Evite is an American digital platform specializing in online invitations, eCards, and social planning tools that enable users to create, send, and manage event invitations for parties, holidays, and personal occasions, with features including RSVP tracking, guest messaging, and automated reminders.[1][2] Founded in 1998 by Al Lieb and Selina Tobaccowala while they were students at Stanford University, the company pioneered digital invitations during the early days of the internet.[1]Over its history, Evite has undergone several ownership changes, beginning with its acquisition by Ticketmaster in 2001, followed by Ticketmaster's merger into IAC in 2003, and later operating under various media conglomerates until becoming privately owned in 2020.[2] In October 2024, Francisco Partners made a strategic growth investment in the company, with CEO David Yeom retaining significant equity and continuing to lead its expansion into enhanced product features and user experiences.[3] Headquartered in Glendale, California, Evite has evolved its business model from an ad-supported service to a premium subscription offering called Evite Pro, which provides ad-free templates, unlimited events, text message invitations, co-hosting options, and custom photo uploads to facilitate effortless event planning.[1][4] The platform emphasizes bringing people together for face-to-face celebrations, serving as a key tool in the event planning industry with a focus on customizable, mobile-friendly designs.[5]
History
Founding and early development
Evite was founded in 1998 by Al Lieb and Selina Tobaccowala, who were Stanford University students at the time. The company originated as a project under Ootleworks, a student venture initially focused on developing a programming language for streaming web data into databases. After facing challenges in commercializing that technology, Lieb and Tobaccowala pivoted to create an online invitation service, recognizing the potential for digital tools to simplify event planning in the emerging internet era.[6][1]The Evite website launched in September 1998, introducing one of the first platforms for sending electronic invitations and managing RSVPs via email. This service pioneered digital alternatives to paper invites, allowing users to create customizable event pages with features like guest lists, reminders, and response tracking. Early adoption was driven by the novelty of web-based social coordination during the late 1990sinternet expansion, with the platform quickly gaining traction among tech-savvy users for parties, meetings, and casual gatherings.[6][7]During the dot-com boom, Evite experienced rapid growth, securing $7 million in