Showpass

What it does

Showpass is a comprehensive event ticketing and management platform designed to help organizers sell tickets, grow their audience, and scale their events. The platform offers a full suite of tools including embedded widgets for seamless on-site purchasing, group sales, self-service kiosks, payment plans via Affirm, auto discounts, waitlists, resale, custom websites, reporting, email templates, assigned seating, mobile check-in, box office POS, and more. It also provides marketing and discovery features, dashboard analytics, and customer management. Showpass positions itself as an "operating system" for live events, covering music, comedy, attractions, festivals, sports, theatres, conventions, museums, and fairs.

Who it is for

Showpass is built for event creators and organizers of all sizes—from individual promoters to large-scale venues and festivals. The website highlights that it is trusted by over 30,000 creators, including notable clients such as Vancouver Canadians, Spruce Meadows, Cavendish Beach Music Festival, Whitecap, Heritage Park, Churchill Park Music Festival, Oddities and Curiosities Expo, Boodang, Edmonton Expo, Vancouver Giants, Stuart Air Show, and Wichita Theatre. The platform also serves universities, as evidenced by the acquisition of Bounce, a campus engagement platform, to expand into the university market.

Why it matters

Live event ticketing is a competitive space, but Showpass differentiates itself by emphasizing speed, continuous improvement based on organizer feedback, and dedicated human support. The platform claims to be "designed for speed"—from event setup to check-in—and promises weekly updates shaped by real user input. Its partnership with Affirm for payment plans and features like auto discounts and waitlists aim to reduce friction for buyers and maximize sales for organizers. The acquisition of Bounce signals a strategic push into the university sector, potentially capturing a large, recurring event market.

Launch signal

Showpass was founded by Lucas McCarthy and has grown to become a major player in Canadian ticketing. It was recognized on the Deloitte Fast 50 list and holds a 4.7-star rating on Capterra. The company recently made news with its acquisition of Bounce, a campus engagement platform, which will expand its presence to over 70% of Canada's top-ranked universities. This move indicates a focused expansion strategy beyond general events into the higher education vertical.

Brand and naming

The name "Showpass" combines "show" (event) and "pass" (ticket or access), clearly communicating its core function. The brand is positioned as a modern, fast, and reliable alternative to legacy ticketing systems. Its visual identity uses bold typography and vibrant imagery to convey energy and speed. The tagline "Powering the future of live events" reinforces its ambition to be an innovative infrastructure provider.