.jpg)
If you’ve been anywhere near event-tech news lately, you’ve probably seen the headline: Bending Spoons is acquiring Eventbrite, and this isn’t a quiet acquisition. This is a full-scale ownership change.
Here are the details of the deal:
The Italian tech company Bending Spoons is buying Eventbrite for roughly $500 million in cash. That’s $4.50 per share, a staggering 70% drop from Eventbrite’s 2018 IPO valuation of $1.76 billion. If this acquisition closes, Eventbrite will no longer be a public company; they’ll become another product in Bending Spoons' portfolio.
As of December 2, 2025, the two companies have signed a definitive agreement. While the deal is still pending on shareholder approval and regulatory review, the direction is clear, and Eventbrite is well on its way to being fundamentally reshaped under new leadership.
As an event organizer, your mind is swimming in questions at this point. We’re here to break it down for you.
What Does This Mean for Event Organizers Who Use Eventbrite?
Acquisitions always come with ripple effects, but in the case of this acquirer, it’ll feel more like a tidal wave. Here’s what you should realistically prepare for.
- 1. Potential Price Hikes
- If there’s one thing you can count on Eventbrite to do without fail, it’s raise their prices. Despite already operating at a high price point, they’ve raised their prices 11 times since 2007 - we know, we’ve been keeping track.
On top of that, Bending Spoons has a history of monetary-driven restructuring, and pricing is often the first lever an acquiring company pulls. They have to recoup the investment somehow! All that to say, prepare for higher prices to come your way.
- 2. Possibility of Disappearing Features
- Anytime leadership changes, product roadmaps are rewritten, and your favorite features are at risk of being restructured or eliminated altogether. If your event relies on specific Eventbrite functionality, especially older or less well-maintained features, you may see those features altered or disappear as the acquisition unfolds.
- 3. Data Practices Could Shift
- Whenever a company is acquired, the data philosophy changes with the new owner. To be clear, we are not saying Eventbrite will sell your data, but the industry has seen this play out before: A company gets acquired, the business model shifts, and data becomes leveraged for monetization. Keep an eye out for changes in data policies as the transition takes place.
- 4. Potential Changes in Support
- Finally, support quality almost always takes a hit during major restructuring. Bending Spoons has a well-documented pattern of aggressive internal reorganization, including massive layoffs and team reshuffling. Eventbrite’s support reputation has already struggled in recent years, and a transition like this is likely to only make it worse. If you depend on fast, reliable support for your event, this should be a significant consideration.
Who Is Bending Spoons, and What Have They Done in the Past?
So who is Bending Spoons, anyway? Event organizers, listen closely. Bending Spoons has built its reputation in the consumer app market, and its core business model is acquiring mature products and aggressively “optimizing” them for growth.
Their strategy is consistent: take an aging or plateaued platform, rebuild it, reprice it, and push new subscription-driven revenue models. Let’s take a look at their track record.
Examples From Their Past Acquisitions
Remember Evernote? Bending Spoons took over the once-beloved productivity tool in 2023, laid off most of the US staff, reduced access to previous features, and increased the prices. Not surprisingly, users have complained ever since.
And Evernote wasn’t the exception. Meetup, Mosaic Group, and WeTransfer (just to name a few) all dealt with heavy restructuring and layoffs when Bending Spoons scooped them up into its broader portfolio.
This pattern isn’t unethical or uncommon; it’s simply their model. If you’re an event organizer relying on Eventbrite for mission-critical operations, this history should serve as a flashing yellow light. When Bending Spoons steps in, real and structural changes follow.
Why Choose TicketSpice, Then?
TicketSpice takes the opposite approach to everything organizers worry about during acquisitions. Here’s what sets us apart:
✨ Transparent, predictable pricing - At a flat 99¢ fee per ticket, plus basic credit card processing rates, you’ll make more and keep more with TicketSpice. No mystery fees, no revenue skim, no surprises.
✨ Your data stays yours - We never sell data, never market to your attendees, and never hand your information to advertisers or third parties. Your audience is yours, and we protect it fiercely.
✨ Real support from real humans - While other platforms are automating support and cutting staff, we’re continuing to invest in knowledgeable, U.S.-based experts who respond quickly and step up when you need them most. Our support is a partner, not a ticket queue.
✨ Stability you can trust - TicketSpice is privately owned, founder-led, and financially independent. We’re focused entirely on helping organizers win.
Ready for a Platform On Your Side?
While the industry braces for uncertainty with Eventbrite’s acquisition, TicketSpice remains a stable, transparent, and powerful alternative trusted by thousands of events every year.
Ready to see the difference? Get started with TicketSpice today, or reach out to our support team with questions.
We’re here to help you have the best event ever!
— The TicketSpice team
