Kern and Kompany
Kern and Kompany is a Duluth, Minnesota-based full-service event creation company producing large-scale public events (Duluth Airshow, Oktoberfestival, Drag Races), corporate event services, talent management via Kern Artists, and a Self Tape Studio for actors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersDuluth, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Kern and Kompany does
Kern and Kompany is a privately held, founder-owned event creation company headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota, operating since 1997 with a small team of specialists. The company produces large-scale public events including the nationally recognized Duluth Airshow, Duluth Oktoberfestival, and the Duluth Drag Races and Car Show (positioned as the largest legal street drag racing event of its kind in the United States), alongside the Essentia Health All-Star high school sports series (Hockey, Volleyball, Soccer) and the Weather Balloon Project. It also provides corporate event production, event marketing, and consulting services for organizations requiring turnkey event planning and logistical infrastructure. The company self-describes as the only full-service event creation company in Minnesota, supported by in-house equipment (tables, barriers, UTVs, communications, signage) and a team with over 100 years of combined event experience.
The company's product portfolio spans three clusters. The core events business delivers flagship recurring consumer events and corporate event services. Kern Artists, launched in 2023, is a talent management and casting database connecting local actors and crew with film, television, and industrial productions in St. Louis County, complemented by an online artist submission portal and the Self Tape Studio (60-minute bookable sessions via Setmore with professional lighting, sound, and chroma key). A third cluster covers STEM programming through the Weather Balloon Project with St. Louis County and Essentia Health. There is no proprietary technology platform; the business relies on third-party scheduling (Setmore) and ticketing (Etix, Ticketleap) infrastructure.
Revenue is generated through four streams: ticket-based transaction fees on public events, professional services fees for corporate event production and consulting, pay-as-you-go unit pricing for Self Tape Studio sessions, and professional services revenue from talent management and casting via Kern Artists. The go-to-market motion is hybrid — event-driven B2C for flagship events, sales-led for corporate engagements, and self-serve online booking for the studio. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, no parent entity, and no public listing; ownership is founder-led (Ryan Kern, Founder & President).
Kern and Kompany firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kern and Kompany
- Legal name
- Kern and Kompany
- Website
- https://kernkompany.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kern and Kompany is a Duluth, Minnesota-based full-service event creation company producing large-scale public events (Duluth Airshow, Oktoberfestival, Drag Races), corporate event services, talent management via Kern Artists, and a Self Tape Studio for actors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kern and Kompany industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Management Services
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Virtual, Hybrid & Livestream Event Coordination (HSACAAAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Auto, Boat & RV Shows (MPAGAFAC)
Keywords
Where Kern and Kompany is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Duluth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kern and Kompany business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Event Production & Ticketing: Produces and sells tickets to large-scale public events including Duluth Airshow, Duluth Oktoberfestival, Duluth Drag Races and Car Show, and high school All-Star sports events (Hockey, Volleyball, Soccer). Revenue generated through ticket sales.
- Corporate Event Services: Produces corporate events and provides consulting services for entities on event planning and logistics.
- Self Tape Studio Booking: 60-minute studio sessions booked through online scheduling for actors and talent seeking professional self tape recording facilities.
- Talent Management & Casting: Connects local talent with film, television and industrial projects coming to the region through Kern Artists talent database.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Self Tape Studio 60-minute session |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kern and Kompany product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kern and Kompany is a full-service event creation company based in Duluth, Minnesota that plans, produces, and markets live events ranging from 500 to 75,000+ attendees. The company produces its own flagship public events (Duluth Airshow, Duluth Oktoberfestival, Duluth Drag Races and Car Show, and Essentia Health All-Star sports events), delivers corporate event planning, marketing, and consulting services for businesses, operates Kern Artists talent management for the regional film and television industry, and runs a professional Self Tape Studio for actors.
Product overview
Kern and Kompany is a full-service event creation company based in Duluth, Minnesota, offering event planning, marketing, and consulting services. The company operates several distinct product lines: its core event production services for corporate and large-scale community events; Kern Artists, a talent management and casting database launched in 2023 to support the regional film and television industry; and a Self Tape Studio providing professional recording facilities for actors. The company also produces and manages signature events including the Duluth Airshow, Duluth Oktoberfestival, Duluth Drag Races, and the Essentia Health All-Star Sports series (Soccer, Volleyball, Hockey). Additionally, it operates a Weather Balloon Project for STEM education and provides logistical equipment rental services. The portfolio spans from B2B event services and talent management to consumer-facing entertainment events and educational programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Kern Artists: Talent management organization launched in 2023 to support filmmakers bringing projects to Minnesota and St. Louis County. Provides casting services for film, television, and industrial commercial projects.
Products and services
- Kern and Kompany Event Services Full-service event creation, event marketing, and consulting services for corporate clients and organizations needing event planning, marketing campaigns, and logistical support in Minnesota.
- Kern Artists Talent management and casting database organization launched in 2023 to connect local actors, day players, extras, and support staff with filmmakers and production companies bringing projects to Minnesota and St. Louis County.
- Self Tape Studio State-of-the-art self-tape recording studio featuring professional lighting, sound recording, and a chroma key blue background. Offers 60-minute booking sessions for actors preparing self-tape audition submissions.
- Duluth Airshow Nationally recognized and award-winning airshow event featuring aerial performances and aviation displays in Duluth, Minnesota.
- Duluth Oktoberfestival Annual Oktoberfestival event in Duluth featuring traditional German festival activities, food, and entertainment.
- Duluth Drag Races and Car Show Largest legal street drag racing event of its kind in the United States, combining drag racing competitions with a car show in Duluth, Minnesota.
