Online events ticketing platform Explara expands to the US, UK & Southeast Asia

Explara (formerly Ayojak.com), an online events marketplace run by Pune-based Signature Technologies Pvt Ltd, has expanded its operations to a number of countries including Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK and the US. While the company has opened an office in the US, it is working on a partnership model in the other markets.

"In 2013, we served event organisers from 21 countries and buyers from 64 countries. This early traction of global demand aligned with our ambition to become globally reachable," said Santosh Panda, co-founder and CEO of Explara.

Currently, Explara supports 23 currencies globally and facilitates direct payments from these countries. As of now, the platform supports only English language, but is planning to add more languages such as French and German in the next month.

Started in 2009, the company offers a cloud-hosted event solutions platform and focuses on four service areas that include event ticketing/registration, payment processing (online, retail and COD), event marketing and logistics. One can create an account on Explara for free and organise free events without paying anything. But a user has to pay when he/she organises a paid event/conference/meet-up. Currently, the company has operations in Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi in India.

Originally started as an event ticketing and discovery site, the company pivoted to a marketplace in December last year. Using the marketplace, an organiser can send bulk event e-mail campaigns to a list of potential attendees before the event, manage the entry check-ins & guest management on the event day, and collect feedback from attendees via a missed call. It will also enable them to sell their event ticket/registration at the venue, and accept payments via cash, cards and online banking. Explara claims that it has facilitated more than 10,000 events from 21 countries till date.

The startup recently launched a 'developer & marketplace programme', inviting app developers, solution providers and service providers to offer their solutions and services via Explara platform API & integrations.

In February last year, the startup had received an undisclosed amount in funding from Harvard Business School (HBS) Alumni Angels, Srijan Capital and Blume Ventures. Google India MD Rajan Anandan and angel investor Kishore Warrier had also participated in the round in their personal capacity.

In an interview with Techcircle.in recently, Panda said that the firm is close to raising its first round of VC funding in the range of $2-3 million.