Convening Toward Liberation
Convening Toward Liberation is a Black-owned, woman-owned, queer-owned event planning firm founded in 2023 that designs inclusive, accessible multi-day conferences and gatherings for social justice organizations, philanthropic funders, and movement coalitions across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Convening Toward Liberation does
Convening Toward Liberation (CTL) is a US-based, private professional services firm founded in 2023 that provides end-to-end event planning and design for social justice organizations, philanthropic funders, and movement coalitions. Co-founded by Katie Battis-Troyer (formerly of Claim Our Space) and Ryan Kroening (formerly of Events by Lady K), the company is structured as a Black-owned, woman-owned, queer-owned business that explicitly embeds liberation values into every aspect of gathering design. CTL is a small operation (1–10 employees) with no proprietary technology platform, no public funding, and no disclosed financial figures.
CTL's core offering is a structured six-phase event planning process — Discovery and Launch, Building the Backbone, Planning in Partnership, Final Prep, Event Day, and Wrap-up — augmented by specialized modules including ADA-accessible event services and Community Care Agreements (covering COVID-19 safety, masking, and harm reduction). The firm applies universal design practices (wider aisles, all-gender restrooms, sensory-friendly spaces, sign language interpretation, dietary accommodations) and integrates safety protocols tailored to marginalized populations, such as a partnership with queer-owned security firm Sequeerity for anti-LGBTQ targeting risk. Documented engagements include marquee multi-day conferences for CHANGE Philanthropy (1,500 attendees), Funders for LGBTQ Issues' Funding Forward 2025 (350 attendees), Funders for Reproductive Equity's Summer Member Meeting 2025 (100 guests), and Tubman.
Revenue is generated through professional services engagements on a quote-based, customized model — pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by event scope, duration, and attendee count. The GTM motion is relationship- and community-led: prospective clients enter via a "Work With Us" / "Get Started" portal on the CTL website and are sourced primarily through referrals and reputation within the social justice and philanthropy ecosystems. The firm operates nationally with documented events in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston, and markets itself through website case studies, organic social, and SEO rather than paid acquisition.
Convening Toward Liberation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Convening Toward Liberation
- Legal name
- Convening Toward Liberation
- Website
- https://conveningtowardliberation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Convening Toward Liberation is a Black-owned, woman-owned, queer-owned event planning firm founded in 2023 that designs inclusive, accessible multi-day conferences and gatherings for social justice organizations, philanthropic funders, and movement coalitions across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Convening Toward Liberation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Planning & Design Services
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Meeting & Conference Planning & Coordination (HSACADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Venue Sourcing & Site Coordination (HSACAAAD), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)
Keywords
Convening Toward Liberation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Event Planning and Design Services: CTL provides end-to-end event planning and design services for conferences, summits, retreats, galas, and other gatherings. Services span discovery and planning, logistics management, on-site execution, and post-event wrap-up. Revenue is generated through professional services engagements with justice-focused organizations.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Convening Toward Liberation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Convening Toward Liberation provides end-to-end event planning and design services for conferences, summits, retreats, galas, and other gatherings. Services span discovery and planning, logistics management, on-site execution, and post-event wrap-up, with universal design practices such as ADA accessibility, sensory rooms, dietary accommodations, closed captioning, all-gender restrooms, and community care agreements centered on safety for marginalized attendees.
Product overview
Convening Toward Liberation is an event planning and design company offering a comprehensive suite of services for social justice organizations. The core offering consists of inclusive event design services and a structured six-phase planning process (Discovery and Launch, Building the Backbone, Planning in Partnership, Final Prep, Event Day, and Wrap-up). These are enhanced by specialized modules including ADA-accessible event services and community care agreement frameworks. The company, founded in 2023 by merging Claim Our Space and Events by Lady K, creates conferences, summits, retreats, and galas that center accessibility, equity, and liberation values.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Inclusive Event Design Services Full-service, end-to-end event planning and design for social justice and philanthropic organizations, spanning discovery, logistics management, vendor and A/V coordination, accessibility design, safety protocols, on-site execution, and post-event wrap-up. Designed for nonprofits, movement groups, and funders seeking conferences, summits, retreats, and galas.
