Next Foundation backs Humanitix's New Zealand expansion

Not-for-profit ticketing platform Humanitix has received backing from the Next Foundation to expand in the New Zealand market.

The world's first not-for-profit ticketing platform, the Sydney-based platform redirects booking fee profits to solve social problems including poverty, disadvantage and education gaps, transforming the event ticketing industry into "a force for good".

Explaining the thinking behind the company, Humanitix co-founder and Director Joshua Ross told the Sydney Morning Herald in August “ticketing is seen as a necessary evil, there's billions of dollars in these booking fees and no one likes them but event organisers put up with it because they need to do it.

“Our objective isn't to make booking fees zero, it's to solve inequality through education programs. But we think there's a massive opportunity in ticketing, where fees can be more modest, and you can have the best of both worlds.”

A charity that provides funding to environmental and education initiatives, Next Foundation Education Director, Frank Janssen said it decided to support Humanitix because of its operating model and its aim to reduce inequality in education.

Georgia Robertson, Humantix's New Zealand Chief Executive noted that the backing would be a “game changer” for the business in the country.

Last year, the organisation set up the Humanitix New Zealand Charitable Trust, with the new backing allowing the firm to expand.

In 2018, Humanitix received US$1 million from Google after winning the company’s Impact Challenge, and has since gained financial backing from Australian technology giant Atlassian.

The company has ticketed New Zealand events including Ballantynes Fashion Week, Verb Festival Wellington and the Wanaka Beer Festival.

Event organisers can choose from three education projects for the donation money to go to: Manaiakalani, which funds educational equality for Maori and Pasifika students, nutrition for school children or girls’ education in the developing world.

Last month, Humanitix integrated with Facebook as an events ticketing partner, which allows events to go live on both platforms simultaneously – without needing to recreate the event on Facebook.

Image shows (from left): Humanitix founders Joshua Ross and Adam McCurdie with Georgia Robertson.