i3 Events

What i3 Events does

i3 Events, legally structured as Plannerwire, LLC, is a Chicago-headquartered professional services firm specializing in conference and event planning for associations and nonprofits. The firm delivers four integrated service lines: Conference and Event Planning (logistics, vendor coordination, on-site support), Strategy and Consulting (event audits, technology and process reviews, risk management), Event Technology Solutions (platform selection, configuration, and training), and Virtual and Hybrid Event Production (platform selection, live production, speaker coordination, and post-event analytics using tools such as Zoom, Vimeo, and Slido). It is platform-agnostic, advising clients on third-party event technology rather than developing proprietary software.\n\nThe company earns revenue through customized professional services engagements, with no publicly disclosed pricing and prospective clients directed to request quotes. Its go-to-market combines direct outreach, a website contact form with two-business-hour response times, an online meeting scheduler, and a dedicated client portal (clients.i3events.com) for active engagements. Demand generation is led by content marketing through The Event Tech Pull Up podcast, The Spark blog, the Plannerwire blog authored by Keith Johnston, and speaking presence at industry events such as EventTech Live, supported by social channels on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Spotify.\n\nThe firm serves a primarily nonprofit and association base, with named clients including the American Planning Association Illinois Chapter, Karen Pryor Clicker Training, Indoor Air 2024, DAHLIA+ Agency, and several other associations, alongside a smaller set of enterprise logos such as Illumina, Essendant, and Genomic Life. Geographic reach is claimed globally, supported by September 2023 strategic partnerships with Joi and Catch the MICE that extend delivery capability into European markets.

Name

i3 Events

Legal name

Plannerwire, LLC

Website

https://i3events.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

i3 Events is a Chicago-based professional services firm that plans and produces conferences, virtual events, and event technology implementations for associations, nonprofits, and select enterprises worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Management Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Meeting & Conference Planning & Coordination (HSACADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM), Virtual, Hybrid & Livestream Event Coordination (HSACAAAO), Meeting & Event Program Technology (Registration, Apps, Badging) (THACAFAB)

Keywords

• Event planning services
• Conference management
• Association event services
• Virtual event production
• Event technology consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Glenview

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Event Planning and Management Services: i3 Events provides comprehensive conference and event planning services to associations and nonprofits. Services include strategic planning, logistics coordination, on-site execution, and ongoing consultation. The company works with clients either end-to-end or on specific components where clients need support.
2. Virtual and Hybrid Event Production: Production services for virtual and hybrid events including platform selection, live broadcast management, content strategy, speaker coordination, and technical support. Services are customized based on event goals, audience size, and budget.
3. Event Technology Consulting and Implementation: Advisory and implementation services helping clients select, configure, and use event technology tools. Services include technology audits, platform matching, integration support, and staff training on event tech solutions.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

i3 Events provides professional conference and event planning services to associations and nonprofits. They deliver end-to-end event management including strategic planning, logistics coordination, vendor negotiation, on-site execution, event technology selection and implementation, and virtual/hybrid event production. Services can be bundled end-to-end or delivered as targeted components to augment internal teams.

Product overview

i3 Events offers a suite of four integrated event planning and management services for associations and nonprofits: Conference and Event Planning (core logistics and execution), Strategy and Consulting (planning, audits, risk management), Event Technology Solutions (tech selection and implementation), and Virtual & Hybrid Event Production (digital-first event experiences). The company provides end-to-end services or can augment internal teams at specific engagement points. Based in Chicago with global reach, i3 Events works with clients on live, virtual, and hybrid experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Spark: Company blog featuring insights on event planning, technology, and industry trends.
• The Event Tech Pull Up
• Plannerwire

Products and services

• Conference and Event Planning End-to-end conference and event planning services including logistics, vendor coordination, on-site support, venue sourcing, AV production, and attendee registration for associations and nonprofits.
• Strategy and Consulting Event strategy and consulting services including event audits, technology and process reviews, budget evaluations, growth and program strategy, team structure planning, and risk management for associations and nonprofits.
• Event Technology Solutions Technology consultation and implementation services helping clients select and use event tech including registration platforms, mobile apps, networking tools, speaker management, sponsor/exhibitor tools, and conference websites, delivered with a platform-agnostic approach.
• Virtual & Hybrid Event Production Virtual and hybrid event production services including platform selection, content strategy, live production, webinars, town halls, speaker coordination, engagement features such as polls, Q&A, and breakouts, and post-event analytics.

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• JoicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2023Strategic partnership announced in September 2023 to revolutionize event planning across North America and European markets. The collaboration combines i3 Events' conference management expertise with Joi's capabilities to provide enhanced services to clients in both regions.
• Catch the MICEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2023Strategic partnership announced in September 2023 to revolutionize event planning across North America and European markets. The collaboration brings together i3 Events' planning expertise with Catch the MICE to expand service capabilities and geographic reach.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Freeman: Freeman is one of the largest global event agencies offering strategy, creative, production, and digital services for conferences and trade shows. It competes directly for large association and corporate events that i3 Events targets, while operating at much greater scale across geographies.
• George P. Johnson Experience Marketing: GPJ is a global experiential marketing agency specializing in events, conferences, and brand experiences for enterprise and association clients. Its strategy, technology, and production services compete for the same RFPs i3 Events pursues.
• Maritz Global Events: Maritz Global Events (Maritz) is a major corporate meetings, events, and incentives provider serving associations and enterprises. Its end-to-end capabilities parallel i3 Events' service catalog, with broader international footprint and budget scale.
• Hargrove: Hargrove is a long-standing event and experiential marketing agency producing corporate meetings, conferences, and trade shows for association and enterprise clients. Its full-service event management offering overlaps with i3 Events' strategy-through-execution model.
• Sparks: The Sparks Group is an experiential marketing agency producing corporate events, conferences, and trade shows. It targets similar association and enterprise audiences with end-to-end services competitive with i3 Events' model.
• Encore Event Technologies: Encore (including PSAV) is a large event technology and production services provider for hotels, conventions, and meetings. It overlaps with i3 Events on virtual/hybrid production and event technology consulting at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• Bizzabo: Bizzabo is an event experience platform offering registration, virtual production, and analytics. As an event-tech platform with growing services, it overlaps with i3 Events on virtual/hybrid production and event technology consulting from a software-first angle.
• Hubb: Hubb is an event management software platform that powers conferences and trade shows, often used by associations. It is an adjacent competitor in event technology consulting and increasingly bundles production services.

Direct peers

• ConferenceDirect: ConferenceDirect is a meetings-sourcing and event services firm focused heavily on associations and nonprofits with hotel sourcing, registration, and onsite support. It is one of the closest direct peers to i3 Events in terms of vertical and service mix.
• Meeting Expectations: Meeting Expectations is a boutique event management firm specializing in association and nonprofit conferences. It is directly comparable to i3 Events in scale, vertical focus, and end-to-end service model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@theeventtechpullup
• Facebookfacebook.com/i3eventproductions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/i3-events-conferences

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 i3 Events