Tagkast is a Chicago-based technology company that provides an interactive experience platform for live events, digital activations, and retail spaces. It builds solutions like AI-powered photo and video booths, 360 video booths, instant win games, augmented reality (AR) scavenger hunts, and branded web apps to engage audiences, capture leads, and drive sales.[1][2][3] Serving event marketers, brands, and retailers, Tagkast solves the challenge of turning passive event attendance or store visits into measurable marketing outcomes by integrating fun interactions with data collection that feeds directly into sales pipelines, boosting ROI through social media buzz and lead generation.[1][3][4]
With around 28 employees and $10.5 million in revenue, the company focuses on in-person events, online experiences, and retail hubs, emphasizing seamless tech integration for customer engagement.[1][3]
Tagkast emerged from the need to amplify sponsored events through social marketing, starting with a patented proprietary tablet software for branded photos that maximizes event reach.[5] Headquartered at 600 W Chicago Ave Ste 775 in Chicago, Illinois, the company has evolved into a full interactive platform, incorporating AI photo booths, AR tech, and digital tools.[1][2] While specific founders are not detailed in available sources, early traction centered on event marketers using the platform to engage guests, capture leads, and spread brand content virally on social media, positioning it as an enterprise social solution in the competitive Chicago tech scene.[4][5]
Tagkast stands out in the event tech space through these key features:
These elements prioritize ease of use, ROI tracking, and strategic marketing over basic photo-sharing tools.[2]
Tagkast rides the wave of experiential marketing in a post-pandemic world, where hybrid events and immersive retail experiences demand data-driven engagement amid rising AR/VR adoption.[2][3] Timing aligns with brands seeking ROI from live activations, as consumers crave interactive, Instagrammable moments that generate user-generated content and leads without heavy manual effort.[1][4] Market forces like e-commerce growth spilling into physical retail and AI enhancements for personalization favor Tagkast, enabling smaller teams to scale event marketing globally.[3] It influences the ecosystem by empowering event marketers to treat events as sales funnels, bridging social platforms with CRM systems and setting a model for measurable "fun tech" in B2B marketing.[1][5]
Tagkast is poised to expand as AR and AI mature, potentially integrating more advanced analytics or metaverse tie-ins to deepen event ROI. Trends like gamified retail and virtual events will shape its path, with opportunities in enterprise partnerships amid economic pressures for efficient marketing spend. Its influence may grow by standardizing interactive booths as must-haves, evolving from event novelty to core sales infrastructure—proving that the right tech partner turns crowds into conversions.[2][3]
Tagkast has raised $9.5M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Tagkast's investors include ACME Capital, Bam Ventures, Cowboy Ventures, Draper Associates, Fifth Wall, Floodgate, Generative Ventures, LGF, Lightbank, Maveron, Portal Ventures, Silicon Valley Connect.
Tagkast has raised $9.5M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Series A in June 2014.
