BoomPop

High-Level Overview

BoomPop is an AI-powered event planning platform that simplifies corporate event management, blending software automation with expert human planners to handle offsites, retreats, team-building, and client events.[1][2][3][5] It serves companies of all sizes—from small businesses to enterprises like Apple, Google, Netflix, and McKinsey—solving the inefficiency of traditional event planning by saving users 25-40% on costs and hundreds of hours per event through tools like AI Itinerary Builder, vendor sourcing, guest engagement, and post-event insights.[1][3][4][5] Founded in 2020 and based in San Francisco, BoomPop has raised $14M in Series A funding, hosted over 500,000 attendees from 4,000+ companies, and achieved explosive growth, ranking #7 fastest-growing software company (and #115 overall) on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list.[1][4][5]

Origin Story

BoomPop was founded in 2020 by Healey Cypher (CEO), Blake Hudelson (CPO), Vaibhav Chauhan, and Jack Abraham amid the shift to remote and hybrid work post-pandemic, aiming to streamline the "time-consuming, inefficient process" of planning team and client events.[1][3][4] The idea emerged from recognizing corporate events' potential to boost satisfaction, retention, and culture, leveraging custom tech and domain expertise in a network of destinations, vendors, and playbooks.[1][3] Early traction was rapid: within two years of launch, it served 150,000 guests from 4,000 companies including Estee Lauder, Expedia, PayPal, and Viacom, capitalizing on demand for virtual and in-person (IRL) experiences.[1]

Core Differentiators

• AI-Human Hybrid Model: Combines AI tools (e.g., Itinerary Builder for minutes-long planning, Event Assistant for step-by-step guidance) with full-time expert planners for custom, high-touch execution, turning "chaos into chemistry" unlike purely software or manual services.[2][3][5]
• All-in-One Platform: Manages the full lifecycle—sourcing venues/vendors (1M+ partners), approvals, bookings, guest communication, financials, and insights—in one seamless system, with sustainability focus on women- and minority-owned businesses.[1][3][4][5]
• Cost and Time Efficiency: Delivers 25-40% savings and hundreds of hours saved per event, earning 5-star Google reviews and trust from top firms for "unbeatable prices" and "end-to-end assistance."[4][5]
• Proven Scale and Network: Curated experiences for remote/hybrid teams, with high-end offsites that have driven press like TechCrunch coverage and $25M booking volume.[1][3]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

BoomPop rides the post-pandemic "corporate retreat arms race" trend, where remote-first and hybrid workforces demand in-person chemistry to combat isolation, enhance engagement, and rebuild culture amid talent retention challenges.[1][3] Timing is ideal: as offices reopen and events rebound, market forces like AI adoption in services (projected to transform $1T+ events industry) favor its tech edge, while economic pressures amplify demand for budget-friendly, high-ROI solutions.[3][4] It influences the ecosystem by normalizing AI for "sensory-rich" corporate experiences, supporting 4,000+ firms' return-to-IRL push, and ranking among California's top growers, signaling validation for event-tech in a SaaS-dominated landscape.[1][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

BoomPop's momentum—top Inc. 5000 spot, expanding client base, and AI refinements—positions it to dominate event planning as hybrid work solidifies and AI evolves for personalized, predictive experiences.[4][5] Trends like generative AI for immersive events and sustainability mandates will shape its path, potentially expanding to global venues or enterprise integrations. Its influence could grow by setting standards for human-AI collaboration in services, evolving from offsites specialist to essential culture platform—much like how it already turns corporate "ugh" into unforgettable chemistry.[3][4]