Head of Events and Activation

Banterr is a proximity-based social discovery app built for real-life connection. Our core feature, Who's Who, lets people in the same venue see who's around them and actually break the ice in person. We're building density neighborhood-by-neighborhood across Chicago (Gold Coast, Old Town, Lakeview, Wrigleyville) and we need someone who can make activations land. The Role You'll own the on-the-ground execution of Banterr's activation calendar. That means turning bar takeovers, campus pop-ups, and community events into booked, staffed, promoted, and packed rooms. The measure of success is specific: 30%+ of attendees at each activation opening and engaging with Who's Who during the event window. If that number doesn't mean anything to you yet, it will by week two. You'll be obsessed with hitting it. This isn't a coordinator role. You're the GM. You source the venue, book the night, run the logistics, show up, and deliver the number. What You'll Actually Do Source and pitch bars, restaurants, and venues in our target neighborhoods for recurring activation slots: themed events, bar takeovers, campus pop-ups Cold outreach to venue managers, GMs, and event coordinators. Follow up until you get a response. Coordinate all logistics: dates, run-of-show, prizes, signage, host/MC, photographer Build a pipeline of 20+ venues with named contacts, status, and clear next steps, tracked and maintained Build campus ambassador pipelines at Northwestern, DePaul, Loyola, and U Chicago Recruit and brief street teams for event nights Partner with micro-influencers and local community groups (run clubs, social leagues, alumni networks) for co-hosted events Attend events and actively drive in-app engagement, not just logistics oversight Submit a post-event recap after every activation The Numbers You're Accountable To We'll be direct: this role has specific targets, and compensation is structured around hitting them. Over 90 days: 9+ qualified activations executed (25+ attendees, Banterr active onsite, recap submitted) 20+ venue pipeline built with named contacts and active status tracking One neighborhood running a weekly recurring slot by Day 60 30%+ Who's Who engagement rate across 4+ activations by Day 90 We track Who's Who engagement as unique attendees who open the feature and perform at least one interaction during the event window. We'll align on the exact measurement protocol before kickoff so the definition is unambiguous. If the numbers above feel vague or negotiable, this probably isn't the right fit. You're a Fit If You Live in Chicago and actually know the bar and nightlife scene (not just as a patron) Have run brand activations, event promotion, experiential marketing, or campus marketing before (bonus: consumer app, beverage brand, or nightlife concept) Are relentless on follow-up. Most of this job is getting people to respond after they go quiet. Can write a venue pitch that doesn't sound like a template Have an existing network of venue contacts, promoters, or campus reps Are organized enough to run a live pipeline without being micromanaged Care about the actual in-app engagement number, not just whether the event "felt good" Logistics Contract, part-time to start (~15-25 hrs/week, some event weeks more) Mix of remote work and in-person event nights Compensation: monthly retainer + per-activation bonuses + a Who's Who engagement bonus pool Expenses (venue deposits, signage, prizes) covered by Banterr separately Start: ASAP 30-day notice from either side to end the engagement If you hit your marks in the first 90 days, there's a real path to an expanded ongoing role: higher retainer, more clusters, and a conversation about performance-based equity upside. #J-18808-Ljbffr Banterr