My Why
Eric Janssen
Former CRO | Teaching Sales & Entrepreneurship at the Ivey Business School
For over a decade I've been passionate and curious about bridging the gap between digital and physical communities. Through my experiences in mobile, loyalty and payments in over 25 countries - the medium, and the audience has changed but the curiosity has remained.
The intersection of physical and digital culminates beautifully at live events, and these events make for an ideal proving ground for new technologies and innovative ideas. Guests in live environments - whether it's at Boots & Hearts, The Crossfit Games, NOLA on Tap, or Comic-Con - are in an elevated state and willing to embrace new ideas.
We believe that a seamless digital-physical bridge and an unforgettably seamless experience for a guest is comprised of three elements: a safe environment, minimal distractions, and an ability to connect.
I feel obligated to do my part to ensure that my two children grow up in a world where they feel safe going to a live event.
Safety
Live events are an opportunity to escape your normal, everyday life and immerse yourself completely in an experience. This experience isn't only a place you go - physically, but a thing you do - mentally.
To get there, you need to feel safe at a visceral, gut level. You need to know that the people standing next to you are the people who are meant to be there. You need to feel that the creator of this experience has done everything in their power to ensure that this environment is safe.
With two young children, I feel an obligation to provide event organizers with the tools to minimize risk, and only allow people into that environment who are qualified to be there.
Distraction-Free
We believe that technology should enhance the guest experience, not detract from it. From entry, and social interaction, through payments, the technology should be unremarkable, meaning it should not be the focus. The technology should get you in quickly, and eliminate lines - not for the sake of novelty, but because all of these benefits allow you return to your peak state, enjoy the music, and let the logistical layer fade into the background.
Connection
Finally, we go to events to enhance connection: to people, to artists and athletes, and to humanity. We want to let our guard down and engage with people and opportunities in a non-invasive way.
These elements drive me. They fuel me. What's your Why?