OpenConf
OpenConf, a Zakon Group LLC product, provides web-based peer-review, abstract, and conference management software used by academic institutions, professional associations, government research bodies, and corporate R&D groups to run conferences, journals, and grant reviews across 100+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersNorth Conway, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What OpenConf does
OpenConf, operated by Zakon Group LLC and headquartered in North Conway, United States, is a web-based peer-review, abstract, and conference management software platform. The product provides end-to-end workflow automation spanning submission intake, reviewer assignment via manual or topic/bid-based matching, configurable review forms, acceptance decisions, proceedings generation, and web program scheduling, with additional features including multilingual interfaces, single sign-on, plagiarism checking integration, conflict detection, and built-in scholarly publishing integrations such as IEEE eCopyright, ACM Copyright Export, and ORCID Reviewer Credit. The technology is delivered through two deployment models: a self-hosted perpetual software license run on the customer's own server, and a managed OpenConf Hosting Service where the vendor handles server administration, updates, and backups on a subscription basis.
The platform serves academic and research institutions, professional associations, corporate R&D groups, and government research bodies running conferences, workshops, symposia, journals, books, grants, and competitions. Reference customers include IEEE, NASA, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Stanford University (IWSHM), AMD, eBay, HP Enterprise, Georgia Tech, MITRE, Georgetown University, and DEFCON, with stated usage across more than 100 countries.
The company operates as a private firm with 1-10 employees under a direct, web-driven go-to-market model: prospective customers can request demos, download the software, or purchase licenses through openconf.com, and the firm runs both self-serve PLG and targeted enterprise motions aimed at large academic institutions, professional associations, and government research bodies. Revenue is generated from one-time perpetual license sales for on-premise installations plus recurring subscription revenue from the managed hosting service, with no publicly disclosed pricing. OpenConf is a registered trademark of Zakon Group LLC, which is the only disclosed corporate parent, and no external venture capital or private equity backing is mentioned in the source material.
OpenConf firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OpenConf
- Legal name
- Zakon Group LLC
- Website
- https://OpenConf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- OpenConf, a Zakon Group LLC product, provides web-based peer-review, abstract, and conference management software used by academic institutions, professional associations, government research bodies, and corporate R&D groups to run conferences, journals, and grant reviews across 100+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where OpenConf is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- North Conway
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
OpenConf business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Software License Purchase: One-time perpetual license for on-premise installation on customer's server
- Managed Hosting Service: Subscription-based managed service where OpenConf handles server administration, updates, and backups
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | On-Premise License |
| Subscription | Annual | Hosted Service |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels1 record
OpenConf product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OpenConf provides a web-based peer-review and conference management software platform that automates the full lifecycle of academic and professional events, from abstract and paper submission through reviewer assignment, bidding, scoring, acceptance decisions, proceedings generation, and web program scheduling. The software is available as a self-hosted perpetual license installed on the customer's own server or as a managed hosting subscription where OpenConf handles server administration, updates, and backups.
Product overview
OpenConf is a single unified software platform for peer-review and conference management. The core product encompasses the full lifecycle of academic event management including submission, reviewer assignment with bidding, review forms, acceptance decisions, proceedings generation, and web program scheduling. The platform is available in two deployment options: a Self-Hosted License for organizations wanting to run the software on their own servers, and an OpenConf Hosting Service where the vendor handles all server administration, updates, and backups. The system supports multilingual access and is used by conferences, workshops, symposia, journals, books, grants, and competitions worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- OpenConf Peer-Review, Conference and Abstract Management Software System
Companies that use OpenConf
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
OpenConf technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
OpenConf partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
OpenConf competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EasyChair: Free, widely used online conference management system for paper submissions, peer review, and program building. Direct functional competitor to OpenConf in the academic conference workflow.
- Morressier: Platform for conference proceedings, poster presentations, and early-stage research dissemination. Overlaps OpenConf in the conference workflow and extends into research outputs.
- EDAS: Editorial and conference management system widely used by IEEE and other technical societies for paper submission, review, and conference program production. Direct competitor with overlapping IEEE footprint.
- Ex Ordo: Cloud-based conference management system for academic and professional associations covering submissions, peer review, and scheduling. Competes head-to-head with OpenConf for the same vertical.
- Scholastica: Cloud-based journal and conference management platform with peer-review workflows, production, and publishing. Modern, venture-funded direct competitor targeting the same academic customers.
- ConfTool: Conference and event management platform offering submission, reviewing, registration, and proceedings. Closely overlaps OpenConf in target customers (academic conferences and workshops) and core functionality.
- PaperCept: Conference paper submission, review, and proceedings management system used by engineering and IEEE-affiliated conferences. Direct functional peer in the same niche.
Emerging players
- Public Knowledge Project (Open Journal Systems): Open-source journal and conference management platform (OJS/OCCS) widely adopted by academic publishers. Adjacent competitor with free, open-source economics that pressure OpenConf's pricing.
- Microsoft Conference Management Toolkit (CMT): Free conference management service from Microsoft Research used by major AI/ML conferences. Comparable workflow (submission, review, decisions) and an indirect competitive threat to OpenConf's enterprise deals.
Broad incumbents
- Cadmium: Larger event and conference management suite covering abstract submission, review, registration, and on-site event tech. Broader portfolio and incumbent scale, with overlapping submission/review functionality.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
OpenConf social profiles
Digital presenceOpenConf financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OpenConf leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
OpenConf funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OpenConf 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 OpenConf
What does OpenConf do?
OpenConf provides a web-based peer-review and conference management software platform that automates the full lifecycle of academic and professional events, from abstract and paper submission through reviewer assignment, bidding, scoring, acceptance decisions, proceedings generation, and web program scheduling. The software is available as a self-hosted perpetual license installed on the customer's own server or as a managed hosting subscription where OpenConf handles server administration, updates, and backups.
Is OpenConf a public or private company?
OpenConf is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was OpenConf founded?
OpenConf was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is OpenConf based?
OpenConf is headquartered in North Conway, United States, in the North America region.
How does OpenConf make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Software License Purchase is the primary driver. The others are managed Hosting Service.
Who are OpenConf's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EasyChair, Morressier, EDAS, Ex Ordo, Scholastica, ConfTool and PaperCept. Emerging players are Public Knowledge Project (Open Journal Systems) and Microsoft Conference Management Toolkit (CMT). Cadmium is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does OpenConf have an API?
No public API is recorded for OpenConf.