etouches
13 Marshall Street, Norwalk, CT

etouches is a global company that develops web-based software to allow professionals one platform from which to plan, market, manage and measure meetings and events.

The company was created by Leonora Valvo and evolved from an event services business (The Global Executive) she had established in 1998. Valvo, who serves as etouches’ CEO, transitioned the original business to a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company in 2008 with encouragement from her customers. The transition – a business re-creation – involved taking Valvo’s years of hands-on experience in event management and turning that into software tools capable of serving a much broader audience.

Innovation was key during this transition. Valvo created a new type of software that combined the methods and processes practiced by event professionals with technological functionality to allow professionals to automate various functions of their jobs. The completed software platform, also called etouches, resulted in software products that event professionals could easily understand and use for maximum efficiency.

Valvo used her creativity, passion for product development, industry knowledge and foresight to grow etouches into the successful, industry-leading business it is today – one that counts MasterCard, Audi and Dell among its customers. To date, the company has served over 400 customers from around the world, including corporations, associations, agencies, educational institutions and others. Its broad product suite, consisting of multiple modules, is offered in over 20 languages.
In March 2011, Valvo won a Women of Innovation Award from the Connecticut Technology Council for her entrepreneurial innovation and leadership in growing etouches. In November 2010, etouches received international recognition, winning the Best Event Technology Innovator Award at the Trade Show News Network’s 2010 Event Excellence Awards presentation in Alexandria, Virginia. The company also received an Innovator of 2009 award from Trade Show Executive and in 2007 was named to the INC. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in America (ranking #992 overall and #55 in the business services category).
In June 2010, a group of investors led by Greycroft Partners II provided an initial round of venture capital funding for etouches. Connecticut Innovations participated in this round.

Development and innovation remain top priorities at etouches and ensure that the company stays at the leading edge in its field.

www.etouches.com