Convergence Events

Name

Convergence Events

Legal name

Convergence Events, Incorporated

Website

https://convergenceevents.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Convergence Events is a Minnesota non-profit that runs CONvergence, an annual four-day Science Fiction and Fantasy convention in the upper Midwest drawing thousands of attendees, governed by a volunteer Board and supported by proprietary open-source convention management software.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fan Convention Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional & Association Conferences (MPAGAGAB)

Keywords

• Fan convention events
• Science fiction convention
• Community event management
• Convention registration services
• Nonprofit event organization

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues required for participation in the organization, with specific voting rights contingent on meeting volunteer hour and meeting attendance requirements
2. Convention Registration Fees: Revenue generated from convention attendance registrations, with memberships ranging from $85-115 for weekend passes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Convergence Events produces and operates CONvergence, an annual 4-day Science Fiction and Fantasy convention held in the Upper Midwest that draws thousands of members. The convention features panels, performances, gaming, a Dealers Room, Artists Alley, an Art Show, parties, and a ConSuite. Supporting this flagship event are internal software systems (Convergence Nexus and ConOnAPlane/OpsLog) used for volunteer and incident management, plus departmental services for video production, publications, creative design, and web content.

Product overview

Convergence Events operates CONvergence, the premier annual Science Fiction and Fantasy convention in the Upper Midwest—a 4-day event with thousands of members. The organization provides this convention experience supported by several technology platforms and departmental services. The core technology products include Convergence Nexus (meeting and volunteer management) and ConOnAPlane/OpsLog (incident management). Supporting departments include CVG-TV (video production), Creative Services (artwork and graphic design), Publications (printed materials), and Webteam (web content management).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CONvergence Convention

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of attendees at annual convention

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Geek Partnership Society (GPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPS is CONvergence Events Premier Partner. Convergence Events donates not less than $25,000 each year to GPS. Both organizations encourage their attendees, members and site visitors to participate in each other's events and programs. Additionally, both agreed to a shared space project in the Waterbury Building at 1121 Jackson Street in Minneapolis for offices, storage, and multifunction rooms.
• Anime Twin Cities / Anime DetourminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough partnership with GPS on the shared space project, CONvergence Events has developed a closer relationship with Anime Twin Cities and Anime Detour, who contributed substantial funding to GPS for the shared space initiative.
• 2D ConminorGTM or Marketing Partner2D Con is an inclusive gaming event featuring three days of non-stop gaming. They have brought their digital arcade to CONvergence Gaming. The partnership includes cross-promotion between the gaming convention and CONvergence.
• Autism Society of MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Autism Society of Minnesota's mission is to enhance lives of individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. They have consulted on and helped facilitate CONvergence's Sensory Break Room for attendees with sensory sensitivities.
• USS Nokomis Star Trek ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerActive in Minneapolis/St. Paul science fiction community for over 30 years. USS Nokomis has partnered with the American Red Cross to facilitate CONvergence's Blood Drive event.
• Level Up GamesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLevel Up Games is a gaming store in the Twin Cities, MN area featuring Tabletop Games, Comics, Magic: the Gathering, RPGs, Videogames, Warhammer, and Pokemon trading card games. They made a significant donation to CONvergence's board game library.
• Velasquez Family CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVelasquez Family Coffee has added CONvergence to its fundraiser coffees. When customers purchase their small-batch, Minnesota-roasted coffee beans, a portion of proceeds can benefit CONvergence.
• Fearless Comedy ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFearless Comedy Productions is a connecting hub for various partner companies including The Dregs, Geeks Without God, and Vilification Tennis. They produce comedy content including internet content, podcasts, music, video, and theater at CONvergence.
• Hallie Q. Brown Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn 87-year-old African American nonprofit social service agency. They utilize Project Superhero to engage at-risk youth with positive paths through comic book clubs and hero development. They host HungerCon, a CONvergence-like event to fight hunger in Minnesota.
• KFAIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKFAI is a volunteer-based community radio station that broadcasts information, arts and entertainment programming for diverse audiences. They provide media coverage and promotion for the geek community.
• Twin Cities GeekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTwin Cities Geek is an online culture magazine for the self-identifying geek community in Minnesota, particularly focused around Minneapolis and Saint Paul areas. They provide coverage of topics important to Minnesota's geek communities.
• Vilification TennisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVilification Tennis performs comedy entertainment at CONvergence events, including performances at Bryant Lake Bowl. Part of the Fearless Comedy Productions network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC): San Diego Comic-Con is the largest pop culture fan convention in the US, drawing 130,000+ attendees annually. It is comparable as a multi-track consumer fan convention with similar programming (panels, exhibitor hall, artists alley), but operates at substantially larger national scale than Convergence's regional event.
• Fan Expo Chicago: Fan Expo Chicago is a major pop culture convention in the broader Midwest region. It is comparable to CONvergence as a consumer fan convention with similar programming (panels, celebrities, artists, exhibitors), though at much larger scale and broader pop-culture focus.

Direct peers

• Dragon Con: Dragon Con is a large multi-genre fan convention held annually in Atlanta, GA over Labor Day weekend. It is directly comparable to CONvergence as a multi-track science fiction/fantasy/gaming convention with thousands of attendees, panels, dealers room, and community focus, though at significantly larger scale.
• Gen Con: Gen Con is the largest tabletop gaming convention in North America, held annually in Indianapolis. It is comparable to CONvergence in convention format (panels, exhibitor hall, gaming areas) with strong overlap in target attendee (geek/fandom community), though it focuses more narrowly on gaming.
• Origins Game Fair: Origins Game Fair is a major tabletop gaming convention held annually in Columbus, OH. It is comparable to CONvergence as a regional gaming/genre convention with overlapping attendee demographics and similar volunteer-supported non-profit structure (run by GAMA).
• Awesome Con: Awesome Con is a Washington DC-based pop culture and comic convention featuring similar programming tracks (panels, exhibitor hall, artists alley, gaming). It is comparable as a regional multi-genre fan convention targeting similar attendee demographic.
• Penguicon: Penguicon is a Michigan-based open-source technology and sci-fi/fantasy convention with volunteer-run non-profit structure. It is comparable to CONvergence as a regional, volunteer-run, non-profit fan convention with overlapping tech/fandom audience.

Regional players

• Minneapolis Comic Con (Anime Twin Cities / Anime Detour): Anime Detour is a Minneapolis-area anime convention run by Anime Twin Cities, which has a documented partnership with Convergence Events through the shared Waterbury Building project. It is comparable as a regional Twin Cities fan convention targeting overlapping but distinct segments (anime vs. broader sci-fi/fantasy).
• 2D Con: 2D Con is an inclusive gaming convention that has partnered with CONvergence to bring their digital arcade to CONvergence Gaming. It is comparable as a regional gaming-focused fan event serving overlapping Midwest audience, though with narrower gaming focus.

Others

• Geek Partnership Society: Geek Partnership Society is the Premier Partner of Convergence Events, sharing physical space and receiving $25,000+ annual donations. While not a competing convention, GPS is comparable as an aligned non-profit serving the Minnesota geek community with overlapping programming (HungerCon, etc.) and member cross-promotion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/convergencecon
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnVYZcL9T1TcZRHmmGlP5CQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CONvergenceConMN
• Instagraminstagram.com/convergencecon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Convergence Events