TownSquare

TownSquare was a technology venture that operated an AI-based event discovery platform in New Zealand. The company was founded in 2017 by Ben Costeloe and Tariq Kusabs, and it ceased active development at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Both founders brought startup experience to the venture, with Costeloe having a background as an analyst and founder of the student-focused startup Adieu, and Kusabs having experience in customer success and account management roles at other tech companies. The company's primary product was a platform designed to help users find local events tailored to their interests. It addressed the challenge of event discovery by creating a personal 'taste profile' for each user. The platform's artificial intelligence would then recommend events, aiming to expose users to experiences they might not have discovered through traditional search methods. This approach was intended to help people break out of their 'filter bubbles' and find new activities. In 2018, TownSquare was selected to participate in the Mahuki innovation accelerator, a program run by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. This placement provided the startup with NZ$20,000 in seed funding and mentorship to develop its platform further, specifically targeting the cultural sector. The business operated on a business-to-consumer model, with the platform offered directly to the public to enhance their social and cultural experiences. However, the global pandemic's severe impact on the live events industry led to the suspension of work on the platform in 2020. Keywords: TownSquare, event discovery, artificial intelligence, AI platform, New Zealand startup, Mahuki accelerator, Te Papa, event recommendation, taste profile, personalized events, cultural technology, local events, Ben Costeloe, Tariq Kusabs, Wellington tech, social events platform, event tech, Adieu, startup ecosystem NZ