Riverside Invests in Australian Events Management Software Provider EventsAIR

The Riverside Company, a global private equity investor focused on the smaller end of the middle market, has invested in EventsAIR, an Australian events management software solutions provider for in-person, virtual and hybrid events. The investment is being made in partnership with EventsAIR’s founder, Trevor Gardiner, and several other members of the management team including incoming CEO Matthew Donegan-Ryan.

EventsAIR, headquartered in Brisbane, develops software that is used before, during and after events to manage registration, attendee engagement, operations, housing, travel, marketing and communications. It has a global sales footprint, having delivered more than 350,000 events across Asia-Pacific, EMEA and North America. Customers include professional conference organizers, industry associations, corporations and educational institutions.

“This is a highly compelling opportunity to build upon EventsAIR’s already impressive international footprint by targeting large and growing customer segments globally where the company has a clear competitive advantage,” said Riverside Managing Partner Simon Feiglin. “In addition, we will invest in further enhancing the management team.”

Riverside will support EventsAIR with its international expansion plans in North America and Europe and will drive the continued evolution of the product to maintain its market-leading features and functionality. There is also the opportunity to pursue accretive M&A by targeting complementary event tech players or expanding into attractive adjacencies.

“Having quickly adapted to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, EventsAIR is ideally positioned to bring in a partner who can help accelerate our global growth ambitions,” said EventsAIR Founder Trevor Gardiner. “We are delighted to be working with the Riverside team and look forward to this next exciting chapter in the company’s evolution.”

Riverside’s investment is being made in parallel with the appointment of Matthew Donegan-Ryan as EventsAIR’s new CEO. Donegan-Ryan brings deep domain expertise, having spent his entire career creating innovative event technology products and companies.

“I have been following EventsAIR for over a decade and I was always impressed by the comprehensive breadth of its offering. EventsAIR now has a market leading position serving the most complex in-person, hybrid and virtual events globally,” said Donegan-Ryan. “I am thrilled to lead EventsAIR on the next phase of its evolution and collaborate with Trevor and the Riverside team.”

This is one more example of Riverside’s dedication to the Software and IT industry. Since the firm’s inception in 1988, Riverside has invested in more than 220 companies in this specialization and has a team of global experts dedicated to growing these companies.

Working with Managing Partners Simon Feiglin and Nick Speer on the transaction for Riverside were Principal Nicholas Pejnovic, Vice President Ash Sorrenti and Analyst Thomas Hermsen. Chris Ridd will act as the Operating Partner and Principal, Origination, Grant Marcks sourced the deal for Riverside.