ON24
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Software |
| Predecessor | NewsDirect Inc. |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Csaba Fikker, Bill Bales, Nina Chen |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (North America, EMEA, APAC) |
Key people | Sharat Sharan (CEO) |
| Products | Webinar solutions, virtual events, content hubs, landing page tools, AI-powered analytics |
| Website | www |
ON24 Inc., based in San Francisco, delivers a cloud-hosted platform specializing in webinar solutions, virtual events, content hubs, and landing page tools tailored mainly for B2B marketing and sales professionals. In 2023, the company broadened its portfolio to incorporate generative AI capabilities.
With a global presence, ON24 maintains offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC territories, including subsidiaries located in the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and Japan.
History
Established in 1998 by Csaba Fikker, Bill Bales, and Nina Chen under the name NewsDirect Inc., ON24 initially functioned as a hub for distributing internet-based video press releases. After securing early funding, the board appointed Sharat Sharan as CEO in 1999, rebranding the firm as ON24 and pivoting toward streaming online financial news. Following the dot-com crash in 2001, ON24 transitioned exclusively to its webcasting platform, ceasing its news services by 2002.
The company embarked on international growth in 2006 by opening offices in the US, UK, Australia, Singapore, and Spain. In 2008, ON24 introduced its virtual event solution, ON24 Virtual Show, expanding its service range to cover trade shows and conferences.
ON24 went public in February 2021 through an IPO that offered 9.8 million shares at $50 apiece, generating roughly $492 million in capital.
From mid-2023 through early 2024, ON24 rolled out its AI-driven Analytics and Content Engine (ACE), designed to boost enterprise productivity via sophisticated optimization technology.
Technology
ON24 employs HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocols to deliver live webinars and virtual events with video bitrates ranging between 300k and 2500k.
Products and Services
The ON24 Intelligent Engagement Platform includes:
- ON24 Webinar (previously ON24 Webcast Elite)
- ON24 Content Hubs (formerly ON24 Engagement Hub)
- ON24 Virtual Events and Virtual Conference
- ON24 Nurture Pages (previously ON24 Target)
- ON24 Performance Analytics
- AI-enhanced Analytics and Content Engine (ACE)
ON24 seamlessly integrates with leading Marketing Automation Platforms such as HubSpot, Zapier, and Workato, along with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, reinforcing its business framework through efficient data interoperability.
Awards and Recognitions
ON24 has received numerous honors that highlight its industry standing and competitive strengths:
- Frost & Sullivan Global Market Leadership Award in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014
- G2 “Users Love Us” and “Grid Leader” distinctions for Enterprise Webinars from 2017 through 2025
- TrustRadius “Top Rated” accolades from 2019 to 2025, including awards for “Tech Cares,” “Buyer’s Choice: Best Customer Support,” “Best Software,” “Best Feature Set,” “Best Relationship,” “Best Value for Price,” “Most Loved,” and “Buyer’s Choice” during 2020–2024
- MarTech Breakthrough Awards earned in 2021
These commendations emphasize ON24’s leadership role in webinar technology innovation alongside its robust financial achievements within the virtual event marketplace.
External links
- United States online media corporations
- American corporations founded in 1998
- Media companies founded in 1998
- Companies traded on the New York Stock Exchange
- Initial public offerings in 2021
- San Francisco-based companies
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
- American companies established in 1998