Web-based meetings and events industry service provider StarCite Inc. on Monday announced its acquisition of privately held competitor b-there Corp. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In combining the two providers of attendee relationship management and enterprise meetings management tools, StarCite expects to process more than 1 million registration transactions annually and manage more than $700 million in meeting and event requests for proposal (RFPs) through its StarCite Online Marketplace.
“Strategically, it’s important that we continue to grow our influence in the online registration area, and we’re thrilled to be able to combine b-there’s proven technologies with our continued focus on innovations,” said John Pino, founder and CEO of StarCite. “Most importantly, we believe this combination is in alignment with our commitment to offer our customers the professional service that is absolutely necessary for enterprise-wide solutions. We’re excited about the quality of the people who will be joining us.”
With the acquisition, StarCite adds to its product line b-there’s Attendee Relationship Management online registration platform and OneForm, a meeting consolidation solution that includes an event approval process. Among b-there’s leading customers are Aetna Inc., American Express, AT&T, Nortel Networks and Proctor & Gamble.
StarCite’s product line includes an Online Marketplace with more than 54,000 industry suppliers, preferred vendor management tools, supply chain management and online group air booking capabilities; or the Integrated Meetings Platform that combines these features for enterprise deployments. Among StarCite’s leading customers are Amgen, American Express, Cisco Systems, KPMG, Lehman Brothers, Motorola and Quaker Oats.
StarCite will continue to support both ARM and RegWeb, another attendee registration platform acquired last summer from Cardinal Communications. A next-generation tool integrating the best of both existing products is expected for release in 2004.
Customers will continue to work with b-there’s developers, account managers, customer service representatives and sales executives. While b-there will now market under the StarCite brand, StarCite will retain the existing product names. b-there investors Seaport Capital and TL Ventures are investing additional capital into StarCite. Bill Luby, partner with Seaport Capital, New York, will join StarCite’s board of directors.
