Exclusive interview with Revanth Kondaveti, founder of Tap to Party, on the Founder Spotlight Podcast
Catering to the scintillating world of event management, Revanth Kondaveti, the founder of Tap to Party, is transforming the way events are organized and executed. In his recent conversation on the Founder Spotlight Podcast, hosted by Vatsa, Revanth delved into the unique challenges of building his startup, the innovative solutions he’s bringing to the industry, and his visionary roadmap to revolutionize event management. Whether you are a budding entrepreneur or a stakeholder in the hospitality industry, his insights are bound to spark inspiration.
Tap to Party is a groundbreaking platform simplifying the complex ecosystem of event management, especially for vendors. Its vendor-centric approach bridges gaps between farms, restaurants, venues, and users, creating seamless connections and sustainable business practices. Revanth’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary, demonstrating the grit and adaptability required to thrive in a competitive environment.
The journey of Tap to Party began with a realization. Revanth shared, “Initially, I started with a user-centric approach, but I realized there were already apps doing that. Vendors, however, faced real, systemic challenges.” His exposure to vendor discontents, particularly fake leads that vendors were paying for on lead-generation platforms, inspired him to build something different—something that truly solved the problem at its root.
It wasn’t an easy start. Revanth leaned into his past experiences working with restaurants and small farms during the pandemic. By connecting these entities to solve challenges related to food wastage and operational inefficiencies, he discovered a scalable model for vendor-driven event management. “I partnered with farms, restaurants, and universities during COVID, and the success of those connections became the backbone of Tap to Party,” he added.
For any startup, establishing credibility in its early stages is a formidable challenge. Revanth tackled this by adopting a results-first approach. He shared, “I told farmers, ‘I don’t want anything unless I get your business and solve your problem.’ That approach earned their trust.” He repeated the same process with restaurants, initially asking them to try sourcing just 10% of their weekly produce through his platform, ensuring quality and leveraging the results to foster long-term trust.
Starting small, Revanth connected five restaurants to local farms. Through word-of-mouth and community networks, his model quickly gained traction. “One good partnership led to another, and we were able to partner with some of the best restaurants in Palo Alto,” he explained. This organic growth strategy proved instrumental in establishing a strong network of stakeholders.
“Trust is the cornerstone of everything we do. Results speak louder than words,” Revanth emphasized.
Tap to Party stands out by focusing on the backend challenge of vendor management, an often-overlooked aspect of event management. Rather than generating artificial leads, it connects vendors like farms and restaurants directly to end-users, fostering transparency and sustainability.
Today, Tap to Party has successfully expanded from Palo Alto to New York City. Revanth highlighted the unique challenges in NYC, such as its reliance on large suppliers like Cisco and resistance to change in hospitality backend operations. Despite this, his approach of connecting local farms from upstate New York and Pennsylvania is yielding promising results.
Revanth shared valuable insights on his leadership ideals and how he’s fostering a culture of innovation within Tap to Party. “It’s all about enabling trust and focusing on results,” he said. His leadership has trickled down to how the team interacts with vendors, with a clear emphasis on solving small operational issues that snowball into larger problems.
From connecting art galleries with artists to managing private art shows, Tap to Party is constantly finding creative ways to serve its user base, boosting earnings for its clients. “When we solve their problems, their success becomes our success,” Revanth remarked.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Revanth's advice is simple yet powerful: “Keep pushing. There will be good days and hard days, but persistence is the key.” Revanth also offered to support other founders facing challenges. “If you need advice, feel free to reach out to me,” he added, exemplifying his willingness to give back to the community.
“Even on hard days, don’t give up. Success comes to those who persevere.” – Revanth Kondaveti
The future looks bright for Tap to Party. Revanth envisions making it the go-to brand for event management across the United States. “Within the next two to five years, I want every event-related business to think ‘Tap to Party’ when they think of event management,” he stated.
Innovative projects, such as the smartwatch-based light show, promise to redefine how attendees experience events. Additionally, the company is preparing for its next major milestone—a fundraising round aimed at scaling operations and solidifying its presence in new markets.
“Tap to Party is the future of events.” – Revanth Kondaveti
Revanth Kondaveti’s journey with Tap to Party is a testament to the power of adaptability, trust, and perseverance. By addressing real challenges faced by vendors and creating meaningful connections within the event management ecosystem, Tap to Party is paving the way for a new era in the industry.
Want to learn more about Revanth’s journey and ambitious plans for the future? Be sure to check out the full episode of the Founder Spotlight Podcast for an in-depth conversation filled with actionable insights.
Stay ahead with weekly insights, exclusive offers, and the latest updates from the world of startups.
