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SeatGeek Beat the Odds: Raising $400M, Surviving COVID & Competing with Ticketmaster l Build Mode

SeatGeek didn’t become one of the biggest names in ticketing by following the playbook. It started as a simple ticket search engine on the TechCrunch 50 stage (now known as TechCrunch Battlefield) and took on the industry’s massive incumbents by expanding its vision, surviving industry-defining challenges, and convincing investors that even a monopoly could be…

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SeatGeek didn’t become one of the biggest names in ticketing by following the playbook. It started as a simple ticket search engine on the TechCrunch 50 stage (now known as TechCrunch Battlefield) and took on the industry’s massive incumbents by expanding its vision, surviving industry-defining challenges, and convincing investors that even a monopoly could be disrupted.

In this episode of Build Mode, host and Startup Battlefield lead Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Jack Groetzinger, co-founder and CEO of SeatGeek, to unpack the company’s 17-year journey from startup to industry leader. Jack shares how SeatGeek raised nearly $400 million in venture capital, why he believes founders should think about expanding rather than pivoting, what it was like fundraising during the COVID-19 shutdown of live events, and why the company ultimately walked away from its planned SPAC. He also explains how founders can convince investors to back them against an entrenched incumbent, why your first hires define your company’s future, and how AI is reshaping the future of live entertainment and ticketing.

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: How SeatGeek Took on Ticketmaster
01:09 – From Startup Battlefield to Building SeatGeek
04:03 – Finding Product-Market Fit in a Broken Ticketing Industry
05:54 – Why SeatGeek Expanded Instead of Pivoting
07:14 – Raising Nearly $400M and Surviving the Hardest Fundraise During COVID
10:46 – Why SeatGeek Walked Away from Its SPAC IPO
13:57 – How to Raise Money Against a Monopoly Like Ticketmaster
17:02 – The Hiring Mistakes That Nearly Hurt SeatGeek’s Culture
19:08 – How AI Will Transform Live Entertainment and Ticketing
22:19 – Regulation, Competition, and Jack Groetzinger’s Advice for Founders

Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.

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  1. @عليموحان-س5ع

    July 30, 2026 at 1:44 pm

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I Tried “Smart” Basketball Tech, and Now I Can’t Stop Shooting | STAT

CNET Senior Video Producer, Owen Poole examines consumer-grade basketball technology that is comparable to what the pros use. Can a smart ball and a smart hoop actually help improve your jump shot, and what does widely available smart training mean for the future of basketball? You can find the products mentioned in this video linked…

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October 20, 2026

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CNET Senior Video Producer, Owen Poole examines consumer-grade basketball technology that is comparable to what the pros use. Can a smart ball and a smart hoop actually help improve your jump shot, and what does widely available smart training mean for the future of basketball?

You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below
Spalding TF1000 Smart Basketball – Shot Tracking App & 1 Year Subscription
huupe Arena Basketball Hoop Upgrade Kit Shot Tracker and LED Light System
*CNET may get a commission on these offers

Timecode Chapters:
0:00 Intro: The Evolution of Basketball Tech1
0:20 Spalding TF-1000 Smart Basketball Overview
0:58 Testing the Smart Basketball & Live Audio Feedback
1:50 Analyzing Shot Data, Metrics & App Features
3:06 Price, Subscription & Battery Life
4:35 Testing the Huupe Arena Smart Hoop
6:01 Reviewing Huupe IQ Data & Sensor Tech
7:30 Social Features, Remote Challenges & Team Mode
8:33 Final Thoughts on Smart Basketball Products
8:48 Testing Free AI Analysis Options
10:43 The Impact of Tech on the Future of Basketball

Video Credits:
Host: Owen Poole
Scripted by: Owen Poole
Producer: Owen Poole & Dillon Lopez
Camera: Dillon Lopez & Owen Poole
Video Editor: Owen Poole
Thumbnail Designer: Zooey Liao

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Science & Technology

Why Application-Level Permissions Won’t Secure AI Agents With Okta’s & NanoCo | Disrupt 2026

Enterprises are learning to rebuild the basics of cybersecurity from scratch for agentic AI. Okta’s President of Products and Technology Ric Smith and NanoCo Co-Founder and CEO Gavriel Cohen explain what agent security takes at the infrastructure level and which architectural choices matter most. #TechCrunchDisrupt2026 Follow us across… Read more:

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October 19, 2026

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Enterprises are learning to rebuild the basics of cybersecurity from scratch for agentic AI. Okta’s President of Products and Technology Ric Smith and NanoCo Co-Founder and CEO Gavriel Cohen explain what agent security takes at the infrastructure level and which architectural choices matter most.

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Most startups stall because they build one great product instead of a repeatable multi-product engine. Daring Ventures’ Maddi Holman, Verkada’s Filip Kaliszan, and Atlassian’s Tamar Yehoshua discuss the operational playbook for capital allocation, systemizing internal innovation, and engineering a compounding “Second Act” before the core product’s growth curve flattens. #TechCrunchDisrupt2026 Follow us across… Read more:

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1 day ago

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October 19, 2026

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Most startups stall because they build one great product instead of a repeatable multi-product engine. Daring Ventures’ Maddi Holman, Verkada’s Filip Kaliszan, and Atlassian’s Tamar Yehoshua discuss the operational playbook for capital allocation, systemizing internal innovation, and engineering a compounding “Second Act” before the core product’s growth curve flattens.

#TechCrunchDisrupt2026

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