform in the world.
The first prototype was created in record time and had its baptism of fire at the very event of the sports club that started it all. More innovation workshops, more iterations, countless hours. Until summer 2016: in Olten, in the heart of Switzerland, Eventfrog was founded by Mike together with Reto and Urs. Mike took over as CEO and continues to shape the company to this day.
What followed exceeded everything we had ever dreamed of. Several thousand events have been processed via the platform. A team that continues to grow. Numerous awards. What started as an idea born out of frustration and passion has become the largest event platform in Switzerland. Today, Eventfrog is also at home in Germany (eventfrog.de) and Austria (eventfrog.at), and we will continue to bring our idea to more countries.
We never wanted to be just another provider. We want to revolutionise the event industry – for and with the people who bring it to life.
– Mike Müller, Founder and Managing Director
Our mission remains the same – and it is more radical than ever: we want to revolutionise the event industry. Fair conditions for everyone. No exceptions. Why do we do this? Because we believe in events. Because we love culture. And because we are convinced that the people who make it possible deserve better. The revolution has only just begun!
An award-winning idea
In the year of our founding, our vision was already recognised with the InnoPrix SoBa 2016 award.
In 2021, during the pandemic, we received the Solothurn Entrepreneur Award for our innovative crisis management.
Powered by team spirit
Our shared vision and outstanding team spirit set us apart.
Instead of rigid hierarchies, we rely on holacracy to foster agility, ambition and personal responsibility.
We’re looking for new talent
As a start-up, we are always looking for motivated people to join our team.
Do you identify with our vision?
Find current job openings and learn more about working at Eventfrog
Become a partner in the revolution
We are convinced that strong partnerships move us forward and can unlock unexpected synergies.
At Eventfrog, there are many different forms of collaboration for associations, federations, regions, municipalities and tourism destinations, as well as for media and media partners.
Interested in a partnership?
Contact Jonas Hufschmid, our Head of Marketing & Sales, to explore the possibilities for a collaboration with Eventfrog without obligation.
Jonas Hufschmid
Head of Marketing & Sales
Tel: +41 62 206 77 02
Email: jonas.hufschmid@eventfrog.net
