By: Zach Miller
San Francisco’s vibrant culture is getting a fresh boost thanks to Vently, a platform designed to simplify event management and discovery while promoting deeper community connections. Founded by Nicolas Khonaysser, Vently offers features that simplify sending invites, finding events, and connecting with friends. It’s more than an app—it’s a tool designed to enhance the social connections within the Bay Area.
What sets Vently apart is its focus on people. The platform’s AI-powered component also addresses mental health by making therapy more accessible and affordable, emphasizing Khonaysser’s commitment to comprehensive community well-being. More than just an event platform, Vently has shifted gears to become an end-to-end community management solution, integrating multiple tools into a seamless experience.
This pivot comes from a deep understanding of the challenges faced by community organizers. Nicolas Khonaysser leads the initiative, bringing experience from his role as President of a student body of 140,000 and his work with community-focused applications like Fizz. His experience in building communities made him aware of the challenges organizations face, including the reliance on multiple platforms to manage their operations. Vently brings together all these tools in one place, simplifying the process for organizers.
Transforming Event Engagement
For Hosts
Organizing events can be daunting, but Vently eliminates much of the hassle. Built-in tools such as community chats and social feeds provide hosts with options to set up events, manage invites, and engage with attendees. These features save time and allow hosts to focus on creating memorable experiences.
By offering personalized promotion tools, Vently helps hosts connect with their target audience more effectively. This is particularly valuable in San Francisco, where the event scene thrives on creativity and engagement. From tech meetups to community festivals, Vently helps organizers make a more significant impact.
Vently’s all-in-one approach also includes event planning, member communication, analytics, payment processing, website building, emails, text blasts, and newsletter creation. By eliminating the need for multiple platforms, Vently allows event hosts to manage everything from a single dashboard.
For Attendee
If you’re looking to explore San Francisco’s event calendar, Vently offers a comprehensive guide. Its user-friendly design offers personalized event exploration and the ability to keep track of friends or influencers to stay in the loop. Whether it’s a pop-up art show, a fitness workshop, or something else, Vently makes it easy to discover and attend events.
By simplifying the search for local activities, Vently encourages more people to get involved in their community. This promotes connections and creates shared experiences that strengthen the Bay Area’s social network.
Vently’s dominance in San Francisco is evident in its numbers: 40,000 users on its email waitlist, 13,000 Instagram followers, and nearly 900,000 Instagram accounts reached per month. High-profile groups such as Founders Bay, Darwinian Ventures, and the emerging Plunge Party have already adopted Vently as their main community management tool.
Bridging Gaps in Community Engagement
Nicolas Khonaysser’s diverse background and entrepreneurial expertise have shaped Vently. With experience in startups and a multicultural perspective, he identified a gap in the event space: existing platforms often felt transactional and lacked a sense of connection. Khonaysser’s vision was to create a platform that would go beyond logistics, helping people build genuine relationships.
Jacob Wells, Vently’s COO, plays a crucial role in ensuring the company’s mission aligns seamlessly with its operations. Known as the glue that holds the team together, Wells has been instrumental in Vently’s success. One team member even noted, “Without Jacob, this team wouldn’t function as successfully as it does.”
On the technical side, CTO Brian Hamachek brings a unique blend of experience as both a serial event host and a skilled technologist. Having organized countless events and led multiple successful tech ventures, Hamachek understands the intricate needs of community organizers.
Earning Trust and Building a Team
Khonaysser’s ability to inspire confidence has been key to Vently’s success. His strategic acumen is showcased by winning the Los Angeles Venture Association elevator pitch competition and securing partnerships with organizations like Orange Theory. He also assembled a talented team, including Creative Director Akhil Gutta, to help ensure Vently delivers exceptional user experiences.
This blend of vision, teamwork, and a people-first approach has solidified Vently’s role as a game-changer in San Francisco’s event landscape. While the platform will soon be available nationwide, its initial focus remains on major metropolitan areas. This allows the team to provide targeted support and strengthen its position in San Francisco before expanding.
A Future Built on Connection
With Vently’s growth, the vision remains clear: to enhance the lives of San Francisco’s residents and visitors through community-driven connections. By redefining how people interact in the city, Vently simplifies event management for hosts and makes discovery easier for attendees.
“Communities of all sizes, from event-focused groups to nonprofits and small businesses, can benefit from Vently,” Khonaysser emphasized. The platform has been customized to meet the needs of diverse users, whether they’re scaling a local meetup or managing a large international organization.
Vently’s pivot also reflects its intimate understanding of the Bay Area’s dynamic community ecosystem. Having partnered with the largest event groups in the region, the team has fine-tuned its product to cater directly to organizers’ needs. “We’ve hosted events ourselves and worked closely with these groups, so we truly understand the challenges they face,” Hamachek explained.
Whether you’re hosting a workshop or looking for your next favorite event, Vently is redefining how communities connect and grow. With Nicolas Khonaysser at the helm, the future of community engagement is more connected, efficient, and meaningful than ever.
Published by Drake M.
