DoubleDutch

DoubleDutch is a San Francisco, California-based enterprise software company that provides a live engagement marketing platform designed to help corporate teams manage events, track attendee activities, and collaborate on projects via smartphone applications. Operating as a venture capital-funded software-as-a-service business, the organization transitioned beyond basic email communication to offer specialized mobile tools for customer and project-based collaboration within the broader events industry. To support its technological development and market expansion, the enterprise successfully raised over $78 million in total venture capital funding. The company secured significant financial backing from prominent institutional investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners and Index Ventures, while navigating executive leadership transitions involving former chief executive officer Bryan Parker. Following its period of independent operation, the business was ultimately acquired by event management software provider Cvent. DoubleDutch was founded in 2011 by Lawrence Coburn.

# DoubleDutch: High-Level Overview

DoubleDutch is a mobile event technology platform that creates applications for conferences, tradeshows, and events while capturing real-time engagement data to help organizers measure and optimize event ROI[1][2]. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, the company built a comprehensive solution that goes beyond digitizing paper materials—it adds a digital engagement layer to live events and transforms attendee interactions into actionable business intelligence[1].

The platform serves a broad market of event organizers and enterprises seeking to unlock value from in-person gatherings. DoubleDutch powered events for more than 1,700 customers, including major brands like LinkedIn, Forbes, Humana, Novartis, and Cisco[6]. The company raised nearly $80 million in funding before being acquired by Cvent, a leading events and hospitality technology provider, in a move designed to strengthen Cvent's mobile event capabilities and onsite engagement offerings[2].

# Origin Story

DoubleDutch was founded in January 2011 by Lawrence Coburn, who served as CEO and co-founder[3]. Coburn, a Georgetown and Emory University graduate from Philadelphia, identified a critical gap in the events industry: despite decades of technological advancement elsewhere, live events remained largely unchanged and ripe for disruption[1]. The company's name—derived from an "old school" hip-hop bar in San Francisco's Mission District—reflected Coburn's deliberate choice to break from conventional enterprise software naming and positioning[1].

The founding insight was elegant: events represent "the ultimate petri dish for mobile, social and cloud converging on an enormous industry."[1] Rather than simply automating existing processes, Coburn and his team positioned themselves as "technologists first, event professionals second," building tools that captured live engagement data and transformed it into insights[1]. This approach resonated with early adopters, and the company grew to over 230 employees by the time of its acquisition[3].

# Core Differentiators

• Data-driven engagement layer: DoubleDutch doesn't merely digitize event materials; it captures real-time mobile app engagement and converts it into actionable insights for organizers, sponsors, and attendees[1][4].

• Comprehensive platform scope: The solution spans the entire event lifecycle—from pre-event promotion and content management through onsite engagement (push notifications, direct messaging, meeting scheduling, polls) to post-event community nurturing and analytics[5].

• Consumerized, non-enterprise approach: The company deliberately rejected conventional enterprise software conventions, adopting a playful brand identity and user-centric design philosophy that appealed to modern event professionals[1].

• Proven customer traction: With 1,700+ customers across Fortune 500 companies and major industry associations, DoubleDutch demonstrated strong market validation and the ability to serve both B2B and B2C event contexts[5][6].

# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

DoubleDutch rode the convergence of three major technology trends: mobile-first computing, real-time data analytics, and the growing recognition that in-person events drive disproportionate business value[1]. As enterprises increasingly sought to measure and optimize event ROI—moving beyond attendance counts to engagement metrics—DoubleDutch positioned itself at the intersection of event management and business intelligence.

The company's acquisition by Cvent in 2024 reflects a broader consolidation trend in event technology, where platforms are bundling registration, content management, and onsite engagement tools into integrated ecosystems[2][5]. This shift underscores how events have evolved from logistical exercises into strategic marketing and community-building channels that demand sophisticated data infrastructure.

# Quick Take & Future Outlook

DoubleDutch's integration into Cvent represents a maturation of the mobile event app category. Rather than remaining an independent innovator, the company's technology and customer base now anchor Cvent's push to become a comprehensive event intelligence platform. The acquisition signals that the future of events technology lies not in point solutions but in unified platforms that connect registration, engagement, and post-event community management.

As hybrid and virtual events continue to shape how organizations convene, DoubleDutch's core strength—extracting business value from attendee engagement data—becomes increasingly valuable. The platform's ability to measure what attendees actually do, rather than just who attended, positions it well for an era where event ROI is measured in pipeline influence, community strength, and measurable business outcomes rather than headcount alone.