Y Combinator alum and 2024 Disrupt Battlefield participant Nowadays has secured $2 million in seed funding to revolutionize event planning using AI. The startup, founded in 2023 by sisters Anna Sun and Amy Yan, leverages large language models (LLM) and a proprietary database to automate the complex process of organizing large-scale events.
Nowadays uses a blend of OpenAI, Anthropic, and its own coding to manage tasks like contacting venues and caterers, gathering bids, and following up with phone calls when necessary. The AI compiles and organizes responses, presenting options to event planners for final decisions. With access to over 400,000 venues worldwide, the platform streamlines event planning for budgets starting at $20,000, charging a 5% fee or offering an annual subscription.
The idea for Nowadays stemmed from the sisters’ own experiences organizing events as university class presidents. Sun, an MIT graduate, recalls the challenges of arranging large-scale events, including manually coordinating quotes and even picking up bulk orders herself. Inspired to simplify the process, she convinced her sister, then at Google, to join her after securing a spot in Y Combinator’s Summer 2023 cohort.
Since its launch, Nowadays has facilitated over $4 million in event bookings for clients like Google, Amazon, Notion, and Supabase. Event planners begin by filling out an intake form outlining their event’s details, with AI tailoring creative solutions to meet specific needs—such as high-ceiling venues for taller team members.
The startup’s early success has largely been driven by word of mouth among corporate event planners. One such user introduced the platform to a VC, leading to a $300,000 investment. That VC later became a customer and contributed additional funding.
The recent $2 million seed round included investments from Y Combinator, Basis Set Ventures, Hike VC, VentureUs, Underdog Labs, Decacorn Capital, SBXi, E14, and dozens of angel investors. As competition grows, with companies like Cvent and Eventbrite incorporating AI into their platforms, Nowadays aims to stand out by focusing on seamless automation and user-centric innovation.
While its primary market is corporate events, Nowadays has also facilitated personal celebrations, including weddings and anniversaries. With its AI-driven approach, the company is poised to redefine how large-scale events are planned, combining cutting-edge technology with practical, creative solutions.
Featured image courtesy of TechCrunch
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