Poptop
Poptop is a UK-based online marketplace connecting party planners with vetted entertainment, catering, and event service suppliers across 100+ categories, earning commission on bookings for private and corporate events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersNewcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Poptop does
Poptop (legally Poptop UK Ltd., also doing business as 'Poptop Parties UK') is a United Kingdom-based online marketplace that connects party planners with vetted third-party suppliers across more than 100 service categories, including catering (private chefs, street food, BBQ), musicians and DJs, mobile bars and cocktail masterclasses, entertainers (magicians, murder mystery, caricaturists), party transport and equipment, photography and videography, and dedicated wedding and corporate event packages. The platform operates a self-serve marketplace where customers browse curated supplier listings, request live pricing and availability through an Instant Quote system, and book directly online with a booking protection / money-back guarantee. The company does not employ the service providers; instead it acts as a pure intermediary, vetting suppliers and earning commission on transactions processed through the platform.
The business is headquartered in the United Kingdom (registered in London under company number 09309515) and operates exclusively in England. Underlying technology is a standard web-based marketplace with no disclosed AI components, no mobile app, and no public API. Distribution relies on the poptop.uk.com website, organic social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram), and Trustpilot-driven word-of-mouth. The company has raised approximately $903K cumulatively across six funding rounds between 2013 and 2022, with Northstar Ventures participating in multiple rounds and DSW Ventures joining in 2021. The co-founder and CTO is Ignat Thorovsky. Poptop's go-to-market is a horizontal marketplace motion serving both individual consumers planning private celebrations (primary segment) and corporate clients organising team and client events (secondary segment), with no enterprise anchor customers disclosed.
Poptop firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Poptop
- Legal name
- Poptop UK Ltd.
- Website
- https://poptop.fm
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Poptop is a UK-based online marketplace connecting party planners with vetted entertainment, catering, and event service suppliers across 100+ categories, earning commission on bookings for private and corporate events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Poptop industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Booking Marketplace
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Event Discovery, Listings & Calendar Platforms (MPAGAJAL)
Keywords
Where Poptop is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newcastle Upon Tyne
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Poptop business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Marketplace Commission: Platform facilitates bookings between customers and party service suppliers (caterers, entertainers, transport providers, etc.). The company takes a commission on transactions processed through the platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Per-person pricing for catering and food experiences |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Per-event pricing for entertainment and venue experiences |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Poptop product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Poptop operates a curated online marketplace that connects party planners with vetted third-party suppliers of catering, entertainment, drinks, transport, and equipment for private and corporate events. The platform provides instant quotes with live pricing and availability, booking protection with a money-back guarantee, and a one-stop catalogue covering 100+ party service categories across the United Kingdom.
Product overview
Poptop is an online marketplace platform connecting customers with party service suppliers for private and corporate events. The platform operates as a curated marketplace offering instant booking with live pricing and availability, booking protection, and money-back guarantees. The product portfolio spans multiple service categories including party food catering (private chefs, street food, BBQ, various food vans), musicians and DJs, mobile bars and cocktails, entertainment (magicians, murder mystery, circus performers), photography/videography services, transport and equipment (party buses, photo booths, tents), and wedding-specific services. Poptop does not directly employ the service providers but acts as an intermediary platform connecting customers with vetted third-party suppliers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Party Food Catering
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 40,000 birthday parties delivered
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Poptop
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Poptop technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Poptop partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Poptop competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Hire Space: Hire Space is a UK venue and event-space booking marketplace. Comparable as a UK-based event booking marketplace, though focused specifically on venues rather than the broader party-services catalogue Poptop offers.
Direct peers
- The Bash (formerly GigMasters): The Bash is a US marketplace for booking live entertainment and event services including musicians, DJs, photographers, and party entertainers. Same marketplace-commission model and event-services focus as Poptop, though US-based.
- GigSalad: GigSalad is a US-based online marketplace connecting party and event planners with entertainers, musicians, DJs, and other event service providers. It is a direct peer to Poptop in business model (commission-based marketplace) and category focus (party entertainment and services).
- Bark.com: Bark.com is a UK-based services marketplace where customers request quotes from local professionals across hundreds of categories including events. Direct competitor in geography (UK) and core model (quote-based marketplace connecting customers to vetted suppliers).
- Togather (formerly Add to Event): Togather is a UK marketplace for booking event suppliers including caterers, entertainers, and photographers. Closest UK-headquartered direct competitor to Poptop in event-services marketplace category.
Emerging players
- Encore Musicians: Encore Musicians is a UK agency/marketplace for booking live musicians and bands for events. Partial overlap with Poptop's Musicians & DJs category — represents the vertical-specialist threat from a single category.
- Function Fixers: Function Fixers is a UK event-services directory and booking platform for corporate and private event suppliers. Niche/emerging player in the same UK event-services space as Poptop, with overlap in catering and entertainment categories.
Broad incumbents
- Thumbtack: Thumbtack is a large US-headquartered horizontal services marketplace covering event services among many other professional categories. Operates with much greater capital and scale than Poptop, but event services are a subset rather than exclusive focus.
- Eventbrite: Eventbrite is a global ticketing and event marketplace platform. While focused on ticketed events and discovery rather than supplier booking, it overlaps with Poptop in event-planning use cases and serves a similar consumer audience.
Others
- Yell.com: Yell is the UK's leading online business directory (formerly Yellow Pages), connecting consumers to local businesses including event services. Comparable as a discovery and lead-generation channel for UK consumers seeking event suppliers, though Yell is broader and not a booking platform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Poptop social profiles
Digital presencePoptop financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Poptop leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Poptop funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Poptop M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Poptop
What does Poptop do?
Poptop operates a curated online marketplace that connects party planners with vetted third-party suppliers of catering, entertainment, drinks, transport, and equipment for private and corporate events. The platform provides instant quotes with live pricing and availability, booking protection with a money-back guarantee, and a one-stop catalogue covering 100+ party service categories across the United Kingdom.
Is Poptop a public or private company?
Poptop is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Poptop founded?
Poptop was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Poptop based?
Poptop is headquartered in Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Poptop make money?
One revenue line is on record: marketplace Commission.
Who are Poptop's main competitors?
Hire Space is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are The Bash (formerly GigMasters), GigSalad, Bark.com and Togather (formerly Add to Event). Emerging players are Encore Musicians and Function Fixers. Broad incumbents are Thumbtack and Eventbrite. Yell.com is listed as an others.
Does Poptop have an API?
No public API is recorded for Poptop.
What industry is Poptop in?
Poptop's product category is Event Booking Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAJAL, Event Discovery, Listings & Calendar Platforms. Its SIC code is 7900.