CrowdVolt

What do they actually do

CrowdVolt operates a web-based secondary ticket marketplace focused on raves and EDM shows. It uses a public bid/ask order book where buyers can place bids or buy now, and sellers can set asks or sell now; when a bid meets an ask, the platform processes payment and intermediates the ticket transfer to reduce fraud. The product supports buyer–seller messaging and non-anonymous profiles, and CrowdVolt emphasizes quick seller payouts and managed electronic transfers where supported (Help Center, YC, TechCrunch).

The company launched concentrating on New York (especially Brooklyn venues). By mid-2024, it reported several thousand active users and a few hundred listed events, and the product was web-only at that time (TechCrunch).

Who are their target customer(s)

• EDM/rave attendees buying last minute: Need low-fraud, transparent pricing and quick transactions; existing resale sites feel opaque and risky for scene-specific shows. CrowdVolt’s public bid/ask and managed transfers target these issues (TechCrunch, Help).
• Casual ticket sellers who can’t attend: Want simple listing, reliable transfer, and fast payout without chasing buyers or worrying about failed transfers. CrowdVolt advertises quick payouts and automated transfers to lower hassle (YC, TechCrunch).
• Independent promoters and small organizers: Lose visibility and control when tickets resell across fragmented channels; face fraud-related customer issues. Managed transfers and a public market can reduce fraud and make resale activity more visible (Help, YC).
• Venue box offices and primary ticketing teams: Need infrastructure to route transfers, enforce policies, and capture resale data without breaking primary flows. CrowdVolt’s stated goal is to be an integration layer venues/primary sellers can plug into (YC).
• Mobile, on‑the‑go buyers (festivals/late planners): Expect fast mobile flows for instant buys or bidding; web-only tools are clunky and lead to drop-off. CrowdVolt has prioritized a mobile app to address this behavior (TechCrunch).

How would they acquire their first 10, 50, and 100 customers

• First 10: Hyperlocal seeding with trusted Brooklyn promoters/DJs; manually onboard 5–10 reliable sellers and a matched buyer set, and seed listings/bids so trades clear immediately. Emphasize quick payouts and managed transfers to overcome trust friction (TechCrunch, Help).
• First 50: Run on-site activations at local shows (QR/flyers, help listing tickets), seed niche EDM Discord/Telegram/Reddit threads, and offer temporary fee waivers or small guaranteed payouts to early sellers to build supply and liquidity (TechCrunch).
• First 100: Layer targeted Instagram/TikTok ads for last‑minute buyers, launch a two‑sided referral bonus for buyers and sellers, and roll out a mobile beta to capture on‑the‑go purchases and reduce web flow drop-off (TechCrunch).

What is the rough total addressable market

Top-down context:

Global online event ticket GTV was about US$56.3B in 2023; published estimates put the global secondary market around US$2.9B on the low end up to roughly US$10B, with North America at ~37.7% share (Statista, StraitsResearch, SkyQuest, Mordor Intelligence).

Bottom-up calculation:

Assuming EDM/rave is 5–15% of North America’s secondary ticket GTV, the addressable secondary GTV in CrowdVolt’s niche is roughly US$50M–US$550M per year under conservative-to-optimistic scenarios. CrowdVolt’s revenue would be a fee on that GTV rather than the full volume (StraitsResearch, SkyQuest, Mordor Intelligence).

Assumptions:

• EDM/rave accounts for 5–15% of North America’s secondary ticket GTV due to high last‑minute purchase/transfer behavior.
• North America is ~37.7% of the global secondary market based on market reports.
• CrowdVolt’s near‑term addressable market is secondary resale GTV for EDM/rave in the U.S., not total online ticket GTV.

Who are some of their notable competitors

• StubHub: Large general-purpose secondary marketplace spanning sports, concerts, and festivals; default destination after sellouts, so CrowdVolt must win on trust/price/UX for EDM buyers (About).
• Ticketmaster (Live Nation): Dominant primary ticketing platform with integrated “Verified Resale” and venue tools; controls primary inventory and can reissue/verify transfers, competing structurally when venues keep resale in-flow (Resale policy).
• SeatGeek: Mobile-first marketplace and primary integrations with pricing tools and automated fulfillment; competes on app experience and data-driven pricing valued by last‑minute buyers/sellers (TechCrunch).
• Vivid Seats: Large U.S. resale marketplace with guarantees, rewards, and tooling for pro sellers; another destination EDM fans check for last‑minute inventory (Support).
• Twickets: Fan-to-fan resale that caps prices at face value (+ fees); appeals to organizers/scenes aiming to curb scalping, competing on trust and anti‑scalping credibility (How it works).