- Six-Phase Event Planning Process A structured six-phase engagement methodology covering Discovery and Launch, Building the Backbone, Planning in Partnership, Final Prep, Event Day, and Wrap-up, providing clients with a transparent, collaborative, and grounded communication framework across the event lifecycle.
- Inclusive Design Approach Universal-design-based inclusive event methodology covering wider aisles, dietary accommodations, closed captioning, sign language interpretation, all-gender restrooms, and sensory-friendly spaces for social justice and philanthropic clients.
Companies that use Convening Toward Liberation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Convening Toward Liberation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Convening Toward Liberation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Blackbird RevoltminorBlackbird Revolt designed the company's website. This is a minor vendor/contractor relationship for web design services.
- SequeeritycoreSequeerity is a queer-owned security firm hired for Funding Forward 2025 to serve as a culturally-relevant onsite safety team alongside venue security. This was a critical partnership given rising anti-LGBTQ targeting, providing individualized support protocols for undocumented attendees.
- The Rooftop at ToraliminorThe Rooftop at Torali was the venue for an offsite reception during the Funders for Reproductive Equity 2025 Summer Member Meeting in Chicago.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Convening Toward Liberation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Blue State: Digital strategy and creative agency that designs campaigns, content, and live experiences for progressive nonprofits, philanthropic funders, and advocacy organizations — overlapping with CTL on mission-aligned client base and values-driven positioning.
- Hattaway Communications: Strategic communications firm that designs narratives, leadership events, and stakeholder convenings for foundations and progressive causes — comparable to CTL in producing values-aligned gatherings for the same funder ecosystem.
- Spitfire Strategies: Communications and event strategy firm serving social-justice nonprofits and foundations, with deep overlap to CTL in funder meetings, advocacy convenings, and equity-centered campaign events.
- M+R: Nonprofit marketing, fundraising, and event consultancy serving advocacy, philanthropic, and cause-driven clients — comparable to CTL in client segments and the integration of strategic planning with on-the-ground convening.
Broad incumbents
- Opus Agency: Large-scale event experience agency that serves enterprise and association clients across industries. Comparable to CTL as a full-service event design and execution firm, but at significantly greater scale and without the values-aligned niche specialization.
- BCD Meetings & Events: Global corporate meetings and events management company that organizes large-scale conferences and association meetings — overlapping with CTL's conference production work but operating across all sectors without social-justice specialization.
- Maritz Global Events: Established large-scale event and incentive travel company. Comparable to CTL only in the broad category of corporate event planning, but at much greater scale and without the mission-driven client focus.
Others
- Cvent: Event management technology platform providing registration, badging, and event-marketing software. Comparable as ecosystem infrastructure CTL's clients often use alongside its services, though Cvent sells software rather than planning services.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Convening Toward Liberation social profiles
Digital presenceConvening Toward Liberation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Convening Toward Liberation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Convening Toward Liberation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Convening Toward Liberation 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 Convening Toward Liberation
What does Convening Toward Liberation do?
Convening Toward Liberation provides end-to-end event planning and design services for conferences, summits, retreats, galas, and other gatherings. Services span discovery and planning, logistics management, on-site execution, and post-event wrap-up, with universal design practices such as ADA accessibility, sensory rooms, dietary accommodations, closed captioning, all-gender restrooms, and community care agreements centered on safety for marginalized attendees.
Is Convening Toward Liberation a public or private company?
Convening Toward Liberation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Convening Toward Liberation founded?
Convening Toward Liberation was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does Convening Toward Liberation make money?
One revenue line is on record: event Planning and Design Services.
Who are Convening Toward Liberation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Blue State, Hattaway Communications, Spitfire Strategies and M+R. Broad incumbents are Opus Agency, BCD Meetings & Events and Maritz Global Events. Cvent is listed as an others.
Does Convening Toward Liberation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Convening Toward Liberation.
What industry is Convening Toward Liberation in?
Convening Toward Liberation's product category is Event Planning & Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACADAA, Meeting & Conference Planning & Coordination, with a secondary code of HSACAAAD, Venue Sourcing & Site Coordination. Its NAICS code is 561920.