Spalba: Revolutionizing Event Management Through Technology and Innovation

In Conversation with Vishal Puri, Co-founder, Spalba

What inspired you to create Spalba, and what's the core mission behind the platform?

Spalba was born out of collaboration and curiosity. While working closely with my co-founder, Naveen Gupta, who comes from the events industry, he would often share the challenges that planners encounter while creating exceptional experiences. I enjoyed exploring these challenges and finding solutions. That exchange of ideas became the spark for Spalba. Size of the opportunity that such a solution could cater to, provided the right motivation and conviction that this is definitely a problem worth solving for.
Our mission is clear: to build the world’s first venue marketplace and to empower the event industry through technology, innovation, and community learning. At its heart, Spalba exists to transform the way events are imagined and executed, making the entire process more seamless, collaborative and enjoyable for everyone involved.

What role do you think Spalba will play in shaping the future of event management, and what impact do you hope to have on the industry?

Event planning is a journey filled with details and moving parts. From sourcing the right venue to collaborating with vendors, every step before event day requires immense coordination. Spalba is reshaping this journey. By streamlining venue sourcing, vendor collaboration and planning workflows, we are reducing the stress and complexity of event management.
The future we envision is one where technology does not just support but actively drives the industry forward. With Spalba, the entire cycle of discover, explore, collaborate, plan and execute comes together on a single platform. Our impact will be measured by how much easier and more rewarding we can make this journey for event professionals across the world.

What are some of the most significant challenges you’ve faced as a founder, and how have you overcome them?

Every new category faces the challenge of adoption. The events and hospitality industries are traditionally used to manual processes, and shifting that mindset was not straightforward. Then came COVID, which transformed the way the industry looked at technology. What initially appeared to be a crisis created an opportunity. It accelerated the adoption of virtual walkthroughs, digital twins and collaboration tools.
Being ready with the right product at the right time allowed us to navigate this challenge. Rather than slowing us down, the pandemic actually helped establish a new mindset where technology was embraced as a necessity rather than an option.

What sets Spalba apart from other event management platforms, and what unique value proposition do you offer to clients?

We do not define ourselves as a traditional event management platform. To start with, Spalba is a venue sourcing and collaboration platform that caters to the entire value chain of venue sourcing. While many solutions stop at discovery or exploration, Spalba is the only platform globally that covers the complete cycle: discover, explore, collaborate, plan and execute.
With an AI-first and immersive approach, Spalba enables digital twins, hyper-realistic walkthroughs and collaborative planning in one space. This allows clients to save time, reduce costs and simplify the decision-making process. What makes us unique is that our platform is not built on assumptions but on a deep understanding of the industry’s realities and pain points.

What's next for Spalba in terms of product development, expansion, or partnerships?

Currently, we are focused on venue sourcing. In the next six months, we are expanding to bring event planners and vendors into the ecosystem. By uniting venues, vendors and planners on one platform, we are building a space where collaboration becomes natural and efficient.
Geographically, our priority is expanding into the APAC region, which presents immense potential. Partnerships are not the immediate focus, but our growth will come from creating a holistic ecosystem that becomes more powerful as more stakeholders join.

Coffee or tea – what do you prefer to start your day with?

I do not have a fixed preference. Some days begin with coffee, others with tea. It really depends on the rhythm of the day and what I feel will set the right tone for it.

If a biography or biopic were to be made on Vishal Puri, what would be the title?

“Connecting the Dots.”
Over the years, I have worked in consulting, technology implementation, business development and government advisory. At the time, each felt like a separate path, but today all those experiences converge into what I am building with Spalba.

Other than this, what career would you have loved to do?

I would have loved to be a teacher. Teaching and sharing knowledge has always been something I deeply enjoy.

One line for Spalba?

Spalba is where the event industry finds its future, a place that makes planning less stressful, more collaborative, and endlessly innovative.