- Essentia Health All-Star Soccer High school All-Star soccer game featuring top senior athletes from the region, with separate girls and boys games, sponsored by Essentia Health.
- Essentia Health All-Star Volleyball High school All-Star volleyball game featuring top senior volleyball players from the region, sponsored by Essentia Health.
- Essentia Health All-Star Hockey High school All-Star hockey game featuring top senior hockey players from the region with separate girls and boys games, sponsored by Essentia Health and hosted at NorthStar Ford Arena in Hermantown.
- Weather Balloon Project STEM education initiative presented by St. Louis County and Essentia Health that teaches students about weather balloons, weather patterns, and science in St. Louis County schools.
- Logistical Support Services Equipment rental and support services for live events, providing tables, benches, barrels, UTVs, communication equipment, signage, barriers, and crowd control materials.
Quantifiable outcome
- Events range from 50-75,000 attendees
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kern and Kompany
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kern and Kompany technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature1 record
Kern and Kompany partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- St. Louis CountycoreSt. Louis County is a strategic partner, particularly for the Weather Balloon Project presented alongside Essentia Health. The county has become a rapidly growing hotbed for the Film and Television industry, making it a key geographic partner for regional development initiatives.
- Essentia HealthflagshipEssentia Health serves as title sponsor for multiple All-Star sports events including High School All-Star Hockey (March 10, 2026), Volleyball (November 11, 2025), and Soccer (November 3, 2025) events. Presenting sponsor for Weather Balloon Project.
- NorthStar Ford ArenacoreVenue partner hosting Essentia Health High School All-Star Hockey Game in Hermantown. Strategic venue relationship for hosting large-scale sports events.
- Duluth Denfeld High SchoolcoreVenue partner hosting All-Star Volleyball (Duluth Denfeld High School Gymnasium) and All-Star Soccer (Walt Hunting Stadium at Duluth Denfeld High School) events.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kern and Kompany competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Feld Entertainment: Produces large-scale touring live events including Monster Jam (motor sports directly analogous to Kern and Kompany's Drag Races), Disney on Ice, and Supercross. Both companies produce mass-attendance live entertainment events requiring similar operational capabilities in logistics, ticketing, sponsorship sales, and event management.
- C3 Presents: Produces major music festivals (Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits). Directly comparable in producing large-scale public events with corporate sponsorship, ticketing, and integrated marketing — operates at national scale vs. Kern and Kompany's regional focus, but with similar event-creation business model.
Others
- Backstage: Casting and talent platform connecting actors with film, TV, and audition opportunities. Directly comparable to Kern Artists' talent database and Self Tape Studio functions as a marketplace for actor-talent engagement, serving overlapping customer segments.
- Pollstar: Trade publication and data provider for the live entertainment industry. While not a direct competitor, Pollstar sits adjacent to Kern and Kompany's market and is a useful proxy for industry data on live event economics relevant to their business.
- Casting Networks: Online casting platform used by casting directors to find actors for film, TV, and commercial projects. Directly comparable to Kern Artists' talent management and casting services and serves the same actor/casting-customer base Kern Artists targets.
- Octagon: Global sports marketing and event agency. Comparable in producing sports-related events (similar to Kern and Kompany's All-Star sports series) and corporate event consulting, but at international scale and without the consumer ticketing/event prominence.
Broad incumbents
- Live Nation Entertainment: World's largest live entertainment company operating concerts, festivals, and venue management. Operates at vastly greater scale but competes in live event production and presents similar event categories (ticketed public events, festivals, sports-adjacent entertainment).
- AEG Presents: Live entertainment and venue operator producing concerts, festivals (Coachella), and tours. Comparable in event production scope but operates at much larger scale and serves global markets rather than a single regional footprint.
- IMG (Endeavor): Global events, talent management, and licensing company. Competes with both Kern and Kompany's event production capabilities and Kern Artists' talent management functions across sports, entertainment, and media — providing a direct analog for the full-service model at international scale.
- Nederlander Organization: Theater and live event production company operating venues and presenting shows across the U.S. Comparable in event presenting/production capabilities but focused on theatrical and performing arts rather than outdoor events, motorsports, and festivals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kern and Kompany social profiles
Digital presenceKern and Kompany financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kern and Kompany leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Kern and Kompany subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Kern and Kompany funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kern and Kompany 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 Kern and Kompany
What does Kern and Kompany do?
Kern and Kompany is a full-service event creation company based in Duluth, Minnesota that plans, produces, and markets live events ranging from 500 to 75,000+ attendees. The company produces its own flagship public events (Duluth Airshow, Duluth Oktoberfestival, Duluth Drag Races and Car Show, and Essentia Health All-Star sports events), delivers corporate event planning, marketing, and consulting services for businesses, operates Kern Artists talent management for the regional film and television industry, and runs a professional Self Tape Studio for actors.
Is Kern and Kompany a public or private company?
Kern and Kompany is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kern and Kompany founded?
Kern and Kompany was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kern and Kompany based?
Kern and Kompany is headquartered in Duluth, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kern and Kompany make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Event Production & Ticketing is the primary driver. The others are corporate Event Services, self Tape Studio Booking and talent Management & Casting.
Who are Kern and Kompany's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Feld Entertainment and C3 Presents. Others are Backstage, Pollstar, Casting Networks and Octagon. Broad incumbents are Live Nation Entertainment, AEG Presents, IMG (Endeavor) and Nederlander Organization.
Does Kern and Kompany have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kern and Kompany.
What industry is Kern and Kompany in?
Kern and Kompany's product category is Event Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACAAAO, Virtual, Hybrid & Livestream Event Coordination, with a secondary code of MPAGABAM, Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking). Its NAICS code is 56192.