Introduction
South African startup Quicket, a prominent pan-African self-service ticketing platform founded in 2011, has been acquired by Ticketmaster, the world's leading ticket marketplace. This strategic move aims to bolster the rapidly growing live events market across the African continent.
Founding and Expansion of Quicket
Quicket was launched in 2011 by James Tagg, James Hedley, and Michael Kennedy. The platform enables event organizers of all sizes to provide a world-class ticketing experience to their audiences across Africa. As an alumni of the Grindstone accelerator program and backed by KNF Ventures, Quicket has successfully expanded its operations into Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, and Botswana.
Ticketmaster's Global Presence
Ticketmaster, the world's largest ticket marketplace, is a global leader in live event ticketing products and services. With operations in over 35 countries, Ticketmaster processes 550 million tickets annually and established its presence in South Africa in 2022.
Benefits of the Acquisition
The acquisition of Quicket by Ticketmaster is set to accelerate Ticketmaster's expansion in Africa. This partnership will offer solutions for events of all sizes, from small clubs to large festivals and stadiums, enabling African venues, artists, and promoters to leverage Quicket’s regional expertise and Ticketmaster’s global reach. Additionally, the expansion will facilitate the adoption of digital technologies, such as secure encrypted mobile tickets, across the continent.
Statements from Key Figures
James Tagg, Managing Director of Quicket, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “The passion for live entertainment is at the heart of African culture. Over the past 13 years, we’ve empowered event creators across the continent to deliver exceptional experiences through our ticketing platform. Partnering with Ticketmaster marks a landmark moment in connecting African artists to a global audience and enhancing the experience for local fans and promoters alike.”
Mark Yovich, President of Ticketmaster, highlighted Africa's vibrant fan base: “Africa is home to some of the most passionate fans in the world, who we have the privilege of connecting to the events they love, simply and securely. Our commitment to delivering top-tier tools for promoters, venues, and artists is unwavering. Partnering with Quicket will supercharge our mission to elevate Africa’s dynamic live events to the global spotlight they truly deserve. Together, we are igniting a new era of unparalleled growth for African entertainment.”
Impact on the Startup Ecosystem
Keet van Zyl, Co-Founder of Knife Capital and KNF Ventures, celebrated the acquisition as a significant milestone: “The founders built a resilient, capital-efficient, high-growth African business, and it is awesome of Ticketmaster to recognize that. This is a great win for the startup funding ecosystem on the continent and another positive data point in building a credible venture capital asset class rooted in returns to investors.”
