Signup

SignUp.com, operating as a private, venture-backed company, provides a SaaS-based platform focused on group and activity coordination. Founded in 2009 by Karen Bantuveris and headquartered in Austin, Texas, the company was originally launched as VolunteerSpot. The founder's journey began from her personal experiences as a working mom, PTA member, and Girl Scout leader, where she identified the inefficiencies of coordinating groups through reply-all emails and paper sign-up sheets. This frustration fueled the creation of a streamlined, digital solution to mobilize and manage volunteers. Before her entrepreneurial venture, Bantuveris had a background as a management consultant and held a Masters in Healthcare Administration, experiences which informed her customer-oriented approach.

The company's core product is a web-based coordination tool that simplifies organizing people for various events. It serves a broad market including parents, teachers, community and business leaders, and non-profits. The platform's features include online sign-up sheets, automated reminders, digital calendars, participant check-in, and the ability to add waivers. A significant milestone was the rebranding from VolunteerSpot to SignUp.com in 2016, a move to reflect its expanding user base beyond just volunteer activities to any group event requiring coordination. In 2017, SignUp.com acquired MySignUp, an earlier online coordination platform, further expanding its customer base.

The business model operates on a freemium basis. A comprehensive basic plan is offered for free, designed to attract a wide user base. Revenue is generated through premium subscription plans (Starter, Plus, Premium) that provide advanced features such as additional organizers, unlimited text reminders, custom questions for participants, and detailed hours tracking. Another key revenue stream is advertising; the platform provides brands with direct access to its large, engaged audience, primarily composed of 'Make it Happen' mothers of school-aged children, through custom campaigns, native content, and email marketing. The company also facilitates the collection of payments and contributions for events directly through its platform via integrations with PayPal and Stripe.

Keywords: group coordination, volunteer management, event scheduling, online sign-up sheets, parent-teacher organizing, activity planning, community engagement, SaaS, freemium business model, event coordination platform, Karen Bantuveris, VolunteerSpot, automated reminders, group organization, non-profit tools, school activities, sports leagues, church events, workplace coordination, potluck planning