Bandwagon

Bandwagon is a business-to-business service for sports teams and event organizers.

The service is designed to accomplish two goals: eliminate ticket fraud, and connect teams and artists with fans.

Each year, fans spend nearly $20 billion on tickets to sporting events and concerts. Of that figure, $2.3 billion is spent on fake tickets.

Between platforms like StubHub and Ticketmaster, as well as third-party sellers, fans have multiple options to purchase tickets to their favorite events. Because fans have so many options, teams and event organizers need a way to verify the authenticity of tickets.

Bandwagon provides a solution with its Fan Identity Management Platform. This platform uses proprietary blockchain technology to help sport and concert venues confirm ticket authenticity.

At the same time, this technology gathers data about ticket buyers to enable venues to more effectively market to fans.

Bandwagon has received more than $1 million in funding from Backstage Capital, Capital Factory, and Black Angel Tech Fund. In addition, the company is guided by a team of experienced advisors, including Mellie Price. Price previously founded a ticket company called Front Gate Tickets, which was acquired by LiveNation.

In September 2016, Bandwagon launched a beta version of its platform. In November 2017, the company was accepted into the Capital Factory Accelerator program, and in February 2018, signed its first customer, Sacramento State University.

Bandwagon sells its service to teams and venues via an annual licensing fee and a per-transaction ticket authentication fee. The company has begun generating revenue, and projects to reach $50 million in revenue by 2022.

Team Background

Harold Hughes - Founder & CEO

Arshad Syed - Chief Technology Officer

Co-Investors

Backstage Capital

Venture capital firm investing in early-stage companies led by women, people of color, and LGBT founders.

Capital Factory

Investment firm working with early- and late-stage start-ups whose portfolio includes companies such as Cisco Systems, Buzzfeed and WikiBuy.

Black Angel Tech Fund

Group of angel investors who invest in early-stage companies led by African Americans.