Paper is a thing of the past. In just 15 years, digital technology has transformed the event industry. Today, software, apps, and social media dominate this massive and highly competitive market. Yet, Tukioo, a young Brussels-based startup, is boldly carving out its place by offering organizers and attendees an intelligent solution centered on AI, personalization and real-time experiences. This daring vision is embodied by its two founders, Gerry Ntabuhashe and Julie Renson, whose values are deeply rooted in humanism.
A Powerful Event Promotion Tool
Tukioo’s offering has two sides. On the front end, a mobile app available on Google Play and the App Store allows participants to register, receive notifications, and stay connected to the event. Behind the scenes, a management platform for organizers centralizes promotion and execution tools, including « ticketing, event publication on digital calendars and communication planning for social media. This ecosystem already forms the marketing core of Tukioo and in the future, it will become even smarter. Their vision ? To create a true AI agent that analyzes data, suggests actions, personalizes the experience and tests what works, acting as an integrated R&D department within each event. As attendees register, the organizer’s personal assistant collects participant data, analyzes it, and turns it into actionable recommendations « based on attendee profiles, their journey and their interests ». A goldmine for organizers, enabling them to « boost attendance and profitability for future events ».
Gamification and Social Connection
Beyond technical support, Tukioo helps organizers make their events more engaging by « transforming visitors into active participants ». The first idea : gamification. A simple yet highly engaging concept where app users are invited to complete small challenges during the event, with rewards such as « free activities or sponsor giveaways ». Another key focus of this startup is social connection, allowing participants to share activities with « strangers who share a common interest ». Think of it as a smaller-scale version of Meetup. « The idea is to create a sense of community and belonging, both with the event itself and among attendees ». Both of these features were tested during the 2024 Winter Wonders festival, Tukioo’s first major project, a packed five-week agenda drawing 4.2 million visitors. In the future, the participant app aims to become an intelligent companion for event experiences. A personal guide that suggests events, activities, locations, or even people to meet based on individual interests and past interactions. This approach goes far beyond merely attending an event ; it fosters a truly personalized and social experience.
« With hub.brussels, we had the opportunity to showcase our startup at one of the world’s largest tech fairs. »
Tech with a Human-Centered Vision
Since their development phase in 2023, Gerry and Julie have maximized the resources provided by hub.brussels. To build a specialized network, they attend networking events, « particularly those organized by the hospitality cluster ». For their expansion efforts, they are in touch with the hub.brussels representative in London. « With hub, we also had the opportunity to participate in TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco », one of the world’s biggest tech fairs. This unique opportunity allowed them to present their project to experts and investors while emphasizing their social values. This year, Tukioo sponsored the Immense festival, which focuses on issues related to inadequate or poor housing. « Ultimately, we aim to donate 10% of our profits to the fight against extreme poverty ».
What’s next for Tukioo?
A fundraising round to accelerate the development of their AI agent, designed to enhance data analysis capabilities and « further push the boundaries of personalization, sales and the magic of event experiences ».
For more information, visit their website : https://tukioo.com/
